Cognitive Mirroring is the process of representing and repeating back to someone what they believe in order to establish a connection or understanding with them. It is similar to the concept of rapport, which refers to the ability to establish a harmonious relationship with someone else, but goes beyond just building a sense of common ground and involves actively mirroring and reflecting back the other person’s thoughts and beliefs.
This is the first step in many behavior change programs:
- Step 1: Cognitive Mirroring
- Step 2: Cognitive Shaping
- Step 3: Belief & Behavior Change
The idea is that in order to change someone’s beliefs, it is first necessary to communicate an understanding of their worldview. Only after this is done is it possible to shape and guide what they believe.
