Journal
SOCIAL INFLUENCE
Volume 18, Issue 1, Pages -Publisher
ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
DOI: 10.1080/15534510.2023.2187880
Keywords
Mimicry; unrealistic optimism; COVID-19; coronavirus
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Unrealistic optimism bias occurs when individuals perceive themselves as less at risk from threats compared to their peers. This bias has been widely documented and poses a significant danger to one's health. Existing research suggests egocentrism as a mechanism to reduce this bias. However, this study introduces a novel mechanism, mimicry, which surprisingly results in a stronger tendency to perceive oneself as less threatened. This finding is alarming as mimicry may be employed in patient-doctor dialogues, potentially leading to resistance towards medical recommendations.
Unrealistic optimism bias appears when a person perceives oneself - in comparison to peers - as less at risk from threats. This bias has been widely reported and the consequences are clear: it puts one's health in danger. The existing body of literature proposes egocentrism as a mechanism leading to a reduction in this bias. The present paper tests a novel mechanism orienting a person toward others - thus linked with egocentrism - i.e., mimicry. Results showed directly opposing effects: mimicry induced a stronger tendency to perceive oneself as less threatened. This result is not only surprising but especially alarming since mimicry may be used in patient-doctor dialogue which may backfire, leading to resistance to medical recommendations provided by the doctor.
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