TY - JOUR

T1 - The predictive chameleon

T2 - Evidence for anticipated social action

AU - Genschow, Oliver

AU - Brass, Marcel

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2015 American Psychological Association.

PY - 2015/4/1

Y1 - 2015/4/1

N2 - Extensive research has demonstrated that movement observation leads to an activation of a corresponding motor representation in the observer. Recent theoretical accounts have put forward the idea that such motor simulation serves an anticipatory function. In line with this assumption, the results from 2 experiments indicate that merely observing an event in someone else (e.g., nose wrinkling) triggers the anticipated action in the observer (e.g., nose scratching). Moreover, extending recent findings on ideomotor action, our second experiment suggests that this anticipated action effect is based on inferring the other person's desire to act. Thus, our research demonstrates the existence of a link between inferring another person's desire to move and the release of an action that matches this desire. Theoretical implications are discussed.

AB - Extensive research has demonstrated that movement observation leads to an activation of a corresponding motor representation in the observer. Recent theoretical accounts have put forward the idea that such motor simulation serves an anticipatory function. In line with this assumption, the results from 2 experiments indicate that merely observing an event in someone else (e.g., nose wrinkling) triggers the anticipated action in the observer (e.g., nose scratching). Moreover, extending recent findings on ideomotor action, our second experiment suggests that this anticipated action effect is based on inferring the other person's desire to act. Thus, our research demonstrates the existence of a link between inferring another person's desire to move and the release of an action that matches this desire. Theoretical implications are discussed.

KW - Action observation

KW - Anticipation

KW - Desire inference

KW - Prediction

KW - Business psychology

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84926410064&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1037/xhp0000035

DO - 10.1037/xhp0000035

M3 - Journal articles

C2 - 25665086

AN - SCOPUS:84926410064

VL - 41

SP - 265

EP - 268

JO - Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance

JF - Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance

SN - 0096-1523

IS - 2

ER -