What is this called/ does anyone else have this?

When I am talking to someone, especially if I just met them or am getting to know them, I will almost always catch myself acting like them. Like I will talk slightly differently, similar to how they talk. For example if they elongate the o in certain words, I will find myself doing the same. It isn't just confined to how they talk. Like if I am talking to someone that blinks often then I will blink often. My whole demeanor changes. I find different things funny and also different things offensive. I do this unconsciously, and I can't control it. To the extent that I have to consiously stop myself, and it is sometimes hard to. If I talk to them on a regular basis I find myself acting more like them even when I'm not interacting with them. Sometimes I feel like I can't even act like myself except around my family. The only way I can talk to most people without this happening is via online text communications, and I often feel that I am only truly myself when I am not face to face with someone. Does this happen to anyone else, and does it have a name?

I have found things similar to this. Some people with borderline personality disorder have this "chameleon affect", but almost everything I can find talks about it being a consious effort to do, whereas I would like to stop, but can't.

I feel you! I have experienced this too.
I think it's an unconscious reflex, a kind of instinct to make ourselves likeable, non-threatening, invisible. From a twisted SA point of view, it makes sense. It's all about survival. "Please don't kill me, I'm like you. I accept and respect your dominance, I'm only a copycat version of you, I don't mean to cause any trouble." This imitation strategy is directly linked to our phobia of people imo.

And I've noticed that I do this more frequently and intensely with those I dislike. Like, I'm subconsiously trying to disguise my aversion. If I'm with someone whom I like, I may borrow a few words, gestures and stuff, but it doesn't bother me and I notice that the other person mirrors certain things too, so it's cool.

I used to be really annoyed by this involuntary reaction, but I've grown to live with it. I don't identify with it, it just happens, and I tell myself that it's beneficial because it translates in the other person's mind as me liking them (even when I don't), so it can't be bad after all.

oscarwilde said:

I feel you! I have experienced this too.
I think it's an unconscious reflex, a kind of instinct to make ourselves likeable, non-threatening, invisible. From a twisted SA point of view, it makes sense. It's all about survival. "Please don't kill me, I'm like you. I accept and respect your dominance, I'm only a copycat version of you, I don't mean to cause any trouble." This imitation strategy is directly linked to our phobia of people imo.

And I've noticed that I do this more frequently and intensely with those I dislike. Like, I'm subconsiously trying to disguise my aversion. If I'm with someone whom I like, I may borrow a few words, gestures and stuff, but it doesn't bother me and I notice that the other person mirrors certain things too, so it's cool.

I used to be really annoyed by this involuntary reaction, but I've grown to live with it. I don't identify with it, it just happens, and I tell myself that it's beneficial because it translates in the other person's mind as me liking them (even when I don't), so it can't be bad after all.

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My problem with it isn't so much that I do it, it's more that I can't tell wether or not with people I'm around more often if I don't do it, or if I do but I've been doing it for so long with them I can no longer notice. Like if my best friend knew that I did this, and asked me if I did it around him, I honestly couldn't answer.