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

• DOI: 10.1007/s10919-022-00399-1
• Publication Date: 2022-04-06T10:21:12Z
• Authors: Wojciech Kulesza; Nina Chrobot; Dariusz Dolinski; Paweł Muniak; Dominika Bińkowska; Tomasz Grzyb; Oliver Genschow
• Keywords: 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine

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