Mimicry and Prosocial Behavior
Abstract
Recent studies have shown that mimicry occurs unintentionally and even among strangers. In the present studies, we investigated the consequences of this automatic phenomenon in order to learn more about the adaptive function it serves. In three studies, we consistently found that mimicry increases prosocial behavior. Participants who had been mimicked were more helpful and generous toward other people than were nonmimicked participants. These beneficial consequences of mimicry were not restricted to behavior directed toward the mimicker, but included behavior directed toward people not directly involved in the mimicry situation. These results suggest that the effects of mimicry are not simply due to increased liking for the mimicker, but are due to increased prosocial orientation in general.
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When people are unaware that their behavior is being copied, being mimicked increases their altruistic behavior.
“altruistic behavior (van Baaren, Holland, Kawakami, & van Knippenberg, 2004)”
From Social attitudes modulate automatic imitation (2010) · cites this paper as van Baaren, Holland, Kawakami, & van Knippenberg, 2004
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- Authors
- van Baaren, R. B., Holland, R. W., Kawakami, K., & van Knippenberg, A.
- Affiliations
- University of Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Radboud University Nijmegen (NL)
- Venue
- Psychological Science
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2004-01
- Volume
- 15
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 71-74
- ISSN
- 0956-7976 (ISSN-L)
- 1467-9280
- OpenAlex
- W2115725315
- Cited by
- 683
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 32 · 2022: 33 · 2021: 30 · 2020: 60 · 2019: 35 · 2018: 33 · 2017: 35 · 2016: 54 · 2015: 39 · 2014: 41 · 2013: 43 · 2012: 37
- FWCI
- 21.28
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychological Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Radboud Repository (Radboud University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Action Observation and Synchronization
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Psychology of Social Influence
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Child and Animal Learning Development
- Keywords
- mimicry, prosocial behavior, automatism, helping behavior, generosity, prosocial orientation, interpersonal liking
- MeSH terms
- Female, Humans, Imitative Behavior, Male, Social Behavior
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