Social Isolation Affects the Mimicry Response in the Use of Smartphones An Ethological Experiment during the COVID-19 Pandemic

• Published in: Human nature (Hawthorne, N.Y.) Vol. 34; no. 1; pp. 88 - 102
• Main Authors: Maglieri, Veronica, Zanoli, Anna, Giunchi, Dimitri, Palagi, Elisabetta
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.03.2023
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Anthropology; Behavioral Sciences; Biological Psychology; Communication; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 - prevention & control; Female; Humans; Imitative Behavior; Internet Use - statistics & numerical data; Italy - epidemiology; Linear Models; Male; Middle Aged; Quarantine - psychology; Smartphone; Social Isolation - psychology; Social Sciences; Time Factors; Young Adult; Italy; Gaze-following; Social bonds; Social isolation; Joint actions; Chameleon effect

Humans are social animals that rely on different ways to interact with each other. The COVID-19 pandemic strongly changed our communication strategies. Because of the importance of direct contact for our species, we predict that immediately after the forced social isolation, people were more prone t...