Mimetic effect in mentoring: the contribution of shared transcendence values

Abstract

Modelling in mentoring has been widely identified but the underlying mimetic process of how mentor qualities are reproduced in mentees is rarely explained. This article describes how a critical realist mixed methods case-study of Baptist ministers led to the development of a Resonance Model of Mimetic Effect in Mentoring depicting core conditions and drivers in the mimetic process. Mentor-mentee prioritising of God and transcendence values were found to particularly contribute to the generative mechanism in mimetic effect. Awareness of this powerful mimetic process is described as significant for equipping mentors to work in beneficial developmental ways with mentees.

Keywords

• Mimetic
• modelling
• imitation
• ministerial formation
• exemplarity
• resonance model