Skip to main content
Log in

Individual differences in the effects of spontaneous mimicry on emotional contagion

  • Published:
Motivation and Emotion Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Two experiments explored the role of mimicry and self-perception processes in emotional contagion. In Study 1, 46 subjects watched two brief film clips depicting an episode of startled fear. In a separate procedure, subjects adopted facial expressions of emotion, and reported whether the expressions had caused them to feel corresponding emotions. Those who reported feeling the emotions were identified as more responsive to self-produced cues for feeling. Subjects who visibly moved to mimic the behavior of the actor were significantly more likely to be those who were more responsive to self-produced cues. In Study 2, 57 subjects watched three film clips depicting happy people. During clips when they inhibited the movements of their faces, subjects reported less happiness than during clips when they moved naturally and were able to mimic, or when they exaggerated their movements. This effect occurred only among subjects who, in a separate procedure, had been identified as more responsive to self-produced cues.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adelman, P. K., & Zajonc, R. B. (1989). Facial efference and the experience of emotion.Annual Review of Psychology, 40, 249–280.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bem, D. J. (1972). Self-perception theory. In L. Berkowitz (Ed.),Advances in experimental social psychology (vol. 6, pp. 1–62). New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bresler, C., & Laird, J. D. (1983, April).Short-term stability and discriminant validity of the “self-situational” cue dimension. Paper presented at Eastern Psychological Association Meeting, Philadelphia.

  • Buck, R. (1979). Individual differences in nonverbal sending accuracy and electrodermal responding: The externalizing-internalizing dimension. In R. Rosenthal (Ed.),skill in nonverbal communication (p. 140–170). Cambridge, MA: Oclgeschlarger, Gunn & Hain.

    Google Scholar 

  • Comer, R. (1975).Individual differences in self-attribution behavior: Dimensions and child-rearing correlates. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Clark University.

  • Duclos, S. (1992).The self-determination of emotional experience. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Clark University.

  • Duclos, S., Laird, J. D., Schneider, E., Sexter, M., Stern, L., & Van Lighten, O. (1989). Categorical vs. dimensional effects of facial expressions on emotional experience.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57, 100–108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duncan, J. W., & Laird, J. D. (1977). Cross-modality consistencies in individual differences in self-attribution.Journal of Personality, 45 191–206.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duncan, J. W., & Laird, J. D. (1980). Positive and reverse placebo effects as a function of differences in cues used in self-perception.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 39, 1024–1036.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edelman, B. (1984). A multiple-factor theory of body weight control.Journal of General Psychology, 110, 99–114.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ekman, P. (1992). Facial expressions of emotion: New findings, new questions.Psychological Science, 3, 34–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hatfield, E., Cacioppo, J. T., & Rapson, R. (1993a). The logic of emotion: Emotional contagion. In M. S. Clark (ed.),Emotion: Review of personality and social psychology. (vol. 14). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hatfield, E., Cacioppo, J. T., & Rapson, R. (1993b). Emotional contagion.Current Directions in Psychological Science, 2, 96–99.

    Google Scholar 

  • James, E. (1890).Principles of psychology. New York: Holt.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kellerman, J., & Laird, J. D. (1982). The effect of appearance on self-perception.Journal of Personality, 50, 296–315.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kellerman, J., Lewis, J., & Laird, J. D. (1989). Looking and loving: The effects of mutual gaze on feelings f romantic love.Journal of Research in Personality, 23, 145–161.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laird, J. D. (1974). Self-attribution of emotion: the effects of expressive behavior on the quality of emotional experience.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 29, 475–486.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laird, J. D. (1984). The real role of facial response in the experience of emotion: A reply to Tourangeau & Ellsworth and others.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 47,4, 909–917.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laird, J. D., & Berglas, S. (1975). Individual differences in the effects of engaging in counter-attitudinal behavior.Journal of Personality, 43, 286–304.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laird, J. D., & Bresler, C. (1990). William James and the mechanisms of emotional experience.Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 16, 636–651.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laird, J. D., & Bresler, C. (1992). The process of emotional experience: A self-perception theory. In M. S. Clark (ed.),Emotion: Review of personality and social psychology (Vol. 13). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laird, J. D., & Crosby, M. (1974). Individual differences in the self-attribution of emotion. In H. London & R. Nisbett (Eds.),Thinking and feeling: The cognitive alteration of feeling states. (pp. 44–59). Chicago: Aldine.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leventhal, H. (1980). Toward a comprehensive theory of emotion. In L. Berkowitz (ed.)Advances in experimental social psychology (vol. 13). New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meltzoff, A. N. (1990). Foundations for developing a concept of self: The role of imitation in relating self to other and the value of social mirroring, social modeling and self practice in infancy. In D. Cicchetti & M. Beeghly (eds.),The Self in transition: Infancy to Childhood. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhodewalt, F., & Comer, R. (1979). Induced-compliance attitude change: Once more with feeling.Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 15, 35–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryle, G. (1949).The concept of mind. New York: Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steinberg, S., & Laird, J. D. (1990). Parent behavior which relates to how children perceive their own emotions.Motivation and Emotion, 13, 179–191.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallbott, H. G. (1991). Recognition of emotion from facial expression via imitation? Some indirect evidence for an old theory.British Journal of Social Psychology, 30, 207–219.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wixon, D. R., & Laird, J. D. (1981, April).Individual differences and the effects of mimicry on the judgment of facial expressions. Paper presented at the Eastern Psychological Association Meeting, New York.

  • Zajonc, R. B., Murphy, S. T., & Inglehart, M. (1989) Feeling and facial efference: Implications of the vascular theory of emotion.Psychological Review, 96, 395–416.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

The authors would like to thank Paul Ekman, Jerry Ginzburg, and an anonymous reviewer for very helpful suggestions for ways to improve the paper.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Laird, J.D., Alibozak, T., Davainis, D. et al. Individual differences in the effects of spontaneous mimicry on emotional contagion. Motiv Emot 18, 231–247 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02254830

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02254830

Keywords

Navigation