Emojis Speak Louder than Words: Visual (vs. Textual) Emotional Expression and Performance Evaluation

Abstract: With the burgeoning use of communication technologies such as emails and messengers, emotional expressions in computer-mediated communication at work have become more prevalent than ever. Emotions in computer-mediated communication are primarily expressed through textual (e.g., words) and visual (e.g., emojis, emoticons) cues. Despite the prevalence and distinctiveness of emotional expression in computer-mediated communication, there remains an incoherent understanding among researchers and practitioners, particularly regarding how emotions expressed through visual (vs. textual) cues are received. This study aims to examine whether and how the use of visual (vs. textual) cues in emotional expression in computer-mediated communication influences perception and performance evaluation. Findings from three studies (n = 1,420) showed that 1) visual emotional expression leads to higher warmth and competence perception of the expressor than textual emotional expression, and 2) visual emotional expression increases performance evaluation of the expressor through increased warmth. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.

Keywords: Emotional expression; computer-mediated communication; warmth and competence; performance evaluation