Why We Mimic Emotions Even When No One is Watching: Limited Visual Contact and Emotional Mimicry

Abstract

This article explores emotional mimicry and its interpersonal functions under the absence versus presence of visual contact between the interacting partners. We review relevant literature and stress that previous studies on emotional mimicry were focused on imitative responses to facial displays. We also show that the rules applying to mimicking facial expressions may not necessarily be applicable when visual emotional signals are not present (e.g., people attending an online meeting cannot see each other’s faces). Overall, our review suggests that emotional mimicry functionally adapts to whether the interacting partners can see each other. We therefore argue that going beyond facial displays may provide insight into emotional mimicry’s social functions, thereby clarifying its role in fostering affiliation and emotional understanding.