Couple Interaction

Below are two avi files that were used to illustration the modeling and animation methods I discussed in :

Griffin, W. A.  (2000). A conceptual and graphical method for converging multi-subject behavioral observational data into a single process indicator.  Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, and Computers, 32(1), 120-133.

 Full details can be found in the article.  The following is somewhat spliced from the article (you really need to read the entire article to get the idea of what is occurring):

“if we allow a sphere to represent a marital partner, only 3 domains are needed to place the subject in space.  These 3 domains represent x, y, and z; in effect, a point in space; … we will use three domains: affect state magnitude (0-9; 9 = extreme negative), affect state (positive, neutral, negative), and state duration (seconds).  Allow these 3 domains to represent dimensions x, y, and z, respectively.  The avi animations show interactants i and j as spheres (husband = blue) located in space by their respective x, y, and z coordinates.  The coordinate y (i.e., state) runs horizontally and x (i.e., magnitude) vertically.  The z coordinate is state duration and extends toward the viewer; that is, the longer the individual stays in state, more the sphere rises (or in Video 2, moves away).  A positive and negative sign have been placed in space to reference the domain state, neutral is between the two reference signs. Modeling the process occurs by allowing the spheres to move through space in real time.

These animations reflect 60 seconds of actual real-time affect data taken from a married couple’s interaction at the Marital Interaction Lat at ASU.  This simple real time animation illustrates the use of domains to assess process.  It shows the subtle features of affect changes between an adult couple having a conversation.  During animation the spheres move past each other, up and down, right and left.  Sometimes they follow each other and sometimes they quickly move in opposite directions, all occurring in real time.  Searching for patterns becomes very interesting and easier.  These data were animated using TrueSpace3 (TrueSpace3, 1997), a commercial 3D animation program.  Video 1 shows the process with the point of view from above and Video 2 shows the same interaction viewed from below the spheres.