Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
The mirror processes create the physical platform for model learning,
which is a very powerful way of learning safety behavior. Mirroring
mostly works on a nonconscious level and in an automatic way, but it can
be controlled if we know that it exists and if we contribute via planned
behavioral strategies. There are seven important aspects to mention:
1. First, mirror systems deliver a secondary function that is hosted in an
existing primary function. So mirror systems can activate only behav-
ior that is already in our repertoire. We cannot copy new behavior we
don
t know or yet understand. So, only after safety behavior and
safety precautions are known do they become a part of our mirroring
possibilities.
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We can only mirror what is already in our behavioral repertoire.
2. Second, we do not simply copy the overt safety behavior but the
intention behind it (Iacoboni, 2008; Schippers et al., 2009; Schippers
et al., 2010). If it is clear that we believe that a behavior cannot lead
to a result (for example, it is a fake behavior or a joke), we do not
mirror it. So if somebody is performing a safe behavior without any
intention behind it, others will not mirror it. A manager who is pro-
moting a safety breakthrough, but who does not really believe in it
herself, deep in her heart will nonconsciously show her second
thoughts and will not be regarded as a role model. She might even
be seen as a role model for paying lip service to safety behavior
while behaving as you like.
We mirror intentions, not just overt behavior.
3. The third aspect is that we are willing to express mirrored behavior
spontaneously because mirroring is a way of showing connectivity,
the chameleon effect (Kühn, 2010); we integrate mirrored behavior
automatically into our own repertoire. The mirror system makes
parts of our behavior contagious. Please note that not only safe but
also unsafe behavior can and will be mirrored. A badly performing
team will destroy all good intentions of a newcomer within weeks.
Mirrored behavior is integrated automatically in our own repertoire.
