Imitation is the path to self-realization

During the period of personality formation, I really want to see a role model in front of me. This is absolutely logical - any person wants to have an authoritative image until you become holistic and fully formed. What to do if a teenager chooses not a good example for himself? What to do when an adult needs such an idol? What is good and bad about imitation? We will consider all these and other questions in this post.

Imitation in childhood

If you have children, or you could observe the children of loved ones or acquaintances, then you have probably noticed that the child often wants to “be like everyone else.”

Such imitation is a normal child’s reaction to the world during the period of growing up, when peers act as models of appearance and behavior. You should not limit a child in his desire to be like other children; on the contrary, any prohibitions will cause misunderstanding.

Watch and then repeat

We learn the mechanism of imitation from childhood. We've all been told: watch it and then repeat it. In many ways, we learn through imitation. And we learn not only to read, write or dance. We learn most social norms through imitation.

I want to be you! Imitation.

How to eat, how to behave at the table, at a concert, on the playground. Imitation also shapes our spiritual values. We learn most moral norms, principles and values through the mechanism of imitation.

Imitation in adolescence

The most pressing issue of a role model arises during puberty. This is a time when boys and girls already identify themselves, but as individuals remain immature. It’s great if older brothers or sisters or parents become the authority. But you need to understand that the child is constantly in a social environment, and at school there will definitely be those who look and behave “cool”. For boys, these are guys who disdain teachers and lessons, drink alcohol and smoke. For girls, role models are most often girls with a bright appearance, not without the help of cosmetics, who dress in open and sexy outfits and are popular with guys. If your exemplary daughter suddenly completely changed her wardrobe to an inappropriate one, in your opinion, she has new, older suitors - don’t panic. But you shouldn’t step aside either.

Imitation is a natural process

Photo by Maria Orlova: Pexels
Has it ever happened that you find yourself in an unknown environment? At some event where you don’t know anyone and don’t understand how to behave. You feel a feeling of awkwardness, even anxiety, but you don’t want to stand rooted to the spot and remain silent, for fear of seeming strange.

In such a situation, there is a high probability that you, without even knowing what to do, will begin to do what everyone around you is doing. Everyone laughs, and you will laugh. Everyone went to the veranda - and you went. Everyone behaves strictly in a businesslike manner - and you straighten your back and make a serious face.

Without noticing it, you will “join” the team, and those around you will accept you as one of their own. They will start talking to you, willingly answer questions, and appreciate your witty remark. Scientists have long studied this phenomenon both within the framework of crowd psychology and from an evolutionary point of view, and even raised this topic when talking about conformity and willpower. In fact, it all comes down to one thing - through imitation, a person quickly adapts to a new situation.

How to explain what is good and what is bad

Children are sensitive to advice from those they respect. If you yourself smoke and use foul language, but forbid your child to do the same, then do not expect unquestioning obedience. Moreover, be sure that they will not listen to you. If you consider yourself a good example for your child, then you can have confidential conversations from time to time. But under no circumstances do you read lectures and don’t be what your child considers a boring grumbler. Your moralizing should be elegantly disguised. For example, these could be stories from personal experience or the experiences of your friends.

Something like this: “There was a girl in our class very similar to your Tanya. She was just as bright and was friends with older guys. And so, in the tenth grade, I got pregnant from God knows who, gave birth to a child, but did not receive an education. I saw her recently, she works as a saleswoman at our market, she looks terrible.” Do not draw further conclusions, like “you see, you will continue to look up to her, it remains to be seen what will happen to you,” otherwise the child will immediately see through you. On the contrary, leave the story unfinished, let your child summarize your “report” and decide for himself what is good and what is not so good.

Age categories

Depending on the age of a person, there are different periods of imitation. For example, in infancy, a child simply copies external actions, sound reactions of parents and adults, but in later childhood, more complete processing of images received from the outside is carried out.

In the elementary grades of school, imitation of the personal characteristics of adults begins; in high school, peers become the subject of copying behavioral factors. As we grow older, a phenomenon called mutual imitation arises - when a group of people takes the necessary characteristics from each other, so to speak, group imitation. In adolescence, the main role in behavioral imitation is played by the personal qualities of the subject of imitation, his life values, and character.

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Based on this, we can trace how the content changes and conclude that at a younger age a person takes an example from adults and adapts to existence in a material world filled with physically accessible things, and at an older age he adopts social models and behavioral clichés. The main role here begins to be played not by external copying of actions, movements, and so on, but by socially significant factors, the habits of the person whom the young man has chosen as an example to follow.

Imitation and its social significance can hardly be overestimated in the light of the individual’s assimilation of specific community experience, which we can divide into several stages of a person’s personal development. No matter how you look at it, the influence of copying as a factor in social development finds a lot of evidence. For example, when an individual is subject to certain social canons and boundaries that are respected by all other members of the social environment, it will be difficult for the person not to comply with them or to act contrary to them.

This behavior can be described as a kind of group human consciousness. A person needs to feel and understand that he is doing everything right, within the social norm. By copying the behavior of the majority, their thinking, actions, even culinary tastes, a person begins to fit in with his surroundings, to feel like “one of his own.” After all, the majority does exactly this, which means it’s right, the person thinks.

In psychology, they highlight the fact that imitation causes a fear of being isolated from everyone else. Every person wants to be like everyone else, not to stand out strikingly for something special that is not accepted in this particular social circle.

Remember, did you want to be in the role of the “black sheep” in kindergarten, at school, at university? It is because of the fear of being “overboard” that a person adopts all the main socially significant behavioral factors - in order to be “like everyone else” in his social group.

When adults imitate

Many people believe that deliberate imitation is the prerogative of children or adolescents. No matter how it is! The biggest imitators are “adults,” that is, those who are twenty or younger. The fact is that an undecided child is normal. But a person who has gone through puberty should definitely understand who he is! Not so simple. In the process of development, each of us in any case needs an example. If it was unsuccessful, we will eventually realize this, since life will not turn out according to our ideas, and the easiest way to change it will be to change yourself. Again the question of finding an example arises, and then imitation of others becomes the answer. We unconsciously choose someone we know who seems successful, attractive, and wholesome to us, and just as unconsciously we begin to copy his style and lifestyle, from minor habits and gait to appearance.

Stability of imitation

Oddly enough, imitating someone is a relatively unstable phenomenon.
A person can easily change his behavior as quickly as he accepted the previous information. So, for example, when changing jobs, moving, or any sudden change in environment, a person tends to adapt, and as a result, based on surrounding factors, he again begins to imitate new people who have come into his life to replace the old ones. And all in order to join society. And this happens both consciously and subconsciously.

According to the mechanism of implementation, imitation is divided into:

Reasonable.
Mechanical.
Incomplete.
Absolute.
Whole.
Creative.
Arbitrary.
Involuntary imitation.

It is worth mentioning separately that a feature of imitation is a decrease in a person’s personal awareness of himself. The need to be “like everyone else” does not add rationality to the actions of a particular person, increases the level of his emotions, and so on. And it is precisely this increase in the emotional component that causes an irresistible desire to share these emotions with the people around us.

When favorable situational conditions arise, opportunities for imitation become more relevant. One of these positive factors that can actualize an individual’s ability to imitate may be the presence of a certain feeling of closeness with others who are ready to share with him his joys and troubles. Thus, imitation can become the main mechanism of human behavior, because now it becomes a specific ability.

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By copying the social behavior of those around him who are close to him in his emotional state, a person strives to comply with the models offered to him to regulate his own emotional state. As a result, a huge mass of people appears who imitate each other, creating a society of imitation.

Human psychology is such that with prolonged interaction of such a mass of people, the state they experience gradually intensifies; it is natural that such situations reach their peak and gradually fade away at the next stages. Such cycles are repeated regularly.

The ability to imitate another person or category of people is not endless. Gradually, it exhausts itself, depleting the emotional resources of the individual, and then his psyche, having become oversaturated, returns to the ability to regulate imitation.

All other roles are filled

Imitation is an opportunity to feel confident in a world where there are no rules of life. What our parents and teachers told us in childhood is refuted by our own life experience. We listen to the advice of others, we can’t do without it, but still our life is not like anyone else’s. All our successes, failures, happy days and the darkest of them are the result of our behavior, and no one else. While you look at others and look for a worthy example to follow, your life, not the other person’s, is passing you by. The only thing that remains true is to be yourself. However, as true as this is, it is also difficult.

Imitation is one of the mechanisms for group integration

In the process of interaction, group members develop common behavioral stereotypes and standards. Imitation determines membership in this group and strengthens a person in his status in this group.

On an external level, this manifests itself extremely clearly, especially in clothing. A military uniform, a doctor’s white coat, a businessman’s business suit are outward manifestations of belonging to a group. With the help of clothing, we show which group we belong to, what income we have, what attitudes and beliefs we share.

Imitation in clothing helps us determine who is “us” and who is “stranger.” We are more inclined to trust “our” people, we consider their opinion more authoritative and correct.

At one time, an interesting social experiment was conducted. People who were walking home from work and dressed in business suits were approached by a man dressed as a biker and asked for their help. Most of them refused to help him. When a man dressed in a business suit approached them, almost 100% of the subjects helped him.

Then they conducted a reverse experiment. A man dressed in a business suit approached the bikers and asked for help. Almost no one helped him. And when a man dressed as a biker approached them, almost everyone responded to the call.

We are more willing to interact with people who are closer to our social status.

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Imitation is in many ways an escape from loneliness. The desire to be part of a certain group. This is neither good nor bad. This is fine. We all fear the feeling of isolation. We want to be understood and accepted; each of us has a need for recognition.

The hardest and easiest thing is to be yourself

Why is it difficult to be yourself? The fact is that then you will have to take full responsibility for all your actions. When you imitate others, whether intentionally or not, you shift some of the responsibility to those authorities. If something goes wrong in life, you can always say to yourself as a consolation: “It’s all because I took my example from the wrong person.” Meanwhile, you can only be considered a formed personality if you are ready to be responsible for all your actions. It turns out that in adulthood, imitation is a way to avoid responsibility, and nothing more.

Types of imitation

conscious or unconscious;
Full or partial;
voluntary or forced;
creative or literal.

Imitation is conscious when we consciously copy the behavior or appearance of another person. And it happens unconsciously when we are influenced by a group. Then imitation appears as part of the crowd's thinking. We unwittingly begin to obey the rules of this or that group, we begin to share their worldview, their way of life.

Photo by Ivan Samkov: Pexels

Even if you don’t have a specific idol, to one degree or another you constantly imitate someone. People of their profession. Authoritative figures. To those close to you whom you value and respect. Friends and acquaintances whose ideas and views you share. Complete or absolute imitation, as a rule, focuses on a specific person, an idol.

The lower the individual consciousness, the more strongly the process of imitation is expressed. The need to be in a group, among our own people, reduces rational critical thinking, but increases our emotional state, which we want to share with like-minded people.

At such a moment, the process of imitation manifests itself more clearly than ever. We begin to unconsciously copy the behavior patterns of those around us who are in a similar emotional state. This phenomenon can be observed, for example, at concerts of famous musicians or at sports competitions.

At such moments, emotional contagion occurs, which enhances the effect of imitation, which reaches its peak. Then comes the decline. Imitation cannot continue indefinitely, energy is exhausted, and the need for recognition and belonging is satisfied for some time. The person regains control over his behavior.

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How to get rid of imitation. Imitation as a consequence of infection

If we talk about the fundamental differences between imitation and infection, they are quite obvious at the level of common sense. If one subject (individual, mass) infects, then another subject (individual) becomes infected and, as a result, begins to imitate the one who infected him. Thus, contagion and imitation are related as an active cause and a passive effect.

Let us emphasize the exclusively passive, in this interpretation, essence of the phenomenon of imitation. At its core, imitation in general is always an imitation of an action, an act, facial expressions and pantomime, clothing, and only as a private imitative act does speech imitation appear - be it a completely involuntary imitation (such as echolalia) or carried out under the control of consciousness. From everything said above, B.F. Porshnev made his main conclusion that mass imitation goes back to a physiological phenomenon common to all herd and especially higher animals, although sometimes, of course, it can take a specifically human form (social imitation) .

Tarde's theory of social imitation

The theory arose at the end of the 19th century. at the intersection of two sciences - sociology and social psychology. According to Gabriel Tarde, the founder of the theory, the basis of all human relationships is an irresistible mental desire to imitate. Relationships between people are always built according to the “teacher-student” type. In later sociological works, three types of imitation were identified: 1) people imitation of each other; 2) imitation of customs and patterns; 3) imitation of the ideal. All social processes can be explained using the phenomenon of imitation. The ability to imitate is the source of progressive changes in society. People endowed with creative initiative and originality show new patterns of behavior (inventions), causing others to want to imitate them. The phenomenon of imitation is the cause of social conflicts. Conflicts in society arise as a result of people following different models of imitation, competing inventions, and this puts them in opposition to each other.

When is it better to use adjustment and when to use imitation?

If you have made a responsible decision to master the art of rapport, then you need to be able to use both types of mirroring. And use the one that is more suitable for a specific situation. For example, use every opportunity for joint activities where identical movements can be performed openly.

If this is not possible, the only option left is imitation. It can also become the initial steps towards creating, developing and strengthening relationships until the person you need brings you closer to him. This is where you need to not get confused and start “helping” or in some other way, but very correctly fit into the context of the person you are interested in.

Below we will look at examples of such a “step-by-step” creation of rapport using the stories of training participants who have been studying in NLP study groups for a long time.

Rita (housewife)

I have been living with my husband for quite some time. I gave birth to three children, my stomach and sides sagged a little, and I don’t have time to take care of myself. In addition, I have not worked for seven years: from one maternity leave to another. They say about people like me: “I’m lying.” And it’s true, except for children, I’m not interested in anything. The exception is the husband. But he’s handsome to me, and he occupies a decent position. They have been prophesying to me for a long time that he will go on a spree, but it doesn’t seem to be so... I react at the slightest sign of cooling of feelings. In fact, I took these courses to keep him.

I'll share my experience. Sometimes he sits at the computer for a long time. It’s obvious that he has no time for me—he’s preoccupied with something. I walk into the room, frown like him, and purse my lips. I go up to the window and look intently, and tap on the windowsill with my fingertips. That is, I try to copy myself as much as possible at the window, like him at the computer, sometimes I even bend my knees - like sitting. After 1-2 minutes I feel a warm sensation, which means I have made contact. I wait a little longer and take the initiative. For example, I offer to drink a cup of coffee or remember that I baked an awesome cake for tea.

If he refused, it means he is very concerned about something. I keep adjusting, then repeat the sentence. After the second refusal, I call for a direct conversation, but this happens rarely. Usually we go straight to the kitchen. And here I’m already trying to repeat his every move until he begins to share his experiences. Over the years, the warmth of our relationship has not faded, which means I’m doing the right thing.

Yulia (head of department)

In my department there are mostly young people, all of them are someone’s children or nephews. Naturally, there is more than enough ambition. I'm 36, but I can already feel the difference. At first they looked down on me - like I was a second-class commodity. After my appointment to the department, I was sad, but not for long. Now I don't care. The main thing in this matter is discipline. I hold it in such a way that everyone envies and extols my business qualities. But it’s not them that help me with this, but little tricks.

I introduced a uniform in the department, although we do not work directly with clients. At first it seemed strange, but everyone got used to it. Only I can wear whatever I want - these are my reciprocal steps that I took when I heard that they were making fun of me behind my back. Girls are prohibited from wearing jewelry and large items made of gold and silver. No loose hair - just a short haircut, ponytail or bun. Bright makeup is prohibited. But this is not enough. Once a day I do five minutes of exercise. I come to the department at the same time - I do basic exercises, and they repeat after me. At this moment I acutely feel how I dominate them. Of course, if I weren't an expert in my field, these tricks would be useless

But even without them, my competencies would hardly have been taken into account

Psychological impact on a person. Imitation

An important socio-psychological phenomenon is imitation - the reproduction of the activities, actions, qualities of another person whom you want to be like. Conditions for imitation:

the presence of a positive emotional attitude, admiration or respect for the object of imitation;
less experience of a person compared to the object of imitation in some respect;
clarity, expressiveness, attractiveness of the sample;
availability of the sample, at least in some qualities;
the conscious orientation of a person’s desires and will towards an object of imitation (one wants to be the same).

The psychological impact of information on a person suggests that there is a change in the mechanisms of regulation of human behavior and activity. The following are used as means of influence:

verbal information, a word - but it should be taken into account that the meaning and meaning of a word can be different for different people and have different effects (the level of self-esteem, breadth of experience, intellectual abilities, character traits and personality type influence);
non-verbal information (intonation of speech, facial expressions, gestures, postures acquire a symbolic character and affect mood, behavior, degree of trust);
involvement of a person in a specially organized activity, because within the framework of any activity a person occupies a certain status and thereby reinforces a certain type of behavior (a change in status in interaction leads to a change in behavior, and also real experiences associated with the implementation of a certain activity can change a person and his state and behavior);
regulation of the degree and level of need satisfaction (if a person recognizes the right of another person or group to regulate their level of satisfaction of their needs, then changes can occur; if they do not recognize it, there will be no impact as such).

Social Psychology. Subject and tasks of social psychology. Branches of social psychology.

Social psychology is a branch of psychological science that studies the patterns of emergence and functioning of socio-psychological phenomena1, which are the result of the interaction of people (and their groups) as representatives of different communities.

The subject is socio-psychological phenomena and processes that are the result of the interaction of people as representatives of various social communities.

Object – specific social communities (groups) or their individual representatives (people).

Objectives of social psychology as a science. Social psychology as a branch of scientific research has its own specific tasks, including:

studying: a) the specificity and originality of the phenomena that make up the social consciousness of people; b) relationships between its components; c) the influence of the latter on the development and life of society;

comprehensive understanding and generalization of data on: a) the sources and conditions of the emergence, formation, development and functioning of socio-psychological phenomena and processes: b) the impact of these factors on the behavior and actions of people in numerous communities;

study of the most significant features and differences of socio-psychological phenomena and processes from other psychological and social phenomena that arise as a result of interaction, communication and relationships between people in various communities;

identifying patterns of functioning of socio-psychological phenomena and processes in various social conditions;

socio-psychological analysis of interaction, communication and relationships between people, as well as factors determining the specificity and effectiveness of their influence on joint activities;

a comprehensive study of the socio-psychological characteristics of the individual and the uniqueness of his socialization in various social conditions;

understanding the specifics of the functioning of socio-psychological phenomena and processes that arise in a small group, and their impact on the behavior, communication and interaction of people in it;

research into the uniqueness of the psychology of large social groups and the specific manifestations of motivational, intellectual-cognitive, emotional-volitional and communicative-behavioral characteristics of the people who are their members;

identifying the role and significance of religious psychology in the lives and activities of people, its socio-psychological content and forms of manifestation, as well as the specifics of its influence on the communication and interaction of individuals;

a comprehensive study of the socio-psychological characteristics of political life and political activity of people, the uniqueness of the transformation of the human psyche and groups of people who are under the direct influence of political processes occurring in society;

study of mass socio-psychological phenomena and processes, their role and significance in public life, influence on the actions and behavior of people in extreme situations;

forecasting political, national and other processes in the development of the state (society) based on taking into account socio-psychological laws and mechanisms.

How to adapt to your interlocutor through imitation?

You are probably already familiar with this method, since it is very popular and information about it is given in various sources. But not everyone decides to use it. When you want to use it in a conversation, the following thoughts usually arise:

it will look vulgar and rude;
your interlocutor will immediately notice your tricks;
you will be exposed, ridiculed and humiliated.

This approach to the issue is completely adequate. Looking through popular articles, I often noticed how the author of the method teaches the reader to cross his legs a short period of time after his interlocutor sitting opposite him does it. Or prop your head with your hand and scratch the back of your head with him. Fine? Considering that a person experiences extreme nervous tension and even shame, such proposals are truly abnormal. But if we talk about hardened and cynical individuals who are not characterized by embarrassment in principle, open mirroring of the victim is also suitable for them. After all, if imitation is revealed, it will not be the imitator who will be embarrassed.

To get rid of embarrassment, we need to clearly understand: we are not imitating our interlocutor, but are engaging in dialogue on a more subtle level. That is, we begin to speak to him in body language. If he answers us in the same language, we will experience an amazing feeling. It arises as a manifestation of unusual sympathy for a person.

But our task is not to get carried away by this feeling. Having experienced it, you need to give yourself the command: “Yes.” After that, focus on strengthening contact.

Beginners can use analogies. For example:

Give your face an approximate expression: it is typical to purse your lips or squint your eyes, look in the direction where the interlocutor is looking.
If the interlocutor picked up a pen and began to write, you can connect three fingers with a pinch. In the second step, start tapping regularly on the surface of the table.
If he crosses his legs, you just need to put one leg slightly forward. In the second step, it is typical to cross your feet.

If you use your imagination, you can come up with many interesting ways to make your interlocutor understand your interest in him. Believe me, he will be emotionally satisfied, and you will gain valuable experience.

At this stage, there is no need to use special techniques to stop contact; it can dissipate in any convenient and natural way.

In the dictionary Complete accentuated paradigm according to A. A. Zaliznya

imitate, imitate, imitate, imitate, imitate, imitate, imitate, imitate, imitated, imitated, imitated, imitated, imitate, imitate, imitating, imitating, imitating, imitating, imitating, imitating, imitating imitating, imitating, imitating, imitating, imitating, imitating, imitating, imitating, imitating, imitating, imitating, imitating, imitating, imitating, imitating, imitating, imitating, imitating, imitating, imitating, imitating, imitating, imitating, imitating, imitating, imitating imitated, imitated, imitated, imitated, imitated, imitated, imitated, imitated, imitated, imitated, imitated, imitated, imitated, imitated, imitated, imitated, imitated, imitated, imitated, imitated, imitated, imitated, imitated, imitated, imitated, imitated, imitated

Share the meaning of the word:

Imitating someone. The meaning of the word "imitation"

IMITATION, -I, cf.

1. Action according to value. verb imitate . Imitation of adults. Tendency to imitate. □ — There is no less original person in the world than your humble servant. I must have been born in imitation of another. Turgenev, Hamlet of Shchigrovsky district. He never tried to ridicule young Baklanov for his imitation. At his age, Levinson also imitated the people who taught him. Fadeev, Defeat.

2. A work that follows smb. sample, reproducing some. sample. Before Pushkin, there were plenty of translations from Greek poets, as well as imitations of Greek poets. Belinsky, Works of A. Pushkin.

Source (printed version): Dictionary of the Russian language: In 4 volumes / RAS, Institute of Linguistics. research; Ed. A. P. Evgenieva. — 4th ed., erased. - M.: Rus. language; Polygraph resources, 1999; (electronic version):

Imitation is a mechanism of socialization, following a model. In animals - imitative (imitation) learning, copying behavior.