The spillover effect of mimicry: Being mimicked by one person increases prosocial behavior toward another person

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Authors
Muniak, Paweł
Genschow, Oliver
Doliński, Dariusz
Grzyb, Tomasz
Kulesza, Wojciech
Monograph
Monograph (alternative title)
Date
2024-04-26
Publisher
Journal title
Journal of Experimental Social Psychology
Issue
Volume
113
Pages
Pages
1-65
DOI
ISSN
0022-1031
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Weblink
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022103124000325?dgcid=rss_sd_all
Access date
2026-04-16
Abstract PL
Abstract EN
People have the automatic tendency to mimic their interaction partners. Mimicry theories propose that such mimicking behavior is beneficial for the mimicker as mimicked persons tend to like, trust and help the mimicker more. Yet an open question remains as to whether prosocial effects translate to parties other than the mimicker. To test for the presence of such a spillover effect, we ran two field experiments (total N = 460). In all experiments, participants interacted with an experimenter. The experimenter either verbally mimicked the participants or behaved naturally. Afterwards, either the experimenter or another person asked participants to donate to a charity. Across all experiments, our results indicate that irrespective of whether a donation request is made by the mimicker or another person, mimicry increases the likelihood to donate to a charity, but not the amount that participants are willing to donate. Bayesian analyses suggest that this effect is less strongly pronounced than assumed by previous research and theories.
Abstract other
Keywords PL
Keywords EN
verbal mimicry
nonverbal mimicry
imitation
the chameleon effect
spillover effect of mimicry
prosocial behavior
charity donation
field study
social influence
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URI
https://share.swps.edu.pl/handle/swps/650
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cc-by-nc-nd
Except as otherwise noted, this item is licensed under the Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives licence | Permitted use of copyrighted works
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Wpływ koordynacji interpersonalnej na efekt ekstrapolacji. Zrozumienie rozprzestrzeniania się skutków naśladownictwa
NAWA Preludium Bis 1 grant, granted to Paweł Muniak
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