Imitation of emotion: When meaning leads to aversion |
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Authors: | Sytske W. van der Velde Diederik A. Stapel Ernestine H. Gordijn |
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Affiliation: | 1. University of Groningen, The Netherlands;2. Tilburg University, The Netherlands |
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Abstract: | Can imitation lead to less liking? Previous research on mimicry and imitation suggests that imitation should lead to more liking, at least when it concerns neutral behaviours. In the present studies, we looked at behaviour with a clear message: Facial expressions. As predicted, we found in two studies that an affiliative facial expression (happiness) leads to more liking when imitated, whereas a non‐affiliative facial expression (anger) leads to less liking when imitated. Thus, imitating someone does not always lead to more liking: Imitating behaviour that communicates an unfriendly message can have negative consequences. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
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