Imagining is Not Observing: The Role of Simulation Processes Within the Mimicry-Liking Expressway

Abstract

Individuals automatically mimic a wide range of different behaviors, and such mimicking behavior has several social benefits. One of the landmark findings in the literature is that being mimicked increases liking for the mimicker. Research in cognitive neuroscience demonstrated that mentally simulating motor actions is neurophysiologically similar to engaging in these actions. Such research would predict that merely imagining being mimicked produces the same results as actually experiencing mimicry. To test this prediction, we conducted two experiments. In Experiment 1, being mimicked increased liking for the mimicker only when mimicry was directly experienced, but not when it was merely imagined. Experiment 2 replicated this finding within a high-powered online sample: merely imagining being mimicked does not produce the same effects as being actually mimicked. Theoretical and practical implications of these experiments are discussed.

Cognitive mechanisms of being imitated

“…This implies that the positive effects of BeMim arise because of a basic contingency between self-movement and the other's movement, regardless of whether that movement is actually mimicry. Other studies also showed similar effects indicating that merely responding to another person's movement might be enough to induce the liking effect, without the need to mimic the same movements (Sparenberg et al, 2012;Kulesza et al, 2022).…”

“…Similarly, another issue is whether BeMim effects arise only when there is precise mimicry between participant and confederate (the same limb performing the same action) or if more general contingent responses with any limb are enough to lead to BeMim effects. Some previous studies suggest that merely responding to another person's movement might be enough to induce the BeMim liking effect, without the need to mimic the same movements (Sparenberg et al, 2012;Kulesza et al, 2022). The implications of these results for our theories will be considered in the section about BeMim neurocognitive mechanisms.…”

“…Here, the study's success does not depend on human factors, but on upon the design of the experimental paradigm. Moreover, using video stimuli offers an opportunity to test numerous participants in an online setting (Kulesza et al, 2022).…”

The chameleon effect in customer relationship management: Experiments on the spillover effects of mimicry in natural settings of a chain hotel and a chain grocery shop

“…The literature demonstrates that mimicry positively influences the perception of the mimicker (e.g., Chartrand and Bargh, 1999 ; Kulesza et al, 2022a ), and this effect can spillover to the products ( Tanner et al, 2008 ; Kulesza et al, 2017 ), and to the entire company/organization that the mimicker represents ( Jacob et al, 2011 ). The presented studies correspond to the research gap related to mimicry and its spillover potential by systematically verifying, in different contexts, the issue of spillover effects of mimicry and conceptually replicating the result previously reported by Jacob et al (2011) .…”

Mimicry and law: Experiments in a natural setting of a law company

“…Additionally, humans perform mimicry from the very first hours after being born [ 19 ]. Later in life we mimic each other to be accepted [ 20 ], liked [ 4 , 21 , 22 ], helped [ 23 – 25 ], and trusted [ 26 , 27 ]. Since mimicry is such a common behavior, it is postulated that mimicry is responsible for creating and maintaining social relations; it acts as a “social glue” [ 5 , 28 ] among us making this process one of the most fundamental, among many others.…”