Week 2: Chartrand & Lakin behavioral mimicry

Question 1

What are some of the facilitators or increasing factors of mimicry? (6)

Answer 1

1. Pre-existing rapport (more likely to mimic people who we met before or friends)
2. Goal: to affiliate
3. Goal: not to be excluded (under conditions)
4. Similarity (in-group or same opinion more likely to be mimicked)
5. Positive mood
6. Guilt

Question 2

What are some of the inhibitors or decreasing factors of mimicry? (5)

Answer 2

1. Goal not to affiliate
2. Stigmatized individuals (ugly, scar, fat, whatever)
3. outgroup
4. Dislike
5. Relationship status; when in a relationship less mimicry

Question 3

What are individual consequences of mimicry? (5)

Answer 3

1. Cognitive processing; individuals mimicked improve on recalling object positions in complex memory tasks
2. Creative thinking; mimicked is more covergent thinking
3. persuasion & consumer behavior Mimicked leads to seeing others as more convincing
4. Self-regulatory ability; improved motor skills when mimicked
5. Embodied cognition; inappropriate amounts of mimicry lead to suspicion; signals social coldness

Question 4

What are social consequences of mimicking? (3)

Answer 4

1. liking and empathy: not being mimicked leads to raised cortisol levels and stress
2. Helping behavior; mimicry increases interdependent self-construal; allowing for more closeness
3. reducing prejudice; if people mimic outgrip it leads to a reduction in bias

Question 5

Why are latina’s more susceptible to mimicking effects?

Answer 5

based ont heir culture they are more sensitive to interpersonal cues

Question 6

What is true about mimicking and liking?

Answer 6

1. Mimicry does not lead to liking other people more

Question 7

What is interpersonal coordination? (1)

Answer 7

behaviors ins Social interactions are often patterned and synchronized; identical in form or they occur at roughly the same time

Question 8

what are the similarities and differences between behavioral mimicry and interactional synchrony? (3)

Answer 8

1. Biggest difference is difference in timing (timing less important in mimicry)
2. Difference is wide context in mimicry and narrow context in synchrony
3. Both have the same neurological basis; interpersonal coordination is important for evaluation to create and maintain social bonds

Question 9

What is the shared goal between mimicry and interactional synchrony?

Answer 9

1. Interpersonal coordination which facilitates different complex social interactions

Question 10

What is verbal mimicry?

Answer 10

Mimicing syntax, speech rate, accent and so forth

Question 11

What is emotional contagion & who does it better?

Answer 11

people often, unknowingly, catch the affective state of others. Woman report this more than men

Question 12

What is goal contagion?

Answer 12

goals can get caught in the same way as emotions. Important individuals activate goals that we have

Question 13

What is attitudinal mimicry?

Answer 13

taking over and sharing general attitudes.

Question 14

What are 3 suggestions for future research regarding mimicry?

Answer 14

1. Focus on difference in power within behavioral mimicry
2. Look at the effects of mimicry on a group level
3. Anti-mimicry