title: Effects of a priori liking on the elicitation of mimicry.
abstract: Mimicry and prosocial feelings are generally thought to be positively related. However, the conditions under which mimicry and liking are related largely remain unspecified. We advance this specification by examining the relationship between mimicry and liking more thoroughly. In two experiments, we manipulated an individual's a priori liking for another and investigated whether it influenced mimicry of that person. Our experiments demonstrate that in the presence of a reason to like a target, automatic mimicry is increased. However, mimicry did not decrease when disliking a target. These studies provide further evidence of a link between mimicry and liking and extend previous research by showing that a certain level of mimicry even occurs when mimicry behavior is inconsistent with one's goals or motivations.
authors.affiliation: Leiden University, The Netherlands. M.Stel@uu.nl
authors.forename: Mariëlle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stel
authors.forename: Rick B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: van Baaren
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blascovich
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van Dijk
authors.forename: Cade
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McCall
authors.forename: Monique M H
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Pollmann
authors.forename: Matthijs L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: van Leeuwen
authors.forename: Jessanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mastop
authors.forename: Roos
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vonk
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005149:Facial Expression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007100:Imitative Behavior; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires