| The aim of this project is to investigate which purposes facial mimicry serves and how these functions are related to each other, by examining different consequences of facial mimicry. Through three series of each two experiments, social functions of facial mimicry are explored. In the first series, the consequences of facial mimicry for the perceiver are investigated (experiments I and II). The proposed consequences for the perceiver are more empathic feelings for the target, more accurate impression of the target, less correspondence bias, perceiving more similarity between oneself and the target, and a more positive impression of the target. In the second series, circumstances which should enhance the amount of mimicry are explored. The amount of mimicry in the condition in which one is instructed to form an accurate impression (exp III) or to empathize with the target (exp IV) is compared with a control condition. In the last series of experiments, real interaction situations are used to test a comprehensive model concerning facial mimicry, including consequences for the target (such as feeling understood, forming more positive impressions of the perceiver) and consequences pertaining to the dynamics between the perceiver and target (e.g., smoother interactions). |
