The stereotyper and the chameleon: The effects of stereotype use on perceivers’ mimicry

Abstract

Interpersonal dynamics may play a crucial role in the perpetuation of stereotypes. In an experimental study, participants interacted with a confederate who provided either stereotypeconsistent or stereotype-inconsistent descriptions about the elderly. Based on the assumption that mimicry represents a social glue that fosters interpersonal liking and affiliation, we assessed the extent to which participants mimicked the nonverbal behaviors of the confederate as a function of the stereotypicality of the descriptions. Results showed that nonconscious mimicry was more likely when the speaker relied on stereotypes rather than on stereotype-inconsistent information. In Study 2 the effect was replicated in relation to national stereotypes. This finding indicates that stereotypers are faced with subtle nonverbal cues from the audience that can retroactively reinforce their behaviors and thus make stereotype dismissal so difficult to be achieved. ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPTMimicking stereotypers 3The stereotyper and the chameleon:The effects of stereotype use on perceivers' mimicry Stereotypes are very resistant to change. Indeed, intraindividual cognitive processes tend to selectively enhance the encoding and memory for stereotype-consistent information (see Fiske, 1998), and interpersonal communication processes tend to favor stereotype-consistent information (Lyons & Kashima, 2003;Ruscher, 1998; see Kashima, Klein, & Clark, 2007, for a review). For instance, when a story is transmitted through communication chains, it rapidly undergoes very specific transformation such that stereotype-consistent information is retained whereas stereotypeinconsistent information tends to be omitted (Lyons & Kashima, 2001. In this way, recipients of communication are finally left with biased descriptions of persons and events. In addition, stereotype-consistent and -inconsistent information is transmitted at different levels of abstraction, and the use of abstract language in the case of stereotypical information further conveys the idea that stereotypes do generalize across situations and group members (Wigboldus, Semin, &

Mimicry and expressiveness of an ECA in human-agent interaction: familiarity breeds content!

“…Other issues include that the fidelity of the visual prominence cues may have been less than ideal. Finally, the assumption underlying mimicry influencing liking and liking influencing mimicry is that mimicry increases similarity between people and increased similarity is associated with liking (e.g., Castelli et al 2009). The sample in the study was female whereas the ECA had a male face and other effects may be obtained when the gender of the ECA and participants match (e.g., Ruttkay et al 2004).…”

“…Similarity is thought to be a key factor in non-conscious mimicry. Through the process of non-conscious mimicry, individuals are able to take on the gestures and mannerisms of the other person, allowing them to increase their similarity to another (Castelli et al 2009). It is well established that when people perceive themselves as similar to another person they will like the other person more (Nass and Moon 2000; Heine et al 2009).…”

Mimicry reduces racial prejudice

“…For example, people who are mimicked tend to act in accordance with the stereotypes that others hold for them (Leander, Chartrand, & Wood, 2010). Further, people who express stereotypical attitudes tend to be mimicked more than those expressing nonstereotypical attitudes (Castelli, Pavan, Ferrari, & Kashima, 2009). Thus, the relationship between mimicry and stereotyping/prejudice is complex: it sometimes reinforces stereotypical behavior, but sometimes reduces prejudice.…”

The ISI Change phenomenon: When contradicting one stereotype changes another

“…Castelli, Pavan, Ferrari, & Kashima, 2009;Dolderer, Mummendey, & Rothermund, 2009;Kashima, 2000;Plaks et al, 2001;Richards & Hewstone, 2001;Sherman, Stroessner, Conrey, & Azam, 2005;Vonk, 2002). The evidence for stereotypes' robustness to change is impressive.…”