Mimicking emotions

Abstract

Emotional mimicry refers to the tendency to mimic other's emotions in order to share minds. We present new evidence that supports our Contextual Model of Emotional Mimicry, showing that emotional mimicry serves affiliative goals that vary across social contexts. This also implies the opposite, namely that we (unconsciously) refrain from mimicking others' emotions if we want to keep emotional distance. Facial mimicry of emotions is further suggested to be a largely top-down process, based on goals and representations, rather than on mere watching others' facial movements.