People who copy others do so because they find it helpful to them. When they are unsure how to navigate the many choices in life, they home in on the more successful/ happy others who have already proven themselves. They use them as a reference point to make good choices in their own life.
It's normal to get defensive when someone copies you, especially after you've put time and effort into expressing yourself, but try not to take it personally. At best, imitation is simply someone admiring your style or approach and wanting to try it on for size in order to find their own voice or path forward.
Someone who mimics what you do or say is a copycat. If your little brother orders fettuccine Alfredo after you've already ordered it, you might call him a copycat.
"Contagious" might sound alarming, but in this case, it's a good thing. Mimicry seems to work like a social glue, helping pairs to bond and promoting group cohesion. And as the researchers behind this study pointed out, it seems to help us bond even when we're not trying to.
They mimic and mirror your movements
If a person likes you, they will spontaneously mimic your physical postures and gestures. This “affiliative mimicry” is an ancient evolved process rooted in the brain's Mirror Neuron System. This network of brain regions is the social glue that binds people together.
Imitating others' actions or gestures can be a natural human behavior, but when it happens frequently and involuntarily, it could be echopraxia. Mimicking or mirroring someone else's actions can be a natural part of the human socialization and learning process.
They're either: Lacking a sense of self – They don't know who they are so being you seems awesome. Green with envy – They want what you have, so they copy you to try to get it. Insecure – A lack of self-esteem can cause someone to try and elevate themselves by copying those they admire (you) or…
Identity threats feel cognitively uncomfortable, and often result in us feeling annoyed with the transgressor for not being more sensitive about stealing something that feels so core to our self-image. When people copy something really important to us, it quickly goes from identity threat to identity theft.
If someone is constantly trying to impersonate you or copy your style, this could also be an indication that they are jealous. People who are envious of others may try to emulate them in order to feel better about themselves and appear as if they have something similar going on in their own lives.
Echopraxia (also known as echokinesis) is the involuntary repetition or imitation of another person's actions.
Narcissists may imitate or copy the behaviors, interests, and mannerisms of those they are trying to emulate or impress.
You might have heard the phrase 'Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery', but if you really ask the person who is actually being copied, they will tell you that in fact Imitation feels like the sincerest form of disrespect and is often very bothering.
One striking characteristic of human social interactions is unconscious mimicry; people have a tendency to take over each other's posture, mannerisms and behaviours without awareness.
Plagiarism is- but copying isn't plagiarism. Copying is the replication of work, not the passing off of it as your own, and rather than not being a bad thing, it's actually a pretty great thing to practice in your life. In many regards, copying is an absolutely amazing way to learn something.
It can be, but it doesn't always have to be. Imitating someone in order to mock and humiliate them is rude. Imitating someone in a spirit of playfulness that both people see and accept as playful is not rude. Intent, and tone of voice is everything.
Another symptom of ADHD Masking is copying or mimicking others. People with ADHD might find that they need to copy or mimic the behavior of others in order to fit in and avoid any criticism. This is because they want to be socially accepted in every situation like the others.
According to Dr. Katherine Phillips of Cornell University, based on the findings of the scientific literature and our own research to date, Mirror Syndrome (also known as Body Dysmorphia Syndrome) is a mental disorder related to body image that is more widespread than it might seem.
Narcissistic mirroring is a manipulation tactic used by narcissistic individuals to create a false sense of connection with another person by mimicking their personality, interests, or beliefs. Mirroring means subconsciously mimicking another person's actions, body language, speech, and attitudes.
Keep in mind the quote, 'Imitation is a form of flattery': your friend admires you so much, they want to be just like you. They may also have insecurities you aren't aware of so always be kind. Hopefully, your friend will understand why you feel so frustrated and will stop copying you.
For example, in the game the player may be challenged to assassinate somebody who is innocent and helpless but then the player is then rewarded for killing this person. This could cause copycat behavior as people may think that it is okay to kill because it will be rewarded, and there are no consequences.
Mirroring can also be used as a method of manipulation. As an illustration of the latter, mirroring is a technique often used by salespeople or public relations experts, or by others who are trying to persuade someone to join or support their cause.