Final answer:
Social presence is the perception of being in the presence of others, even when physically alone. Behavioral interpretation of social presence involves observing how individuals respond and behave when they perceive the presence of others. Social cues can activate cognitive processes and prime the activation of social responses.
Step-by-step explanation:
Social presence refers to the perception of being in the presence of others, even when physically alone. It is the sense of being connected to others in a social context, either through direct or indirect cues (Short, Williams, & Christie, 1976). In a behavioral interpretation of social presence, we can observe how individuals respond and behave differently when they perceive the presence of others, even if those others are not physically present.
For example, research has shown that social cues can activate cognitive processes related to motivation and active thinking. When we perceive social cues, our brain responds by activating regions associated with mentalizing, perspective-taking, and understanding others' intentions (Preckel et al., 2019). This can result in increased motivation to engage in cognitive processes, such as problem-solving, decision-making, and perspective-sharing.
In addition, social cues can also prime the activation of social responses. For instance, if someone sees a picture of a smiling face, they are more likely to display positive social behaviors, such as being helpful or cooperative (Chartrand & Bargh, 1999). Similarly, exposure to social cues associated with a particular group can influence how individuals behave towards members of that group, leading to in-group favoritism or out-group derogation (Werth et al., 2020).