Have you noticed that when you interact with another person your language and behaviors start to match one another?  At the beginning, you might start out differently, talking at different rates, being more or less animated, using different words.  Then after a few moments of conversation, you start talking at similar speeds, leaning into each other, and even using similar phrases.

According to research on mimicry, this happens automatically between individuals.  Copying expressions, mannerisms, or language of another person makes communication easier and shows that you share commonalities.  As a result people like each other more (e.g., Chartrand & Bargh, 1999). 

Click here to read more about these findings…