This review explores spontaneous mimicry in the context of three questions. The first question concerns the role of spontaneous mimicry in processing conceptual information. The second question concerns the debate whether spontaneous mimicry is driven by simple associative processes or reflects higher-order processes such as goals, intentions, and social context. The third question addresses the implications of these debates for understanding atypical individuals and states. We review relevant literature and argue for a dynamic, context-sensitive role of spontaneous mimicry in social cognition and behavior. We highlight how the modulation of mimicry is often adaptive but also point out some cases of maladaptive modulations that impair an individuals’ engagement in social life.

中文翻译：

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我们之间的模仿：自发模仿的内在和人际机制

这篇评论探讨了三个问题中的自发模仿。第一个问题涉及自发模仿在处理概念性信息中的作用。第二个问题与辩论有关，即自发模仿是由简单的关联过程驱动还是反映了更高层次的过程，例如目标，意图和社会背景。第三个问题是这些辩论对理解非典型个体和国家的意义。我们回顾了相关文献，并提出了自发模仿在社会认知和行为中的动态，上下文相关的作用。我们着重介绍模仿的调节方式通常是自适应的，但同时也指出了一些不良适应调节情况，这些损害了个人对社交生活的参与。