Mirror game as a tool to influence interpersonal spontaneous behavior after performance.

Area of Science:

• Social Psychology
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Human Interaction Dynamics

Background:

• The mirror game (MG) involves mutual imitation, but its effects on subsequent spontaneous behavior are not fully understood.
• Understanding how interaction types influence social proximity and joint action is crucial for social cognition research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the spontaneous behavioral consequences of mirror game (MG) participation compared to individual movement (IM) on interpersonal distance and joint action.
• To examine how imitation (MG) versus independent action (IM) affects social approach-avoidance tendencies and the joint Simon effect (JSE).

Main Methods:

• Participants engaged in a baseline (BL) phase, followed by either an MG phase or an IM phase, each including a joint Simon task and a lure task.
• Interpersonal distance was measured during the lure task to quantify spontaneous approach or avoidance behaviors.
• The joint Simon effect (JSE) was analyzed to assess the integration of partners' responses in action planning.

Main Results:

• Mirror game (MG) participation led to a spontaneous increase in interpersonal approach toward a partner.
• Individual movement (IM) resulted in spontaneous interpersonal avoidance and a tendency to decrease the integration of a partner's response in one's action plan (reduced JSE).
• In the IM phase, a larger interpersonal distance correlated with a smaller JSE, suggesting avoidance further decouples action plans.

Conclusions:

• Mirror game (MG) interaction promotes social bonding and approach, while individual movement (IM) can lead to social distancing and reduced cooperation.
• The findings highlight the distinct impact of imitative versus independent actions on interpersonal dynamics and cognitive coordination.
• These results have implications for understanding social interaction, empathy, and the neural underpinnings of joint action.