Setting the stage: The influence of vocal masculinity in real-time interaction and group decision-making

Stereotype and social bias theories suggest that the physical characteristics of the individuals we interact with can systematically bias our social perceptions and behaviours toward them. For example, in men, longer vocal folds and tracts produce lower-pitched voices, a feature we refer to as vocal masculinity. Previous research shows that such vocal cues can shape perceptions of dominance, competence, and trustworthiness, increase the likelihood of being chosen as leaders, and even influence high-stakes contexts such as medical emergencies. However, current research has examined these effects either through tightly controlled stimulus-response paradigms, which can isolate causal mechanisms but strip away ecological validity, or through naturalistic conversations which preserve ecological validity but are limited to correlational claims.

In my talk, I will introduce Ducksoup, an open-source videoconference platform that enables researchers to manipulate participants’ vocal masculinity in real time using signal-processing algorithms, allowing for experimental control while preserving the messy, dynamic, and multimodal behaviours seen in real-world interactions. Using Ducksoup, I will present ongoing work investigating the influence of vocal masculinity on social perception and decision-making. This work comprises: (1) the development and validation of a real-time algorithm that independently controls fundamental frequency and formants, (2) a platonic speed-dating study in which participants engaged in brief voice-only interactions under covert vocal masculinity manipulations and subsequently made first-impression judgments of their partners, and (3) an interactive psychophysics experiment in which dyads negotiated perceptual decisions under the same manipulations, allowing us to directly assess how deeper-sounding voices influence real-time group decision-making. 

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Open for external guests.

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