Is there a name for this?

[Johnny Novgorod]

When you mimic or imitate certain motions that a character is making in an effort to "boost" that action. For example: pulling up the controller when you're reeling in a fish in a game, or turning the controller when making a sudden turn in a racing game - even if the game doesn't read your movements. Or hissing out in pain when your character gets shot/punched. And so on. I know it's part of being "immersed" and without thinking it we like to hone that sense of immersion, but is there a psychological term for it?

 

[Silentpony_v1legacy]

Fhqwhgads, alternatively known as Forhorglingrads and Fooboomagoo

 

[Queen Michael]

We Swedes call it "elakartad kanelbulle med senap" which means basically "thinking your body affects what it doesn't."

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

We Swedes call it "elakartad kanelbulle med senap" which means basically "thinking your body affects what it doesn't."

It would be like a reverse placebo effect [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Placebo] I suppose.

 

[Wintermute_v1legacy]

Intuitive nerd reflex or something.

 

[Kyrian007]

My favorite example, I was visiting a friend in his dorm room. His door was open a crack, so I did knock and then just let myself in. He was playing Doom 3, his computer was at the far end of the room and he was facing away from me (and hadn't heard the knock.) On screen he was very nearly out of health, and he was standing at a corner. I noticed he kept moving his head, turning it to look sideways at the screen. It took me a second to realize, he was trying to see around the corner, by moving his head.

 

[ShutUpJames]

"elakartad kanelbulle med senap"

"something cinnamon bun with mustard"

You havin' a giggle, mate?

 

[JohnnyDelRay]

My favorite example, I was visiting a friend in his dorm room. His door was open a crack, so I did knock and then just let myself in. He was playing Doom 3, his computer was at the far end of the room and he was facing away from me (and hadn't heard the knock.) On screen he was very nearly out of health, and he was standing at a corner. I noticed he kept moving his head, turning it to look sideways at the screen. It took me a second to realize, he was trying to see around the corner, by moving his head.

I used to do this in the more tactical FPS games, like Rainbow Six and stuff, crane my neck over to see around the corner even though it doesn't help. I don't notice myself doing it anymore though, still funny when I see someone else doing it.

One time I felt really dumb was the first 3D movie I watched (Avatar), one part during a dinosaur chase or something when it comes crashing thru the bush at the camera and I actually "dodged" in my seat into the person sitting next to me, we had bit of a laugh. Never happened again though, I guess the novelty wears off quick.

As for what it's called, I have no idea. Maybe "immersive reflex" or something?

 

[maninahat]

People do it in the cinema too, leaning left or right to avoid oncoming vehicles in a car chase, or putting their hands up to block a monster on the screen.

I guess you could call it an involuntary empathetic response - though I don't know if anyone has ever come up with a name for it.

 

[Queen Michael]

"elakartad kanelbulle med senap"

"something cinnamon bun with mustard"

You havin' a giggle, mate?

The "something" would be "malignant" in Swedish. A giggle? I'm having a full-on guffaw.

 

[Cycloptomese]

My favorite example, I was visiting a friend in his dorm room. His door was open a crack, so I did knock and then just let myself in. He was playing Doom 3, his computer was at the far end of the room and he was facing away from me (and hadn't heard the knock.) On screen he was very nearly out of health, and he was standing at a corner. I noticed he kept moving his head, turning it to look sideways at the screen. It took me a second to realize, he was trying to see around the corner, by moving his head.

This reminds me of when I was a kid. I used to watch Sesame Street and there was a part in the opening theme where all the kids and Barkley would run behind a tree and disappear. I would go up to the TV and move my head to the side of the screen to try and see behind the tree so I could see them.

I didn't know anything about spatial dynamics and tube technology. I was only four.

 

[Squilookle]

How about holding your breath in a movie when someone's underwater? I still catch myself doing it everytime I see this bit...

 

[CaitSeith]

My bet goes to Kinesthetic memory.

 

[Guffe]

No clue mate...
I was hoping to get an answer after I read the OP, I was disapointed.
I have to come back later!

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

No clue mate...
I was hoping to get an answer after I read the OP, I was disapointed.
I have to come back later!

So far we have "kinesthetic memory", "involuntary empathetic response", "immersive reflex"... evidently we all understand the feeling but there's no official name for it? It's a reflex of some kind for sure.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

"elakartad kanelbulle med senap"

"something cinnamon bun with mustard"

You havin' a giggle, mate?

The "something" would be "malignant" in Swedish. A giggle? I'm having a full-on guffaw.

Buen chiste, pelotudo Sos un cago de risa.

 

[Marik2]

There is a word for it, but I forgot it.

 

[Vendor-Lazarus]

How about Mimetic Motion?
Rolls of the tongue quite nicely.

To my knowledge I'm only guilty of holding my breath when characters/people on screen are underwater.

 

[ArcaneGamer]

Fhqwhgads, alternatively known as Forhorglingrads and Fooboomagoo

"Coach Z, I thought I told you to leave my house an hour ago." =D

"DOUGLAS!"

"We got a breakthrough!"

XD

 

[ArcaneGamer]

"elakartad kanelbulle med senap"

"something cinnamon bun with mustard"

You havin' a giggle, mate?

The "something" would be "malignant" in Swedish. A giggle? I'm having a full-on guffaw.

Buen chiste, pelotudo Sos un cago de risa.

Tankev?ckande kanel munkar med sea salt kolas?s. =)

Also, Adem?s, ?qui?n se r?e ahora? >=D