Love and Imitation: Facial Mimicry and Relationship Satisfaction in Younger and Older Couples
Research output: Contribution to journal › Research article › Contributed › peer-review
Contributors
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Social mimicry, the imitation of one’s conversation partner, is associated with empathy, liking, and affiliation. Because previous research has mainly focused on young adulthood and zero acquaintances, little is known about age differences in mimicry and its role for romantic relationships.
METHODS: In this study, 37 younger and 41 older couples talked about an ongoing problem faced by one of the partners while being video-recorded. Three independent observers assessed partners’ facial mimicry. After the conversation, couples evaluated the quality of their relationship.
RESULTS: Younger couples imitated each other more than older couples. The link between mimicry and relationship quality was mixed. While facial mimicry was not linked to subjective closeness in either younger or older couples, there was a significant positive association between mimicry and relationship satisfaction in young, but not older, couples.
DISCUSSION: Overall, the results suggest that facial mimicry is a social process that becomes less prevalent and might differ in their function as individuals age.
METHODS: In this study, 37 younger and 41 older couples talked about an ongoing problem faced by one of the partners while being video-recorded. Three independent observers assessed partners’ facial mimicry. After the conversation, couples evaluated the quality of their relationship.
RESULTS: Younger couples imitated each other more than older couples. The link between mimicry and relationship quality was mixed. While facial mimicry was not linked to subjective closeness in either younger or older couples, there was a significant positive association between mimicry and relationship satisfaction in young, but not older, couples.
DISCUSSION: Overall, the results suggest that facial mimicry is a social process that becomes less prevalent and might differ in their function as individuals age.
Details
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 2010-2018 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Journals of Gerontology - Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences |
Volume | 77 |
Issue number | 7 |
Publication status | Published - 16 Oct 2021 |
Peer-reviewed | Yes |
Externally published | Yes |
External IDs
Scopus | 85133299252 |
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Keywords
Keywords
- Couples, Facial mimicry, Life span, Relationship quality, Romantic relationships, Couples, Facial mimicry, Life span, Relationship quality, Romantic relationships