Developmental trajectory of interpersonal motor alignment: Positive social effects and link to social cognition

Abstract

Highlights Interpersonal motor alignment (IMA) has positive effects on healthy social life. IMA - mimicry, synchrony, automatic imitation - is studied throughout development. It relies on motor resonance brain mechanisms identified throughout development. It is modulated by contextual and personal factors. IMA is underinvestigated in adolescence, yet it may aid to enhance resilience.

Online Communication and Body Language

“…In brief, understanding of action may promote empathizing with others (Carr et al, 2003 ). Despite this theory being criticized (Hickok, 2014 ), phenomena based on motor resonance (i.e., a direct link between the perception of an action and its execution), namely, mimicry, synchrony, and automatic imitation, are considered involved in higher social cognition, including empathy, and in promoting positive social effects both in the adult and during development (Rauchbauer and Grosbras, 2020 ).…”

Observed shyness leads to more automatic imitation in early childhood

“…A reliable and noninvasive method for behaviorally indexing motor resonance is through experimental paradigms such as the automatic imitation task (AIT; Brass et al., 2001). The AIT has been widely used to assess self‐other processing and as a proxy for the social correlates of imitation processes (e.g., affiliation, status; Farwaha & Obhi, 2021a, 2021b; Hogeveen & Obhi, 2013; Obhi et al., 2014; Rauchbauer & Grosbras, 2020). In this task, participants are required to respond to two on‐screen symbolic cues (i.e., a “1” or a “2”) that are mapped to index and middle finger actions (Brass et al., 2001; Farwaha & Obhi, 2020; Heyes, 2011; Hogeveen & Obhi, 2013; Obhi et al., 2014).…”

“…In line with these findings, automatic imitation appears to be reduced in populations that tend to struggle with attending to, showing interest in, and exhibiting knowledge of others’ social cues, such as adults high in narcissism (Hogeveen & Obhi, 2013; Obhi et al., 2014), children with autism spectrum disorder (Vivanti et al., 2018) and, to some extent, people with high socioeconomic status (Farwaha & Obhi, 2020, 2021b). As such, automatic imitation, as well as more conscious forms of imitation, are not only relevant to attentional focus on others, but may also fulfill social functions such as sending affiliative signals to social partners (Dignath et al., 2020; Over, 2020; Rauchbauer & Grosbras, 2020; Tarr et al., 2015; Tarr et al., 2016) and aiding in “blending in” to the social environment (i.e., the “chameleon effect”; Chartrand & Bargh, 1999). Specifically, imitative processes tend to increase social partners’ liking of the imitator (Catmur & Heyes, 2013; Dignath et al., 2018) and, at times, have been found to promote prosocial behavior (Catmur & Heyes, 2013; Chartrand & Bargh, 1999; van Baaren et al., 2003; van Baaren et al., 2004).…”

Rituale: Kultur und Psychologie, Pro und Kontra

“…Was bei jungen Menschen während der Adoleszenz eine gesunde psychosoziale Entwicklung fördert, ist relativ wenig untersucht. Hier besteht also Nachholbedarf [15]. Denn es ist keineswegs so, dass es im Jugendalter keine Rituale gibt.…”