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Wermelinger S, Moersdorf L, Daum MM. Automatic imitation in school-aged children. J Exp Child Psychol 2024; 238:105797. [PMID: 37922702 DOI: 10.1016/j.jecp.2023.105797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Children imitate others for different reasons: To learn from others and to reach social goals such as affiliation or prosociality. So far, imitative acts have been measured using diverging methods in children and adults. Here, we investigated whether school-aged children's imitation can be measured via their automatic imitation with a classical imitation-inhibition task (Brass et al., 2000) as has been used in adults. To this end, we measured automatic imitation in N=94 7-8-year-olds and N=10 adults. The results were similar in children and adults: Observing actions that are incongruent with participants' actions interferes with their responses resulting in increased reaction times and error rates. This shows that assessing automatic imitation via the imitation-inhibition task is feasible in children, and creates the basis for future studies to compare the behaviour of different age groups with the same imitation task.
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Genschow O, Pauels E, Krugmann K, Winter A. Group membership does not modulate goal- versus movement-based imitation. Q J Exp Psychol (Hove) 2023; 76:827-837. [PMID: 36214280 DOI: 10.1177/17470218221132842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
It is often put forward that in-group members are imitated more strongly than out-group members. However, the validity of this claim has been questioned as recent investigations were not able to find differences for the imitation of in- versus out-group members. A central characteristic of these failed replications is their mere focus on movement-based imitation, thereby neglecting to take into consideration the superior goal of the movements. By using a computerised version of the pen-and-cups task, we disentangled movement- from goal-based imitation to shed further light onto the link between group membership and imitation. As previous research demonstrated that out-group members (as compared with in-group members) are represented psychologically distant and as psychological distance shifts the degree to which participants engage in goal- versus movement-based imitation, we predicted that in-group members (as compared with out-group members) shift the degree to which individuals imitate movements versus goals. The results did not confirm our predictions, as group membership does not modulate the degree of movement- versus goal-based imitation. Theoretical implications and the question whether imitative behaviour is socially modulated are discussed.
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Westfal M, Crusius J, Genschow O. Imitation and interindividual differences: Belief in free will is not related to automatic imitation. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2021; 219:103374. [PMID: 34329885 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2021.103374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well known that individuals have the tendency to automatically imitate each other and that such imitative behavior is fostered by perceiving intentions in others' actions. That is, past research has shown that perceiving an action as internally driven enhances the shared representation of observed and executed actions increasing automatic imitation. An interpersonal factor that increases the perception that a behavior is internally driven is belief in free will. Consequently, we hypothesized that the more individuals believe in free will, the more they automatically imitate others. To test this prediction, we conducted two high-powered (total N = 642) and preregistered studies in which we assessed automatic imitation with the imitation-inhibition task. Contrary to our predictions, belief in free will did not correlate with automatic imitation. This finding contributes to current findings challenging the assumption that automatic imitation is modulated by interindividual differences. Further theoretical implications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mareike Westfal
- University of Cologne, Social Cognition Center Cologne, Richard-Strauss-Str. 2, 50931 Köln, Germany.
| | - Jan Crusius
- University of Cologne, Social Cognition Center Cologne, Richard-Strauss-Str. 2, 50931 Köln, Germany.
| | - Oliver Genschow
- University of Cologne, Social Cognition Center Cologne, Richard-Strauss-Str. 2, 50931 Köln, Germany.
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Dean DJ, Scott J, Park S. Interpersonal Coordination in Schizophrenia: A Scoping Review of the Literature. Schizophr Bull 2021; 47:1544-1556. [PMID: 34132344 PMCID: PMC8530389 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbab072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Interpersonal coordination forms the natural bridge between the self and others. It arises from the dynamic and complex set of embodied processes that involve nonverbal behaviors, perceptions, movement, and emotions that support adaptive interactions. Disembodiment has been implicated in a myriad of core clinical phenomena that manifest in a "praecox feeling" in persons with schizophrenia during interpersonal interactions. To further understand mechanisms underlying aberrant interpersonal interactions in schizophrenia, recent research has focused on mimicry, imitation, and interactional synchrony. In this study, we conducted a Pubmed, Web of Science, and PsycInfo database review of the literature on interpersonal coordination in schizophrenia to evaluate the body of work in mimicry, imitation, and interactional synchrony in relation to schizophrenia-spectrum conditions. The results of the review suggest that the sensory-motor processes underlying interpersonal coordination may result in impaired abilities to mimic and synchronize nonverbal behavior during interactions. Opportunities for future progress lie in studies of interpersonal coordination at different developmental stages of psychosis, potential use of interpersonal coordination to improve treatment adherence and reduce stigma, as well as interventions to improve social functioning in people with a serious mental illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek J Dean
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jason Scott
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Sohee Park
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA,To whom correspondence should be addressed; tel: 615-322-3435, e-mail:
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Genschow O, Westfal M, Cracco E, Crusius J. Group membership does not modulate automatic imitation. PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2021; 86:780-791. [PMID: 34109471 PMCID: PMC8942900 DOI: 10.1007/s00426-021-01526-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
AbstractIndividuals have the automatic tendency to imitate each other. A key prediction of different theories explaining automatic imitation is that individuals imitate in-group members more strongly than out-group members. However, the empirical basis for this prediction is rather inconclusive. Only a few experiments have investigated the influence of group membership using classic automatic imitation paradigms and these experiments led to mixed results. To put the group membership prediction to a critical test, we carried out six high-powered experiments (total N = 1538) in which we assessed imitation with the imitation-inhibition task and manipulated group membership in different ways. Evidence across all experiments indicates that group membership does not modulate automatic imitation. Moreover, we do not find support for the idea that feelings of affiliation or perceived similarity moderate the effect of group membership on automatic imitation. These results have important implications for theories explaining automatic imitation and contribute to the current discussion of whether automatic imitation can be socially modulated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Genschow
- Social Cognition Center Cologne, University of Cologne, Richard-Strauss Str. 2, 50931, Cologne, Germany.
| | - Mareike Westfal
- Social Cognition Center Cologne, University of Cologne, Richard-Strauss Str. 2, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Emiel Cracco
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jan Crusius
- Social Cognition Center Cologne, University of Cologne, Richard-Strauss Str. 2, 50931, Cologne, Germany
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7
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Eddy CM. Self-serving social strategies: A systematic review of social cognition in narcissism. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-021-01661-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AbstractNarcissistic Personality Disorder is characterised by inflated self-importance, an excessive need for admiration, and a lack of empathy. The interpersonal difficulties associated with narcissistic personality may be becoming more widespread given its increasing prevalence within the general population. This systematic review investigated the relationship between narcissistic personality traits and social cognition (i.e. theory of mind; emotion recognition; empathy; emotional intelligence) in clinical and non-clinical samples. Cognitive empathy (i.e. perspective taking) appears unlikely to be impaired, while affective empathy (relating to another’s emotion state) may be reduced in association with narcissism. Those with grandiose narcissism rate their empathic skills more highly than those with vulnerable narcissism, but concurrent administration of objective measures is rare, limiting insight into the validity of self-ratings. Rather than deficits in aspects of social cognition, the overall pattern could reflect motivation, or advantageous use of social cognitive skills to serve the self. Indeed, interpersonal strategies associated with narcissism (e.g. deception; manipulation) suggest the application of understanding another’s beliefs or desires in the context of low empathy. Further research should seek to explore performance on a wider range of emotion recognition and theory of mind tasks, and whether characteristics such as excessive jealousy and paranoia could reflect hyper-mentalizing.
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Farwaha S, Obhi SS. The Effects of Online Status on Self-Other Processing as Revealed by Automatic Imitation. SOCIAL COGNITION 2021. [DOI: 10.1521/soco.2021.39.2.295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
High status individuals have been found to be less attuned to the behavior of others in the social environment. An important question is whether social status in an online setting affects social information processing in a way that resembles the known effects of real-world status on such processing. We examined differences in automatic imitation between Instagram “leaders” and “followers.” In Experiment 1, we found that followers exhibited more automatic imitation than leaders. Experiment 2 sought to establish whether this effect depended on status being salient, or whether it would occur spontaneously in the absence of priming. Results confirmed that thinking about status prior to the task is necessary for producing the pattern of effects in which high status individuals exhibit less automatic imitation than lower status individuals. We discuss our findings in relation to the effects of online status on self-other processing as assessed in the automatic imitation task.
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Bukowski H, Samson D. Automatic imitation is reduced in narcissists but only in egocentric perspective-takers. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2021; 213:103235. [PMID: 33321398 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2020.103235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Narcissism is a prevalent personality trait associated with low concern for others and high self-focus. Congruently, reduced automatic imitation in narcissists was reported in one study (23 participants), but it was not replicated in another (57 participants). In this study, 100 participants completed the previously used narcissism and automatic imitation measures but here along with a visual perspective-taking task allowing to dissociate 4 profiles of perspective-takers. While we confirmed a non-replication at whole-sample level, we did find a reliable negative association between narcissism and automatic imitation among egocentric perspective-takers, that is, characterized as highly self-centered when tasked to adopt someone else's point of view. Our findings shed a new light on whether narcissistic individuals are less sensitive to others, highlight the importance of considering performance-based individual differences within the narcissistic personality, and revisit the recent claim that automatic imitation poorly relates to social functioning by presenting a theoretical framework that questions the sensitivity of the automatic imitation task.
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Farmer H, Mahmood R, Gregory SEA, Tishina P, Hamilton AFDC. Dynamic emotional expressions do not modulate responses to gestures. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2021; 212:103226. [PMID: 33310344 PMCID: PMC7755647 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2020.103226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The tendency to imitate the actions of others appears to be a fundamental aspect of human social interaction. Emotional expressions are a particularly salient form of social stimuli (Vuilleumier & Schwartz, 2001) but their relationship to imitative behaviour is currently unclear. In this paper we report the results of five studies which investigated the effect of a target's dynamic emotional stimuli on participants' tendency to respond compatibly to the target's actions. Experiment one examined the effect of dynamic emotional expressions on the automatic imitation of opening and closing hand movements. Experiment two used the same basic paradigm but added gaze direction as an additional factor. Experiment three investigated the effect of dynamic emotional expressions on compatibility responses to handshakes. Experiment four investigated whether dynamic emotional expressions modulated response to valenced social gestures. Finally, experiment five compared the effects of dynamic and static emotional expressions on participants' automatic imitation of finger lifting. Across all five studies we reliably elicited a compatibility effect however, none of the studies found a significant modulating effect of emotional expression. This null effect was also supported by a random effects meta-analysis and a series of Bayesian t-tests. Nevertheless, these results must be caveated by the fact that our studies had limited power to detect effect sizes below d = 0.4. We conclude by situating our findings within the literature, suggesting that the effect of emotional expressions on automatic imitation is, at best, minimal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harry Farmer
- School of Human Sciences, University of Greenwich, United Kingdom; Institute of Lifecourse Development, University of Greenwich, United Kingdom; Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, United Kingdom.
| | - Raqeeb Mahmood
- Department of Psychology, University of Bath, United Kingdom
| | | | - Polina Tishina
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, United Kingdom
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11
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Individual differences in social and non-social cognitive control. Cognition 2020; 202:104317. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cognition.2020.104317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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Genschow O, Schuler J, Cracco E, Brass M, Wänke M. The Effect of Money Priming on Self-Focus in the Imitation-Inhibition Task. Exp Psychol 2020; 66:423-436. [PMID: 32054430 PMCID: PMC8210575 DOI: 10.1027/1618-3169/a000466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Abstract. The self-sufficiency hypothesis suggests that priming
individuals with money makes them focus more strongly on themselves than on
others. However, recently, research supporting this claim has been heavily
criticized and some attempts to replicate have failed. A reason for the
inconsistent findings in the field may lay in the common use of explicit
measures, because they tend to rely on one or just a few items and are thus
prone to demand effects and low reliability. In the present research, we
administered, in two experiments, the imitation-inhibition task – a
robust, unobtrusive, and reliable paradigm that is sensitive to self-other focus
on a trial-by-trial basis. A pilot study found an increased focus on the self as
compared to others when primed with money. Building on this finding, a
preregistered high-powered experiment replicated this effect, suggesting that
money primes may indeed increase a focus on the self. An additionally carried
out meta-analysis indicates that automatic imitation is modulated by self-other
focus and that money primes lead to a smaller focus on the self than
conventional methods. Overall, the found effects are rather small and several
limitations, such as order effects, call for a cautious interpretation of the
findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Genschow
- Faculty of Human Sciences, Social Cognition Center Cologne, University of Cologne, Germany
| | - Johannes Schuler
- Fraunhofer Institute for System and Innovation Research, Germany
| | - Emiel Cracco
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium
| | - Marcel Brass
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium
| | - Michaela Wänke
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Mannheim, Germany
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Galang CM, Obhi SS. Automatic imitation does not predict levels of prosocial behaviour in a modified dictator game. Acta Psychol (Amst) 2020; 204:103022. [PMID: 32028112 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2020.103022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 01/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Automatic imitation refers to the automatic tendency to imitate observed actions. Previous research on automatic imitation has linked it to a wide variety of social cognitive processes and functions, although the evidence is mixed and suggestive. However, no study to date has looked at the downstream behavioural effects of automatic imitation. The current research addresses this gap in the literature by exploring the possible relationship between trait-levels of automatic imitation, as measured by the automatic imitation task (AIT), and explicit prosocial behaviours, as measured by a modified dictator game (DG). Contrary to our expectations, AIT effects did not correlate with DG scores. This conclusion is supported by both equivalence tests and Bayesian analysis. However, we discuss a number of alternative explanations for our results, and caution against strong interpretations from a single study. We further discuss the implications of this finding in relation to the widespread notion that automatic imitation, and self-other control more generally, underlie social cognitive functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl Michael Galang
- Social Brain, Body and Action Lab, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, McMaster University, Canada.
| | - Sukhvinder S Obhi
- Social Brain, Body and Action Lab, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, McMaster University, Canada.
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Zhou HY, Yang HX, Gong JB, Cheung EFC, Gooding DC, Park S, Chan RCK. Revisiting the overlap between autistic and schizotypal traits in the non-clinical population using meta-analysis and network analysis. Schizophr Res 2019; 212:6-14. [PMID: 31387828 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2019.07.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Revised: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The present study aimed to explore the relationship between autistic and schizotypal traits in the non-clinical population. We first conducted a meta-analysis to quantify the correlation between self-reported autistic traits and the three dimensions of schizotypal traits (positive, negative and disorganization). The strongest correlation was found between autistic traits and negative schizotypal traits (r = 0.536, 95% CI [0.481, 0.586]), followed by the disorganization (r = 0.355, 95% CI [0.304, 0.404]) and positive (r = 0.256, 95% CI [0.208, 0.302]) dimensions. To visualize the partial correlations between dimensional behavioural traits, we constructed a network model based on a large sample of college students (N = 2469). Negative schizotypal traits were strongly correlated with autistic social/communicative deficits, whereas positive schizotypal traits were inversely correlated with autistic-like traits, lending support to the psychosis-autism diametrical model. Disentangling the overlapping and diametrical structure of autism and schizophrenia may help to elucidate the aetiology of these two neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han-Yu Zhou
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Han-Xue Yang
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jing-Bo Gong
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China; Department of Applied Psychology, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China
| | - Eric F C Cheung
- Castle Peak Hospital, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Diane C Gooding
- Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
| | - Sohee Park
- Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, USA
| | - Raymond C K Chan
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China; Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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15
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Cracco E, Cooper RP. Automatic imitation of multiple agents: A computational model. Cogn Psychol 2019; 113:101224. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cogpsych.2019.101224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Revised: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 06/07/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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16
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Darda KM, Ramsey R. The inhibition of automatic imitation: A meta-analysis and synthesis of fMRI studies. Neuroimage 2019; 197:320-329. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.04.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Revised: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
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17
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Shaw DJ, Czekóová K, Pennington CR, Qureshi AW, Špiláková B, Salazar M, Brázdil M, Urbánek T. You ≠ me: individual differences in the structure of social cognition. PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2018; 84:1139-1156. [PMID: 30324265 PMCID: PMC7239802 DOI: 10.1007/s00426-018-1107-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2018] [Accepted: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the structure of social cognition, and how it is influenced by personality; specifically, how various socio-cognitive capabilities, and the pattern of inter-relationships and co-dependencies among them differ between divergent personality styles. To measure social cognition, a large non-clinical sample (n = 290) undertook an extensive battery of self-report and performance-based measures of visual perspective taking, imitative tendencies, affective empathy, interoceptive accuracy, emotion regulation, and state affectivity. These same individuals then completed the Personality Styles and Disorders Inventory. Latent Profile Analysis revealed two dissociable personality profiles that exhibited contrasting cognitive and affective dispositions, and multivariate analyses indicated further that these profiles differed on measures of social cognition; individuals characterised by a flexible and adaptive personality profile expressed higher action orientation (emotion regulation) compared to those showing more inflexible tendencies, along with better visual perspective taking, superior interoceptive accuracy, less imitative tendencies, and lower personal distress and negativity. These characteristics point towards more efficient self-other distinction, and to higher cognitive control more generally. Moreover, low-level cognitive mechanisms served to mediate other higher level socio-emotional capabilities. Together, these findings elucidate the cognitive and affective underpinnings of individual differences in social behaviour, providing a data-driven model that should guide future research in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- D J Shaw
- Behavioural and Social Neuroscience Research Group, CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic. .,Department of Psychology, School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, B4 7ET, UK.
| | - K Czekóová
- Behavioural and Social Neuroscience Research Group, CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic.,Institute of Psychology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Veveří 97, 60200, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - C R Pennington
- Department of Health and Social Sciences, Faculty of Health and Applied Sciences, University of the West of England, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1QY, UK
| | - A W Qureshi
- Department of Psychology, Edge Hill University, St Helens Road, Ormskirk, Lancashire, L39 4QP, UK
| | - B Špiláková
- Behavioural and Social Neuroscience Research Group, CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - M Salazar
- Behavioural and Social Neuroscience Research Group, CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - M Brázdil
- Behavioural and Social Neuroscience Research Group, CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - T Urbánek
- Institute of Psychology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Veveří 97, 60200, Brno, Czech Republic
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18
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Fiquer JT, Moreno RA, Brunoni AR, Barros VB, Fernandes F, Gorenstein C. What is the nonverbal communication of depression? Assessing expressive differences between depressive patients and healthy volunteers during clinical interviews. J Affect Disord 2018; 238:636-644. [PMID: 29957481 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2018.05.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2017] [Revised: 05/05/2018] [Accepted: 05/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is unclear if individuals with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) present different nonverbal behavior (NVB) compared with healthy individuals, and also if depression treatments affect NVB. In this study, we compared the NVB of MDD subjects and healthy controls. We also verified how MDD subjects' NVB is affected by depression severity and acute treatments. METHODS We evaluated 100 MDD outpatients and 83 controls. We used a 21-category ethogram to assess the frequency of positive and negative NVB at baseline. MDD subjects were also assessed after eight weeks of treatment (pharmacotherapy or neuromodulation). We used the Wilcoxon signed-rank test to compare the NVB of MDD subjects and controls; beta regression models to verify associations between MDD severity and NVB; the Shapiro-Wilk test to verify changes in NVB after treatment; and logistic regression models to verify NVB associated with treatment response according to the Hamilton depression rating scale. RESULTS Compared with controls, MDD subjects presented higher levels of six negative NVB (shrug, head and lips down, adaptive hand gestures, frown and cry) and lower levels of two positive NVB (eye contact and smile). MDD subjects' NVB was not associated with depression severity, and did not significantly change after depression treatment. Treatment responders showed more interpersonal proximity at baseline than non-responders. LIMITATIONS Our ethogram had no measure of behavior duration, and we had a short follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS MDD subjects have more negative and less positive social NVB than controls. Their nonverbal behavior remained stable after clinical response to acute depression treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Teixeira Fiquer
- Laboratory of Medical Investigation (LIM 23), Department and Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Ricardo Alberto Moreno
- Mood Disorders Unit (GRUDA), Department and Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Andre R Brunoni
- Service of Interdisciplinary Neuromodulation, Laboratory of Neurosciences (LIM-27) and National Institute of Biomarkers in Psychiatry (INBioN), Department and Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Vivian Boschesi Barros
- University of São Paulo School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fernando Fernandes
- Mood Disorders Unit (GRUDA), Department and Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Clarice Gorenstein
- Laboratory of Medical Investigation (LIM 23), Department and Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Ramsey R. What are reaction time indices of automatic imitation measuring? Conscious Cogn 2018; 65:240-254. [DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2018.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Revised: 07/05/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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Hauschild S, Winter D, Thome J, Liebke L, Schmahl C, Bohus M, Lis S. Behavioural mimicry and loneliness in borderline personality disorder. Compr Psychiatry 2018; 82:30-36. [PMID: 29407356 DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2018.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2017] [Revised: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Interpersonal problems together with feelings of intense loneliness constitute a core symptom domain in borderline personality disorder (BPD). Mimicry is one social behaviour that serves the forming of social affiliation and building a sense of belonging. In the present study, we investigated whether behavioural mimicry is altered in BPD and whether it is linked to the patient's feeling of loneliness. METHODS Individuals with BPD (N = 26) and healthy participants (HC, N = 25) performed a finger tapping task with a congruent or incongruent finger movement displayed preceding the presentation of the task relevant stimulus. Additional trials showing an immobile hand were used as a control condition. Mimicry strength was estimated as response facilitation after congruent and response interference after incongruent cues. RESULTS Both HC and BPD patients showed facilitated responses after congruent finger movements. Only BPD patients exhibited interference by incongruent cues. The lonelier the BPD patients felt, the weaker was the interference of the incongruent cues. In contrast, interference increased with the level of loneliness in the HC group. CONCLUSIONS Behavioural mimicry was increased in BPD. However, this effect was less pronounced in those BPD patients who reported the highest levels of loneliness. Our findings emphasize that mimicry is a complex construct and only some of the involved processes are altered in BPD. Future studies must further disentangle the contribution of cognitive and social cognitive processes, address a potential causality in the link between loneliness and mimicry in BPD, and relate alterations of mimicry to interpersonal dysfunction during every-day life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Hauschild
- Institute of Psychiatric and Psychosomatic Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dorina Winter
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Koblenz-Landau, Landau, Germany
| | - Janine Thome
- Institute of Psychiatric and Psychosomatic Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lisa Liebke
- Institute of Psychiatric and Psychosomatic Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christian Schmahl
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Martin Bohus
- Institute of Psychiatric and Psychosomatic Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany; Faculty of Health, University of Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Stefanie Lis
- Institute of Psychiatric and Psychosomatic Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
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Darda KM, Butler EE, Ramsey R. Functional Specificity and Sex Differences in the Neural Circuits Supporting the Inhibition of Automatic Imitation. J Cogn Neurosci 2018; 30:914-933. [PMID: 29561236 DOI: 10.1162/jocn_a_01261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Humans show an involuntary tendency to copy other people's actions. Although automatic imitation builds rapport and affiliation between individuals, we do not copy actions indiscriminately. Instead, copying behaviors are guided by a selection mechanism, which inhibits some actions and prioritizes others. To date, the neural underpinnings of the inhibition of automatic imitation and differences between the sexes in imitation control are not well understood. Previous studies involved small sample sizes and low statistical power, which produced mixed findings regarding the involvement of domain-general and domain-specific neural architectures. Here, we used data from Experiment 1 ( N = 28) to perform a power analysis to determine the sample size required for Experiment 2 ( N = 50; 80% power). Using independent functional localizers and an analysis pipeline that bolsters sensitivity, during imitation control we show clear engagement of the multiple-demand network (domain-general), but no sensitivity in the theory-of-mind network (domain-specific). Weaker effects were observed with regard to sex differences, suggesting that there are more similarities than differences between the sexes in terms of the neural systems engaged during imitation control. In summary, neurocognitive models of imitation require revision to reflect that the inhibition of imitation relies to a greater extent on a domain-general selection system rather than a domain-specific system that supports social cognition.
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Vuijk R, Deen M, Sizoo B, Arntz A. Temperament, Character, and Personality Disorders in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: a Systematic Literature Review and Meta-analysis. REVIEW JOURNAL OF AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s40489-018-0131-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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Genschow O, van Den Bossche S, Cracco E, Bardi L, Rigoni D, Brass M. Mimicry and automatic imitation are not correlated. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0183784. [PMID: 28877197 PMCID: PMC5587324 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2017] [Accepted: 08/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
It is widely known that individuals have a tendency to imitate each other. However, different psychological disciplines assess imitation in different manners. While social psychologists assess mimicry by means of action observation, cognitive psychologists assess automatic imitation with reaction time based measures on a trial-by-trial basis. Although these methods differ in crucial methodological aspects, both phenomena are assumed to rely on similar underlying mechanisms. This raises the fundamental question whether mimicry and automatic imitation are actually correlated. In the present research we assessed both phenomena and did not find a meaningful correlation. Moreover, personality traits such as empathy, autism traits, and traits related to self- versus other-focus did not correlate with mimicry or automatic imitation either. Theoretical implications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Genschow
- Social Cognition Center Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Emiel Cracco
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lara Bardi
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Davide Rigoni
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Marcel Brass
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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Gender and autistic traits modulate implicit motor synchrony. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0184083. [PMID: 28873419 PMCID: PMC5584984 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2017] [Accepted: 08/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Interpersonal motor synchrony during walking or dancing is universally observed across cultures, and this joint movement was modulated by physical and social parameters. However, human interactions are greatly shaped by our unique traits, and self-related factors are surprisingly little studied in the context of interpersonal motor synchrony. In this study, we investigated two such factors known to be highly associated with motor coordination: gender and autistic traits. We employed a real-world task extending our understanding beyond laboratory tasks. Participants of the same gender were paired up to walk and chat in a natural environment. A cover story was introduced so that participants would not know their walking steps were being recorded and instead believed that their location was being tracked by a global positioning system (GPS), so they would ignore the motor recording. We found that the female pairs’ steps were more synchronized than those of the males, and higher autistic tendencies (measured by the autism-spectrum quotient) attenuated synchronous steps. Those who synchronized better had higher impression rating increase for their walking partners (measured by interpersonal judgement scale) than those who synchronized less well. Our results indicated that the participants’ joint movements were shaped by predisposed traits and might share similar mechanism with social functions such as empathy.
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Abstract
Mimicry involves unconsciously imitating the actions of others and is a powerful and ubiquitous behavior in social interactions. There has been a long debate over whether mimicry is abnormal in people with autism spectrum conditions (ASC) and what the causes of any differences might be. Wang and Hamilton's (2012) social top-down response modulation (STORM) model proposed that people with ASC can and do mimic but, unlike neurotypical participants, fail to modulate their mimicry according to the social context. This study used an established mimicry paradigm to test this hypothesis. In neurotypical participants, direct gaze specifically enhanced congruent hand actions as previously found; in the ASC sample, direct gaze led to faster reaction times in both congruent and incongruent movements. This result shows that mimicry is intact in ASC, but is not socially modulated by gaze, as predicted by STORM.
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Butler EE, Saville CWN, Ward R, Ramsey R. Physical attraction to reliable, low variability nervous systems: Reaction time variability predicts attractiveness. Cognition 2016; 158:81-89. [PMID: 27815988 DOI: 10.1016/j.cognition.2016.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2015] [Revised: 10/11/2016] [Accepted: 10/25/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The human face cues a range of important fitness information, which guides mate selection towards desirable others. Given humans' high investment in the central nervous system (CNS), cues to CNS function should be especially important in social selection. We tested if facial attractiveness preferences are sensitive to the reliability of human nervous system function. Several decades of research suggest an operational measure for CNS reliability is reaction time variability, which is measured by standard deviation of reaction times across trials. Across two experiments, we show that low reaction time variability is associated with facial attractiveness. Moreover, variability in performance made a unique contribution to attractiveness judgements above and beyond both physical health and sex-typicality judgements, which have previously been associated with perceptions of attractiveness. In a third experiment, we empirically estimated the distribution of attractiveness preferences expected by chance and show that the size and direction of our results in Experiments 1 and 2 are statistically unlikely without reference to reaction time variability. We conclude that an operating characteristic of the human nervous system, reliability of information processing, is signalled to others through facial appearance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily E Butler
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; Wales Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales, UK
| | - Christopher W N Saville
- Wales Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales, UK; University Hospital for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Robert Ward
- Wales Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales, UK
| | - Richard Ramsey
- Wales Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales, UK.
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Orthogonal-compatibility effects confound automatic imitation: implications for measuring self-other distinction. PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2016; 81:1152-1165. [PMID: 27752773 DOI: 10.1007/s00426-016-0814-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2016] [Accepted: 10/06/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Accurate distinction between self and other representations is fundamental to a range of social cognitive capacities, and understanding individual differences in this ability is an important aim for psychological research. This demands accurate measures of self-other distinction (SOD). The present study examined an experimental paradigm employed frequently to measure SOD in the action domain; specifically, we evaluated the rotated finger-action stimuli used increasingly to measure automatic imitation (AI). To assess the suitability of these stimuli, we compared AI elicited by different action stimuli to the performance on a perspective-taking task believed to measure SOD in the perception domain. In two separate experiments we reveal three important findings: firstly, we demonstrate a strong confounding influence of orthogonal-compatibility effects on AI elicited by certain rotated stimuli. Second, we demonstrate the potential for this confounding influence to mask important relationships between AI and other measures of SOD; we observed a relationship between AI and perspective-taking performance only when the former was measured in isolation of orthogonality compatibility. Thirdly, we observed a relationship between these two performance measures only in a sub-group of individuals exhibiting a pure form of AI. Furthermore, this relationship revealed a self-bias in SOD-reduced AI was associated with increased egocentric misattributions in perspective taking. Together, our findings identify an important methodological consideration for measures of AI and extend previous research by showing an egocentric style of SOD across action and perception domains.
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