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examBoard: AQA
examType: GCSE
lessonTitle: Postural Echo
Have you ever noticed how people who get along well often sit or stand in similar ways? This mirroring of body positions is called postural echo and it's a fascinating part of how we communicate without words. This subtle copying of someone else's posture happens naturally when people feel connected to each other.
Key Definitions:
Postural echo can be observed when two people adopt similar:
Postural echo typically happens unconsciously and indicates:
Psychologists have been studying postural echo for decades and it's now recognised as an important aspect of social psychology and non-verbal communication. When we mirror someone's posture, we're essentially saying "I'm like you" on a subconscious level.
Albert Scheflen, an American psychiatrist and researcher, first coined the term "postural echo" in the 1960s. Through detailed observations of people in conversation, he noticed that people who were engaged in meaningful interaction often adopted similar postures without realising it. Scheflen proposed that this mirroring served as a non-verbal indication of shared thinking and mutual involvement.
Scheflen observed and photographed people during therapy sessions and meetings. He found that when people were engaged in the same line of thought or were in agreement, they often unconsciously adopted similar postures. He termed this phenomenon "postural echo" and suggested it was a way of non-verbally communicating shared understanding.
While postural echo is a form of mirroring, it specifically refers to the copying of body positions. It's important to understand how it relates to other forms of non-verbal mirroring:
Specifically refers to matching body positions and postures. For example, both people leaning back with arms crossed.
Copying specific hand movements and gestures, such as touching one's face or using similar hand movements while speaking.
Adopting similar speech patterns, pace, volume, or tone of voice during conversation.
One of the most significant aspects of postural echo is its relationship to rapport-building. When people naturally mirror each other's postures, it typically indicates they're on the same wavelength.
When postural echo happens naturally, it usually indicates:
Some people deliberately use postural echo to:
However, if done obviously, it can seem fake and have the opposite effect!
Several studies have examined the effects and significance of postural echo in social interactions:
In their famous "chameleon effect" studies, researchers found that people who were subtly mirrored by a conversation partner (including posture mirroring) reported liking that person more and feeling that the interaction went more smoothly. This happened even though participants were unaware of the mirroring. The researchers concluded that this automatic mimicry serves as a kind of "social glue" that helps bind people together.
Scientists have discovered that postural echo may be linked to special brain cells called "mirror neurons." These neurons fire both when we perform an action and when we see someone else perform the same action. This might explain why mirroring happens so naturally and unconsciously.
Research suggests that mirror neurons play a role in:
While postural echo appears to be a universal human behaviour, its expression and interpretation can vary across cultures:
Research has found that:
Studies by LaFrance and Broadbent (1976) found that:
Understanding postural echo has practical applications in many areas:
Therapists may subtly mirror clients' postures to build rapport and show empathy. They also observe clients' mirroring behaviours as indicators of therapeutic progress.
Understanding postural echo can help in business meetings and negotiations by providing non-verbal cues about agreement, rapport and comfort levels.
Teachers might notice postural echo between students who work well together, or use subtle mirroring to build rapport with students who are struggling.
Now that you understand what postural echo is, you can start to notice it in your daily interactions:
While understanding postural echo can be useful, it's important to consider the ethics of deliberately using mirroring techniques:
To wrap up what we've learned about postural echo:
Next time you're in a conversation, try to notice if you and the other person are displaying postural echo – it might tell you something about how well you're connecting!
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