Emotional Contagion

Method:

Goal –

 To elicit a predetermined response (emotional contagion) from the participants by manipulation

using a confederate (to transmit the desired affective condition).

Participants –

 94 undergrad business school students.

Group and group size –

 Divided into 29 groups

 2 to 4 participants per group (excluding the confederate)

Procedure –

 Each group, including the confederate will participate in a group managerial exercise
 Participants were told that they needed to give a two-to-three-minute presentation about their
candidate. They were given two mixed-motive goals: (1) to obtain as large a bonus as possible
for their candidate and (2) to aid the committee to make the best use of the available funds and
maximize the benefit to the company as a whole.