Latest news with #EunHuh
The Sun
15 hours ago
- Science
- The Sun
Real reason emojis can improve your relationships revealed by boffins… and which you can use
EMOJIS can improve your relationships as they make you seem more emotionally involved, scientists say. A study found people rated their partners as more attentive if they used the icons in messages. 2 We are most fond of the 'crying laughing face' emoji, but researchers claim it does not appear to matter which symbol senders use. Even icons without a face or emotion, such as fire, were found to be linked to higher relationship satisfaction. Study author and PhD student Eun Huh, at the University of Texas in Austin, said: 'The study revealed that emojis signal emotional attentiveness. 'Interestingly, it's not the type of emoji but simply their presence that makes people feel closer to a partner.' The study questioned 260 people, aged between 23 and 67. They were shown 15 text exchanges, then asked to imagine the other sender was their partner and rate their responses. People scored as more engaged and responsive to emotions in chats that contained emojis. Ms Huh said: 'Emojis help recipients clarify ambiguous messages. 'Given that the human brain can recognise images in just 13 milliseconds, they are a quick yet effective communication tool.' But Ms Huh warned: 'It is important to note that emojis do not always have a positive effect. Heart emojis meaning: A guide to using the symbols and when is best to use them 'Their interpretation depends on the emotional tone of the text message.' A separate study by the Kinsey Institute in Indiana, US, last year suggested that people who often use emojis are more emotionally intelligent. 2
Daily Mail
17 hours ago
- General
- Daily Mail
People reveal their biggest turn off and how you could be sabotaging your relationship
If you're looking to spice up your relationship, upping your emoji game might be key. Researchers in Texas took a deep dive into the mystery behind emojis and communication between couples. More than 200 adults from their 20s to 60s were asked to read 15 text message exchanges, with the only difference being the presence or lack of emojis. They found people who sprinkle smiley faces and thumbs ups in their texts get faster responses and feel closer to and more satisfied with their partners. The fun symbols also boosted attentiveness and emotional engagements and it didn't matter if the icons were smiling, laughing or crying - just the use alone produced the results, regardless of the type of specific emoji. The team believe using emojis provides visual appeal and color to texts that enhances mood when messaging. The human brain can also recognize images in 13 milliseconds, making emojis a means for rapid, easy communication. Eun Huh, study author and graduate student at the university of Texas at Austin, said: 'The study revealed that emojis can boost relationship satisfaction by signaling emotional attentiveness. 'Interestingly, it's not the type of emoji but simply their presence that makes people feel closer to their partner.' The study, published Wednesday in the journal PLOS one, surveyed 260 adults ranging in age from 23 to 67 years. They were randomly assigned to read 15 text message exchanges that varied only in the presence or absence of emojis in the text. These emojis were both facial (smiling or frowning faces) and non-facial emojis (hand signals). Messages with emojis were combated with plain language with an absence of any sort of additional expression. One example was: 'it's been a long week. I'm so tired.' Participants were then told to imagine that they were the sender of these messages and focus on their partner's replies. Random attention tests were used to ensure that the subjects' responses were reliable. One example of this was the prompt: 'in order to prove that you are reading questions attentively, please select 2.' The team found participants rated partners who used emojis as more responsive than partners who just used text. They also felt closer and more satisfied communicating with their partners when they used emojis. The researchers suggested emojis, as ready-made visual cues, enhance digital communication by conveying emotional tone, expressiveness and warmth. Surprisingly, they found no difference between face and non-face emojis, suggesting the type of emoji may not be a significant role in effective communication. Instead, it's more likely the presence of emojis alone increases satisfaction. Previous research supports the idea that emojis function as digital equivalents to facial and non-verbal expressions. A recent Pew research study revealed eight in 10 Americans incorporate emojis into their digital interactions. For people in relationships, 72 percent of teenagers and young adults report texting with their partner every day. For long distance relationships this goes even farther. In a similar study published in 2024, Simon Dubé of Indiana University investigated the associations between emoji use frequency, attachment style and emotional intelligence across genders and relationship types. For women, higher levels of attachment avoidance - discomfort with emotional intimacy and a preference for independence - were correlated with sending and receiving emojis less often with friends and dating or romantic partners. For men, higher levels of attachment avoidance was correlated with sending fewer emojis to such partners but not in receiving them less often.
Newsweek
19 hours ago
- General
- Newsweek
Scientists Reveal Texting Trick for Stronger Relationship
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. If you want a simply way to boost your relationship on a day-to-day basis, try peppering your texts with emoji. This is the surprising recommendation of a new study by researchers from the University of Texas at Austin, which found that text messages containing emojis are perceived as more emotionally responsive than those using words alone. That sense of responsiveness, the study found, significantly boosts feelings of closeness and satisfaction in romantic relationships. From left: Examples of text messages with emojis; and a woman smiling at her smartphone while outdoors. From left: Examples of text messages with emojis; and a woman smiling at her smartphone while outdoors. Getty Images / Eun Huh / PLOS One In an era dominated by digital communication, where tone and facial cues are often lost, this study points to emojis as essential stand-ins for human expression. It is not just that people enjoy the playful icons—it is that they interpret them as signs of emotional attunement, often signaling inside jokes or other shows of intimacy. In the study, researchers recruited 260 participants between the ages of 23 and 67 who read through 15 simulated text conversations. In each, they imagined themselves as the sender, evaluating their "partner's" replies. Some replies included emojis, while others did not. Across the board, participants found emoji-enhanced replies more emotionally responsive. That perceived responsiveness predicted stronger feelings of intimacy and satisfaction with their imagined partner. Texting, now the dominant form of communication for many couples, lacks the immediate feedback of face-to-face conversations. Emojis can, according to the results, help bridge that gap by injecting tone and emotion into otherwise flat text. This expressive function may help explain why participants rated emoji-enhanced responses so positively. Dr. Marisa T. Cohen, a marriage and family therapist and relationship expert with the dating app Hily, told Newsweek that this emotional context is key. "Emojis are often used to convey or deepen emotions when it comes to texts," Cohen said. "Texts often do not benefit from tone or nonverbals in the way that face-to-face interaction does, so emojis can help add character to the message. "This can help clarify intent when communicating." Importantly, the type of emoji used—whether a face or a non-face icon—did not significantly alter participants' perceptions. This suggests that it is the act of using emojis at all, rather than the specific symbol, that communicates emotional attentiveness. Cohen noted that as couples grow closer, even their emoji habits can become synchronized. "As people grow closer together, not only may their verbal expressions and intonations start to mirror one another, but so may their emoji use and texting behavior," she said. "They may also start to assign emojis specific meanings that only they know, creating a secret language. "This private language not only keeps them on the same page but can strengthen their couple identity." That digital rapport, Cohen said, can also deepen emotional intimacy over time. Still, emoji-based communication is not foolproof. Interpretation also varies by age and culture. "It is important to check that you put the same meaning into one emoji as different generations pick different emojis to express their emotions," Cohen said. Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about relationships? Let us know via science@ Reference Huh, E. (2025). The impact of emojis on perceived responsiveness and relationship satisfaction in text messaging. PLOS One.
