Chameleon Effect
Researchers have defined a chameleon effect, the more someone adopts our mannerisms during conversation, the more we end up liking him. There are advantages to it.
Sit across from someone who's, say, crossing her arms, and odds are you'll eventually do the same.
As with so much of human nature, our tendency to mimic the facial expressions of others is context-dependent.
Those participants most likely to respond with a smile were the individuals who had earlier earned high marks on a measure of unconditional relationship commitment, those who regularly make sacrifices for their partner's well-being. They responded with a smile in an automatic effort to soothe their loved one's distress.
The restraint is to avoid fighting fire with fire. The ability to absorb rather than return hostile volley. The instinct to try take the edge off a partner's negative emotional state.
It's tough to shake the bonds of reciprocity and the shackles of conformity.
Psychology Today
see mirror neurons
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