THE COURTSHIP DANCE - PATTERNS OF NONVERBAL SYNCHRONIZATION IN OPPOSITE-SEX ENCOUNTERS

This study examines the existence of behavioral correlates of synchron ization on different levels of analysis and methods. We were unable to demonstrate a relation between synchronization defined in terms of mo vement echo or position mirroring and subjective experience of pleasur e and interest in opposite-sex encounters. Significant results were fo und for a phenomenon we describe as hierarchically patterned synchroni zation. These patterns were identified with the help of a newly develo ped search algorithm. If a female is interested in a male, highly comp lex patterns of behavior with a constant time structure emerge. The pa tterns are pair-specific and independent from behavioral content. This rhythmic structure of interactions is discussed in functional terms o f human courtship.