Mimmicking Other Peoples Personality

Richey · Expert User Joined: Sep 28, 2005 Posts: 714

So i was friends with this amazingly smooth and relaxed character who happened to be a drummer at a certain hotel, he was just a charming person who could make friends at the drop of a hat but there was something special about his presence that i would often try to almost copy him around other people not on purpose but because his personality was so contageous and impressionable on me .. .

but i'm the same with most people i become friends with, over time i start to adopt not all but certain traits of the way they talk and their style of conversing with others, hobbies, interests ...etc

its almost like i take multiple personalities and use them in certain environments ...

when i'm my true self i believe i'm too inward and don't have a genuine character of my own and that i haven't experianced enough to carry a unique or original "me" to show off to other people, ok maybe i do but i think its dull ...

its usually very subtle, i dont use different accents or voices, though i seem to be impressionable in that on occasions, for example ive spent time over a weekend watching british comedy shows like black books, the office, black adder and ive gone to work the next day with a half english accent, sad but true ...

what does "being yourself" actually mean? when we as humans grow up mimmicking and being influenced, copying the people we are surrounded by anyway, if we live in france we'll speak french, if we live in america we speak with that accent, we arnt born into the world then handed a platter of choices of languages to learn for ourselves because its not how the world works ....

i have no idea where this is going ...so i'll go and grab a cup of coffee and watch the soccer replays, nostalgia! ...

SilentType · Expert User Joined: Jul 04, 2007 Posts: 614

If you've ever seen Carson Daily (spelling?) interview people on mtv or on his talk show, you'd see he does the same thing. It's like he becomes the person he talks to, changes his lingo and everything lol. Its kind of weird but I don't see how it could cause any problems. Just a quirk you gotta live with. We all have plenty, believe me.

Peace

SleepingBeauty · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 2:13 am Post subject:

omg im like that too!!! Its kinda annoying though cause I dont feel like myself. But I want to be more like the person im around so that they'll like me...if that makes sence.

But i need to learn to just be myself. But its really hard not to do that though, lol.

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bleach · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 3:26 am Post subject:

All humans are like this. We're an adaptive species like that.

Zarrix · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 5:37 am Post subject:

I tend to do this sometimes on the occasion im talking to people at work. My voice changes to match theirs to a certain extent. Afterwards, I worry that they noticed it.

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prop215 · Newbie User Joined: Apr 26, 2008 Posts: 3

Weird, I do the same thing!

Vincent · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 9:49 am Post subject:

It seems from books as though this is a kind of empathy, like body language that is mirroring theirs, it shows mutual rapport.

I think perhaps everyone gets that, and in the long run, everyone that talks together will sound similar. Thats how language works.

Its a bit disappointing when you hear older people use words like "cool" and suchlike. Im also disappointed when I catch myself swearing in an obvious show of bravado

recluse · Posted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 7:13 pm Post subject:

I put on a friendly happy persona at work but i feel fake when i do this.

krs2snow · Intermediate User Joined: Jan 25, 2008 Posts: 218

Hey Richey, don't feel too bad about mimicking other's accents. I mean, Hilary Rodham Clinton, one of the top running democratic candidates for the Presidency of the United States and a graduate from Yale law school, does it too! Have a listen to the Illinois born candidate as she addresses a southern audience in Selma, Alabama. Might make you feel better! At the very least, it'll give you a good laugh!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJVgZIJ8K6U

wooaah · Intermediate User Joined: Apr 24, 2008 Posts: 108

I think it has to do with charisma. I find myself doing the same thing. Mimiking the people I thought were charismatic around me. Their personalities are just so nice and contagious. I don't think its a bad thing though.

Its like music. You have to listen to a ton of music to find an artist you like. And even then you won't like every artist in that genre. Maybe we have to try a ton of ways of acting, then pick bits and pieces that fit us best. None of us had a personality set in stone when we were born, i feel like personality is more a conglomerate of the experiences we have and the people we meet.