Want to make friends? Imitate them . . . just don’t talk finances

What is a little money between friends? According to new research, at the very least, it’s not going to stimulate bonding.

Researchers have longknown mimicry strengthens social bonding between strangers. By subtly imitating a person’s posture or gestures, you can create goodwill. But a new study looking at the psychological effects of money on our behaviour suggests this does not apply when money is involved.

The Montreal Gazette:

Mimic someone and he’ll feel a warm glow; but mimic someone while he’s being reminded of money and he’ll feel threatened.

“Money reminders stimulate a longing for freedom and autonomy,” says Jia Liu at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, and co-author of the study on money and mimicry. The findings will be published in the journal Psychological Science.

Reminders of money elicit self-sufficiency, the researchers say. People who see dollar signs work longer and harder to reach goals, resist offers of help and take on more work than necessary. They also prefer solo activities and feel indifferent to being excluded.