Thanks to Zoom, the Microsoft Teams, Skype and co. colleagues and supervisors can remain in spite of Coronavirus and the home office in a lively exchange with each other.
Video conferencing in these times, are for the benefit of the communication, seems to be out of the question, you come to the usual Face-to-Face conversation the next, as can Gestures and facial Expressions of the other perceive.
Due to the Revision of various studies, psychologists now consider, however, that this type of communication was significantly more strenuous for the brain, and to lead, as a result, errors and exhaustion.
Video conferencing in strict the brain
A study showed in 2008 that the conversation effort via video telephony, the brain more than a normal conversation, because it calls for more concentration.
This is because of the loss of information must be balanced by the absence of signals, for example, peripheral See.
The additional information, however, are important because they help the brain to develop a sense, says André Spicer, Professor of organisational psychology at the University of London.
In addition, the further study shows that the own image in the Monitor uncertainty and Stress, since this leads to the fact that it focuses more on the own effect.
The focus is less on the content of a conversation as rather, factors such as sympathy for the Opposite.
So the focus of attention, which can have an impact even on the results of the video conference, as the study showed that from 2008 also shifts.
To many Video Meetings can make you sick
Many video conferences are consecutive and the private exchange of digital means of communication, is shifting this leads to emotional fatigue, so Spicer.
It is even discussed, this created a psychological disease called “Zoom Fatigue” (derived from the video conference platform ‘Zoom’).
Negative consequences of video conferencing
- increased effort for the brain (difficulty in concentrating)
- fast fatigue (‘Zoom Fatigue’)
- Shift of focus
- altered sense due to lost signals
- Errors due to incorrect assessment
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Video conferences can have negative consequences
Other contexts in which Video-Meetings can have a negative impact, are job interviews. Candidates for recruiters is less convincing, so a meta-analysis found out already in 2016.
Similarly, it looked at digital exams in the school context. Experts suggest that here, too, the mirror effect of the own image picked up on the Monitor, negative impact.
Also before the court is a digital mode of Transmission of concern for the less trust and understanding in the case of judges.
Psychotherapists complained überfehlende connectedness to patients, if the treatment took place digital.
Not surprisingly, transmission disruptions worsened the problem. For example, the Opposite was perceived as significantly less friendly and the shows already in the case of a delay of only one second, as a study from 2014.
What can you do?
Since the end of the Corona pandemic, and thus a speedy return to life as usual is not clear, it is important to neutralize the disadvantages of the Video Meetings in a different way.
Experts believe that it is wise, therefore, for the image function and re-issue or mere telephone calls back to access. Also the cover image on the Monitor is recommended.
In addition, Multitasking should be avoided and breaks from the digital sound system will be strictly adhered to.
That staff, which is not all the time image-sound conversation with colleagues or superiors, achieve better results, was demonstrated in a study in which it was necessary to solve tricky Puzzles.
Sources
- Spicer, A. (2020): Finding endless video calls exhausting? You’re not alone, archived from the original on 22.06.2020 https://theconversation.com/finding-endless-video-calls-exhausting-youre-not-alone-137936
- Ferran, C. et al. (2008) Videoconferencing in the Field: A Heuristic Processing Model, retrieved on 22.06.2020 https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/abs/10.1287/mnsc.1080.0879
- Miller, M., K. (2017): Through the Looking Glass: The Effects of Feedback on Self-Awareness and Conversational Behaviour during Video Chat, archived from the original on 22.06.2020 https://dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1145/3025453.3025548
- Blacksmith, N. (2016): Technology in the Employment Interview: A Meta-Analysis and Future Research Agenda, retrieved on 22.06.2020 https://scholarworks.bgsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1023&context=pad
- Wegge, J. (2009): Communication via Videoconference: Emotional and Cognitive Consequences of Affective Personality Dispositions, Seeing One’s Own Picture, and Disturbing Events 22.06.2020 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1207/s15327051hci2103_1
- Federman, M. (2006): On the Media Effects of Immigration and Refugee Board Hearings via Videoconference, retrieved on 22.06.2020 https://academic.oup.com/jrs/article-abstract/19/4/433/1510170
- Brahnam, S. (2017): Comparison of In-Person and Screen-Based Analysis Using Communication Models: A First Step Toward the Psychoanalysis of Telecommunications and Its Noise, retrieved on 22.06.2020 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/1551806X.2017.1304112
- Schoeneberg, K. et al. (2014): Why are you so slow? – Misattribution of transmission delay to the attributes of the conversation partner at the far-end, archived from the original on 22.06.2020 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1071581914000287
- Sio, U. N., et al. (2018): Silence is golden: The effect of verbalization on group performance., archived from the original on 22.06.2020. https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037/xge0000456
Kimberly Papenthin
*The post “video conferences: experts warn of the consequences of digital Meetings” is published by FitForFun. Contact with the executives here.