The impact of camera usage and angle on perceptions of power during videoconferencing

Abstract

Videoconferencing options allow users to decide how they appear to others. For instance, users can adjust their camera angle or turn it off altogether. The present study examines how these decisions impact perceptions of power differentials. Power exerts a fundamental role in interpersonal interaction, as power is the ability to influence people. Prior research suggests that using a low camera angle is associated with increases in perceived height and, therefore, increases in power. However, the effect of camera usage on power remains essentially unexplored. Participants, divided into two samples watched a video vignette of two actors completing a collaborative task during a videoconference. When both actors had their cameras activated, the actor captured by the low angle was perceived as less powerful than when she was captured by the high angle. When only one actor had her camera on, no power difference was evident. However, this finding was not consistent across either sample or measures of power. Results suggest a complex relationship between camera use, camera angle, and perceived power. Furthermore, the results indicate that additional factors—such as eye gaze and individual differences in both actors and observers—could play a role in perceptions of power during videoconferencing.

Keywords

• Videoconferencing
• Power
• Camera usage
• Camera angle
• Interpersonal perception