What counts as emotional mimicry—and what becomes aligned?
Definitions, measurement, expressive versus experiential alignment, and the boundaries between mimicry, contagion, empathy, and counter-mimicry.
EASP Small Group Meeting · 2027
Emotional Mimicry in Social Context
From definitions and mechanisms to social relationships and group processes
A small-group meeting on definitions, mechanisms, measurement, and the role of emotional mimicry in relationships and groups.
Scientific background
Emotional mimicry in social context
Emotional mimicry is often treated as a simple matching response. Yet emotional expressions are communicative signals: their meaning changes with relationships, intentions, norms, group membership, and culture.
Resolving what mimicry is and how it arises is therefore not an end in itself. It is necessary for understanding when alignment creates affiliation, communicates an existing relationship, regulates conflict, or reinforces social boundaries.
Scientific programme
Three connected questions
The programme covers definition and measurement, underlying mechanisms, and social consequences.
How does mimicry arise and become socially regulated?
Automatic coupling, meaning-driven processes, appraisal, communicative intentions, social goals, norms, relationships, and culture.
What does mimicry do in social relationships and groups?
Affiliation, trust, influence, conflict regulation, group boundaries, and coordination—including behavioural mimicry and synchrony.
Meeting format
Talks, discussions, and working sessions
The meeting will combine focused presentations with structured working groups and methods/theory clinics, with substantial time for discussion.
- 20–25
- participants
- 4
- days in Berlin
- 3
- connected scientific questions
Practical information
In short
- Dates
- 9–12 September 2027
- Location
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Application deadline
- 15 May 2027
- Fees
- €125 EASP full · free EASP postgraduate · €200 non-member · €75 postgraduate non-member
- Accommodation support
- Six grants of up to €400 each to support three nights of accommodation for postgraduate and early-career participants