Social modulation of imitative behavior

Project: Research

Project participants

Description

Individuals automatically imitate a wide range of different behaviors. Past research has shown that such imitative behavior serves important functions, as it creates a social bond between interaction partners. Although the prevalence of human imitation and its positive social consequences are well-known, the underlying mechanisms of this ubiquitous phenomenon are still poorly understood. Especially, the question of whether and how social processes modulate imitation is part of an ongoing lively debate in the literature. So far, two different theories have been proposed to explain social modulation of imitative behavior. On the one hand, motivational theories postulate that people use imitation either consciously or unconsciously as a tool to affiliate with others. As a result, individuals should imitate others more strongly when they have an affiliation goal. On the other hand, self-other overlap theories suggest that imitative tendencies are learned responses that develop as a result of self-observation and interaction with other, often similar, individuals. Consequently, individuals who are perceived as more similar should be imitated more strongly. Contributing to this literature, in the first funding period of this project, we found in line with self-other overlap theories that focusing on similarities, compared to differences, increases perceived similarities and thereby fosters automatic imitation. Going one step further, we investigated whether other social factors that are supposed to increase perceived similarities modulate automatic imitation too. The results of these studies are mixed and illustrate that some social variables modulate imitative behavior, whereas others do not. This raises the fundamental question of which social factors influence imitative behavior based on which processes. Strikingly, current social modulation theories of imitative behavior do not specify which specific social factors should modulate imitative behavior. In the proposed project, we will fill this gap within three Work Packages (WPs) that include a formalized theory of social modulation of imitative behavior. WP1 will test the degree to which different processes (i.e., similarity and affiliation goal) put forward by social modulation theories actually influence imitative behavior. In WP 2, we will test whether social variables previously assumed to modulate imitative behavior trigger perceived similarity and the goal to affiliate. Based on the insights gathered in WP 1 and 2, we will develop a mathematical formula to formalize a theoretical model that allows deriving precise predictions about how strongly different social factors will modulate imitative behavior. At the end, we will empirically test these predictions.
StatusActive
Period01.05.2431.01.28

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Publications

  1. Rapid Prototyping of a Mechatronic Engine Valve Controller for IC Engines
  2. Re-visiting Effectuation
  3. Improving mechanical properties of chip-based aluminum extrudates by integrated extrusion and equal channel angular pressing (iECAP)
  4. The frame of the game
  5. Failing and the perception of failure in student-driven transdisciplinary projects
  6. Passive Rotation of Rotational Joints and Its Computation Method
  7. Fermentative utilization of coffee mucilage using Bacillus coagulans and investigation of down-stream processing of fermentation broth for optically pure L(+)-lactic acid production
  8. Big Data - Characterizing an Emerging Research Field using Topic Models
  9. Improving Human-Machine Interaction
  10. The Making of MEZ - Multilingual Development:
  11. Governing Objects from a Distance
  12. Individual differences and cognitive load theory
  13. Applying Quarter-Vehicle Model Simulation for Road Elevation Measurements Utilizing the Vehicle Level Sensor
  14. Optimal control strategies for PMSM with a decoupling super twisting SMC and inductance estimation in the presence of saturation
  15. Tree mixtures mediate negative effects of introduced tree species on bird taxonomic and functional diversity
  16. CHANGING RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR REDUCING INSOMNIA SEVERITY? RESULTS FROM A SERIAL MEDIATION ANALYSIS ON THE IMPACT OF RECREATIONAL BEHAVIOR AS A MECHANISM OF CHANGE IN DIGITAL INTERVENTIONS FOR INSOMNIA
  17. A Two-Stage Sliding-Mode High-Gain Observer to Reduce Uncertainties and Disturbances Effects for Sensorless Control in Automotive Applications
  18. Action Errors, Error Management, and Learning in Organizations
  19. What is normal?
  20. A Stacked Planar Sensor Concept for Minimally Invasive Plasma Monitoring
  21. Masked Autoencoder Pretraining for Event Classification in Elite Soccer
  22. How to attract visitors with strategic, value-based experience design
  23. Assessing authenticity in modelling test items: deriving a theoretical model
  24. From Planning to Implementation: Top-Down and Bottom-Up Approaches for Collaborative Watershed Management
  25. Endemic predators, invasive prey and native diversity
  26. Properties of some overlapping self-similar and some self-affine measures
  27. Early-Career Researchers’ Perceptions of the Prevalence of Questionable Research Practices, Potential Causes, and Open Science
  28. Model-based wind turbine control design with power tracking capability
  29. Guest Editorial
  30. How to move the transition to sustainable food consumption towards a societal tipping point
  31. General Patterns and Conclusions