When you converse with other people, have you ever been surprised at how similar your reactions are to theirs? Psychologists call that Mirroring. Almost everyone mimics the gestures of people they are fond of subconsciously. The question is, what drives people to behave this way?
Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else’s opinion, their lives a mimicry, their passion a quotation.
Oscar Wilde.
What is Mirroring?
Mirroring has traditionally served as a universal language. One historical and rational explanation is that people copy others to instill a sense of togetherness, making them feel more comfortable in social situations. And Humans are social creatures that form groups and live in them for their entire lives. For example, people follow the religious beliefs of their parents or community and adhere to the political system offered by their society. And such choices hold cultures and communities together in the long run.
Anyhoo, the evolution of humans required many developments, including socially acceptable behavior. And people have always adapted their behavioral skills to suit the moods of others. Similarly, most folks are inclined to devote or follow successful leaders from diverse backgrounds in one way or another to fit in with the crowd. For example, celebrities are often featured in Brand Advertisements since potential consumers and audiences trust their opinions and choices, given that they are famous and can accomplish particular tasks better than an average person.
In other words, many people mirror or copy, or follow others, perhaps because they find their honored icons superior, wiser, and more influential. Regardless of whether those influencers or celebrities actually use the brands’ products, their presence influence the followers. Often, many people idolize and worship celebs because of the power of their “High Status,” which eventually leads to copying their personalities. While replicating another person’s gesture is one thing, plagiarizing their character traits or “personality” is different altogether. Meaning, people can have as many role models in their lives as they want. But going to extreme lengths to imitate their persona might be a medical disorder. And in extreme cases, it can also get some a restraining order.
Why has Social Media and Social Trends increased the spread of Mirroring or Parrot Personalities?
The rapid growth of online presence has facilitated access to global information. It also provides personal bio-data of public figures, which is excellent, but is that healthy? How is Social Media and Social Trends impacting the lives of people in shaping Personal Identity?
In other words, a Copycat or an Imitator does not have a Personal Identity per se, and Social Media arguably plays a significant role in today’s fast-moving society. Copycats are no more than someone constantly communicating and expressing their aspiration “to be” and “feel” like someone else. They desire to achieve what their honored icons or acquaintances already possess.
Social Media Influencers and Celebrities
Consumers on Social Media Platforms imitate not only the way others dress and behave but also attempt to emulate someone whose Character or Personality they do not share. And, in their lack of Personal Identity, they eventually lose sight of what makes them “unique.”
Their purchase preferences and daily habits revolve around Social Media Influencers and Celebs. Meanwhile, most Influencers and Celebrities also Mirror the Personalities of other icons to appear “Inclusive.”
Perhaps Mirroring is okay until it restricts one’s purchasing preferences or lifestyle choices to a certain extent, but to “Pretend” to be someone else is just absurd. As a result, when it comes to critical conflicts involving Geopolitics, Democracy, and Ethnic Diversity, Social Media Influencers have a tremendous impact on their pinheaded followers.
Therefore, this raises the question, are all Social Media Personas striving to be the same person as their Influencers with their Thoughts, Opinions, Gender Roles, and other aspects? In the context of Inclusivity, how is that associated with being Diverse? Why do some people claim to be liberals but their actions speak otherwise? And why do most of them support selective Idealism? Then again, when it comes to Geopolitics, why do the powerful countries always try to take advantage of the less empowered?
Several devotees or followers on Social Media Platforms are sometimes misled with many such false opinions, resulting in increased conflicts. Freedom to express one’s views on the Internet does not mean that they are always reliable or legitimate. However many “are” accurate, factual, and incredibly inspiring. Nevertheless, the purpose of this article isn’t to debunk the right or wrong perspective of political matters. But rather to discuss factors related to Human Vulnerability and Copycat Behaviour or Syndrome.
Social Trends
In the 1980s, many people, both artists and the general masses rebelled against multiple powerful social causes, eventually turning Rebellions into “cool” or “trendy.” Hence, many people also “Rebelled without a Cause” to feel “cool” or “in the know.” Interestingly, the trend stands “still” even today. Then, bullies of the 90s have suddenly become healers of the 2000s, a common phenomenon on Social Media today. Just WoW. What a strange world, right? It was no secret that the “Social Misfits” was somehow the unlikely oddballs scattered in middle-class neighborhoods. Yet now that being weird is “cool” or “trendy,” everyone wishes to be an oddball. It’s funny how the “Social Misfits” don’t “seek” or “choose” to be weird; they naturally are!!
Therefore, the question is, if people keep changing based on what is “cool” and what is not, where does their true “Personal Identity” stand? Then again, nobody indeed remains the same person their entire lives. And change is a good phenomenon. When people change themselves for their betterment and benefit, it is undoubtedly an aspiring act of kindness. It serves like social justice, and especially, self-freedom.
Then, many people have dual identities or Multiple-Personalities. However, concerning the Mirroring or Parrot Personalities, these Copycats or people who Mirror others are not changing to become better versions of themselves. They “Pretend” to “Change” or be a different person “because” it is a “Social Trend.”
Are people always Mirroring popular Social Trends without realizing their Self-Worth? What about Personal Identity and Personality?
Another trend on Social Media Platforms today is posting images without filters, which they consider a way to reveal or portray their True Identity. However, what about their “Filtered Personality?”
Why is it okay for them to “Pretend” to be someone else but rebel against Filtered Images? Although it is all co-related, Photo Enhancement is an entirely different subject matter and should not be confused with “Personality” or “Identity.” Kepping that in mind, let’s elaborate on “Identity” and “Personality” in Mirroring.
Mirroring in Acting
According to scientists, there is something called the Chameleon Effect or Chameleon Personality, under which some people can switch personalities depending on the circumstances. Meanwhile, their private selves remain hidden. Undoubtedly, some careers may benefit from having a Social Chameleon or Parroting Personality. And no doubt, this is an incredible skill, but no one should seek to pretend to be someone else in their day-to-day lives. For example, when people are frequently used to changing their public image to fit the circumstances, it becomes more difficult for them to remember their true identity when nobody is around to impress!! And a downside occurs with the realization that one is not entirely aware of who they are at their core.
Cultural Environment
Some scientists also pointed out how factors such as education level, innate expressiveness, and cultural environment may influence human inclination to Mirror others. For example, the less educated a person is, the more likely they might imitate others during social interactions. Similarly, research shows that women are more likely than men to copy and that both genders do it differently. While women are proficient at emotional imitations, men emphasize their physique and gestures. Then, there is a statement in the Journal of Individual Differences by Kurzius that extroverts tend to mimic others more because being liked by others is their priority in contrast to introverts. In addition, copying others may be understandable to a certain extent, as I mentioned earlier, due to the nature of humans. However, Pretended Personas or Copied Personalities are not comprehendible in everyday life.
Science and Psychology
Most Psychologists and Psychiatrists have suggested that Copycat behavior is probably a Syndrome. Based on their theories, Copycats are motivated by emotions such as anger and fear. Alternatively, these people may not have been emotionally developed and needed a way to release their pain, leaving them hollow. And as Social Media Platforms are so readily available, everyone, including Politicians, Celebs, and Social Media Influencers, hovers over their impulsive emotions without realizing the after-effects and their influence on the general public. Well, expressing one’s traumas and experiences to a wider public is courageous, but using them to manipulate a broader audience is not!!
Then again, coming back to Copycat Syndromes, do Parrot Personalities mimic others to diminish their hollowness of unfulfillment?
People like this may depend on others for instruction and guidance. However, the precise origin of the Copycat Syndrome, how it works, which people are most susceptible to it, what type of Personality it is, and so on, have not conclusively been proven scientifically or theoretically. Since scientific data are scarce, a detailed analysis of the Personality profile of copycats is also lacking.
But there is a possibility that these Copycats desire attention, recognition, and fame, which might motivate them to pretend to be someone else. Stalking is another cause of Copycat Behaviour or Syndrome and can become dangerous when it reaches extremes. There can be many reasons why a person imitates another. For example, Envious individuals want to understand how to accomplish the same level of success as the person they idolize. However, Copycats, Followers, Duplicates, or Wannabees are undoubtedly a serious concern.
Mirroring, or Parroting, in my opinion, is the sincerest form of insecurity and low self-esteem. Those who feel insecure often believe that others are superior to them and blindly follow their judgment and attitude in place of their own. Perhaps, they may despise their identities and seek to escape by pretending to be someone else!!