A driving mechanism comprises: (i) an electromechanical conversion element comprising: an elongating and contracting portion that elongates and contracts; and a dummy layer that does not contribute to elongation and contraction of the electromechanical conversion element, in which one end of the dummy layer is attached to one end, in elongating and contracting direction, of the elongating and contracting portion; (ii) a driving friction member directly or indirectly attached to the other end of the elongating and contracting portion of the electromechanical conversion element; and (iii) a driven member frictionally engaged with the driving friction member, wherein a center of gravity of the entire electromechanical conversion element is not made coincident with a geometric center of the elongating and contracting portion in the elongating and contracting direction.