Validation and Self-Worth: Some people seek validation from others and use imitation as a means to gain it. They believe that by emulating the person they are jealous of, they can receive similar praise, attention, or acceptance, which in turn boosts their own self-esteem and self-worth.
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.
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…
Bargh, two psychologists who were the first to explore the phenomenon, very empathetic people are more likely to imitate others than people who aren't. When a person is truly empathetic, they pay more attention and form deeper connections with the person they are interacting with, which makes them more likely to mimic.
Common Trait #3 – They Copy Others
Insecure people copy other people because they lack sufficient self-belief to create something on their own. If they were to create something on their own it may not be good enough, nor be perfect, they may fail or be judged for it.
Other forms: copycats. 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. The word copycat is a lighthearted, gently derogatory word for a person who imitates someone else.
“Mirroring” is when a person mimics the body language, verbal habits, or attitudes of someone else, typically unconsciously. Mirroring can relate to personality types because personality traits correlate to many aspects of expression that may be mimicked.
Mirroring as a sign of trust
In these case's imitating someone is a sign of comfort and trust and it shows that people are in sync. The whole point of mirroring is that it's a way to better understand others and connect with them. Being able to mirror someone is the same as being able to listen to someone.
Take a break from the friendship.
If the copying has become too much for you, step back from your friend for a while. Don't ignore them, but do let them know that you need a bit of space and ask them to respect that. During this time, consider whether this issue is worth losing your friendship over.
Jealousy can come from feelings of low self-esteem or lack of confidence. And when someone is unhappy about themselves, feels anxious and insecure, this can lead to feelings of jealousy and being out of control. Jealousy is slightly different from envy. You can envy someone for something they have.
Some of the various signs of jealousy might be accusations, suspicions, questioning your behavior or day-to-day activities, having negativity towards partner's relationships, comparing themselves to others, and more.
They make you feel bad about yourself
But it can still get you down. A jealous friend might also insist you were just lucky. They may make you feel as if you aren't worthy of your successes or that you just happened to be in the right place at the right time. You may be told to “enjoy your luck while you can.”
Mirroring is a subconscious occurrence that can create a feeling of comfort because humans are evolutionarily designed to be attracted to people who are similar to them. When employed consciously, it plays a huge role in getting to know someone and establishing a level of comfort together.
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.
Mimicry refers to the unconscious and unintentional imitation of other people's accents, speech patterns, postures, gestures, mannerisms, moods, and emotions. Examples of mimicry include picking up regional accents or expressions when on vacation, or shaking one's leg upon observing another person's leg shaking.
Type of imitation: unconscious human mimicry
A prototypical example is when two people in a bar are involved in a conversation and are unaware of the fact that they take on the same posture, nod their heads, and make the same face rubbing or hair touching movements.
There is evidence that humans mirror others' emotional responses: brain responses to observed and experienced emotion overlap, and reaction time costs of observing others' pain suggest that others' emotional states interfere with our own. Such emotional mirroring requires regulation to prevent personal distress.
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.
Because in your mind it infringes on your unique sense of individuality. But it's only in your head because everything you know you learned from someone else and are also a copy of a copy. Be flattered that someone looks up to you enough who wants to roll model what you say and do.
Narcissists may imitate or copy the behaviors, interests, and mannerisms of those they are trying to emulate or impress.