Have you ever noticed that you walk or talk like your friends? This is no mere coincidence, and we reveal why.
When we spend a lot of time with someone, we start to behave in a similar way. We talk alike, walk alike and think alike and we react to certain matters. Although sometimes we are not even aware of it, others have a great influence on our behavior all the time. Are you wondering why? Read on.
dr. Jared O'Garro-Moore revealed to the Best Health portal that it is unconscious mimicry, which manifests itself as automatic imitation of gestures, behavior, facial expressions, speech and movements. The answer lies in science.
Repetition works like flattery
Let's try to explain this with an example. Your friend starts using the word very often for some unknown reason "full". And of course, since you spend a lot of time together and talk a lot, sooner or later you start using the word too. Over time, family members warn you that you use the word too often "full". If you didn't mean to repeat it for your friend, then why did it happen?
dr. O'Garro-Moore explains that when we spend a lot of time with someone, we also pay a lot of attention to them and they mean something to us. So at the same time we want that person to feel the same way about us. These factors lead us to start behave in a similar way to make that person like you more. Of course, this happens completely subconsciously. According to the doctor, research also shows that we do this in order to connect with someone more easily, so that the other person has the feeling that we are similar.
Another explanation is that we imitate people because we ourselves would like to be like them we respect them. This person can be our boss, doctor, favorite celebrity, co-worker, friend, parent, or anyone else we think is better than us.
Repetition is in our nature
It is true that we start repeating after someone because we care about that person or because we respect them. However, this is only a social explanation. But we must also mention the biological reasons for doing this. O'Garro-Moore explains that certain research shows that humans have so-called mirror nervous system, which allows us to learn through repetition. These mirror neurons in our brain are activated when we observe the behavior of others and thus learn that behavior.
These same neurons allow a child to learn to tie shoelaces simply by watching their parent do the job. They also allow to we learn languages, musical instruments and other motor skills simply by observing others. This phenomenon is known as social empathy and it also explains why, for example, yawning is transmitted around the room and why students, when talking to teachers, speak in their tone. In general, these neurons make us empathetic, and empathy makes us imitate the people around us.
Repetition is normal
So what is the bottom line? Imitating those with whom we associate is something completely normal and it's hard to avoid, so don't worry about it. It merely makes us empathic individuals, or rather makes us human. But we still have a lot of individuality.
