ABSTRACT
The conductor–choir bond relies on the chameleon effect both at the cognitive level of response to gesture and at the emotional level of empathy and group dynamic. This chapter seeks to understand the nature of this bond. It begins by examining accounts from the practitioner literature, and explores the terms in which they describe the phenomenon. The chapter presents several models from the nonverbal communication studies literature that can help explain the practitioners' experiences, and tests these against both the written accounts and examples. The mechanism at the heart of the chameleon effect is the link between perception and behaviour. The theory of emotional contagion thus suggests a somewhat different mechanism by which a choir may reflect its conductor from that implied by the chameleon effect. The intimacy equilibrium model helps to understand what is going on when this bond appears to break down.
