CENTER FOR APPLIED
THEORY OF MIND

PERSPECTIVE TAKING, GAINING, SHIFTING & SHAPING

Welcome to the BMC™
Module 1 Embodied Sharing of Affect and Behavior

Learn how we read and influence others through our own sensorial awareness and behavior—by observing, practicing and mastering embodied sharing.

In this course you will explore the following four topics:

Mimicry, affective contagion and behavioral contagion
Learning to read mental states through embodied sharing
Maintaining a healthy self-other distinction
Regulating your susceptibility to embodied sharing

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

Understand why we naturally adopt the feelings and behaviors of others
Gain insight into your own tendencies to adopt the feelings and behaviors of others—and learn how to manage them
Tell the difference between your genuine feelings and actions versus those you have adopted from others
Read the mental states of others by noticing the emotions and behaviors you have adopted from them
Recognize through mimicry and affective and behavioral contagion when people are trying to connect, pull away, collaborate, or compete
Make sense of social dynamics like status, preferences and decision-making authority through subtle mirroring cues
Understand how shared emotions and behaviors shape your own experiences
Navigate cultural differences in emotions and social behavior more smoothly through mirroring
Positively influence the behavior of others through non-confrontational embodied sharing of emotions and behavior

The components that guide your learning:

1 Assessment

2 Preparation exercises (establishing a baseline)
2 Videos
1 Theory recap exercise (learning retention)
3 Observation exercises
3 Practice exercises
2 Evaluation exercises (assessing your learning progress)

You will have access to the course for 12 months from the date you enroll, so there’s plenty of time to learn, practice and revisit the material.

Step 1. Fill out the Inventory

The BMI report, module 1 Embodied Sharing of Affect and Behavior, provides clear insights into your skills to "catch" the emotions and behaviors of others and your use of this social information to read others.

Backed by diverse theories and rigorous scientific research, the BMI doesn’t just evaluate your current skills—it helps you design a roadmap to strengthen them.

To ensure a seamless and productive experience, please follow the steps outlined below:

Complete the Inventory: Take your time to thoughtfully answer each question. The inventory is designed to be completed in a single session. Select a convenient time and place to take the inventory. The average time for completing the inventory varies depending on which inventory you ordered. Most people complete this inventory within 30 minutes. We recommend allocating at least one hour to allow yourself ample time. Non-native English speakers may require more time to fill out the inventory.

The core of the inventory consists of statements with which you may or may not agree. You indicate your level of agreement by selecting one of the following options:

Strongly Disagree (I do not agree with the statement in general)
Disagree (I disagree with the statement to a certain extent)
Neutral (I neither agree nor disagree with the statement/not sure)
Agree (I agree with the statement to a certain extent)
Strongly Agree (I agree with the statement in general)

If you feel unsure, have mixed feelings, or don't have a strong preference, you should choose "Neutral." Neutral is positioned as a midpoint on the scale, indicating a balanced stance between agreement and disagreement.

Do not close the inventory page prior to submitting your inventory, or your answers will be lost. You can go back to previous questions and change your answers until you submit the completed form.

We strive to finalize and email the report within 5 business days after submission. The report helps you guide and enhance your learning progress during the related courses. Submit only one completed inventory.

Should you encounter any technical issues while completing the questionnaire, our support team is ready to assist you. Contact us at info@appliedtom.com.

If you have already completed the full BMI, you may want to use this new opportunity to reassess yourself with regard to this section at the end of the course and compare your results with those from your previous BMI report.

Start the assessment below:

Step 2. Set a Baseline

BMC PREP1

REVIEW YOUR ASSESSMENT OUTCOMES

D O W N L O A D

BMC PREP2

DESIGN YOUR OWN LEARNING PLAN

D O W N L O A D

Step 3. Watch the Video's

Mentalizing is the human ability to understand behavior—both our own and that of others—in terms of underlying thoughts, feelings, intentions and bodily states. It is a skill that shapes how we interpret social situations, respond to emotional signals and make sense of our inner experiences. Strengthening this ability can deepen self-awareness, improve relationships and enhance emotional regulation.

The videos introduce the foundational building blocks of mentalizing and basic mentalizing in specific.

The first video provides an overview of the core concepts of mentalization. It is included in all of our learning videos to help you understand how the specific topic fits within the broader framework of mentalization.

The second video explains embodied sharing of affect and behavior, inviting you to reflect on how naturally you resonate with the emotions and actions of people around you and how you can use this information to mentalize about others' and your own mental states. This video includes a link to a recap page where you can review and consolidate the most important takeaways from that video.
As you progress through the videos, you are invited to observe your own tendencies with curiosity and openness. This awareness is the first step toward developing a more flexible, reflective and balanced mentalizing ability.

The videos are recorded at a moderate pace, making it easier for everyone to follow the theoretical explanations, which can be quite dense. You can, however, adjust the playback speed to your preferred setting.

Video 1. Introduction to the concepts of mentalization

Video 2. Embodied Sharing of Affect and Behavior