What Is The Chameleon Effect And Is It Real?
Have you ever noticed a tendency within yourself to act and talk like the people around you? That some of their mannerisms, sayings, and even interests become your own? If this describes you, you may think that this is abnormal. However, this is not the case. This kind of mimicking behavior is related to a common phenomenon called the chameleon effect, and almost everyone experiences it at some time. This article will look at the concept itself in order to help you understand it more thoroughly.
What is mimicking?
The chameleon effect may be something you've personally experienced or something you've even tried on others, knowingly or not. Essentially, there are two types of the same behavior: intentional and unconscious mimicking. We hear the phrase "mimic" often, whether it's from dating advice columns or from tips on negotiation and public speaking. We try to mimic other people in various social situations to create a rapport with them.
A particular study found that the average person will even mimic a stranger, so it isn't something that is a big deal. Overall, it may make you more likable to friends and prospective friends. In fact, many people have made friends using this strategy. However, understanding the chameleon effect is a little more complicated than just doing what someone else is doing.
The chameleon effect shows positive results
The chameleon effect is not a strategic facsimile of a person's gestures and facial expressions. It's more natural. It's a tendency we all may adopt to imitate someone else's voice and physical gestures so as to create a bond of intimacy and friendship. This can be done either consciously or subconsciously.
The study linked above was done by two researchers, TL Chartrand and JA Bargh, who met with 72 college-aged test subjects. Half of the subjects interacted with a neutral interviewer; the other half interacted with an interviewer who tried to mimic their natural posture and gestures. The students that met with the "mimicking" interviewer reported better interactions and described those interviewers as more likable. This proved that mimicking can be used as an effective strategy to gain trust and build relationships.
The study and our daily lives contain many different types of mimicking. One of these occurs through mirrored body language. Also included in the list of mimicry behaviors, according to Chartrand and Bargh's studies, were posturing, mannerisms, facial expressions, and vocal tones, such as pitch, power, and pace. Verbal mirroring can also be an effective way of communicating and conveying friendliness -- not only in mimicking the emotion but even in mirroring back the words and type of language the other person is using.
For example, if the other person were using specific words such as "embarrassed" or "anxious," you would also use those words, showing that you're listening and feeling what they feel. You may even notice that when you assume the posture of someone or talk in a tone of voice like theirs, they seem to respond better to you. They may now see you as someone who understands them and sees the world in a similar way.
Why is it called the chameleon effect?
Perhaps a better understanding of the chameleon (as in the reptile) will help to illustrate the quality of naturalness. The chameleon changes its skin coloration, as well as the pattern, to various combinations. The most superficial layer contains pigments, while the underlayer contains what are called guanine crystals. These two elements work together to create camouflage, which is a defense mechanism against predators.
Therefore, a chameleon knows when it's time to camouflage its colors. Then again, the lizard also knows when to remain just as it naturally is. It doesn't constantly change colors but surveys the situation and does so for survival or for social signaling. This should emphasize to those attempting to study the chameleon effect to take the time to learn social signaling and the etiquette that human beings expect from one another in certain situations.
If the chameleon effect is natural, why doesn’t blatant copying work?
When people notice that you are imitating them, they resist your desire to bond. You may lose their trust and make them uncomfortable or perhaps even create an antagonistic relationship. How is this possible?
Researchers at UC-San Diego discovered in their own tests that the deciding factor was that intentional mimics seemed condescending to the subjects. The ones who were caught intentionally mimicking were even seen as incompetent compared to those who had natural gestures.
The theory of mimicking people you want to bond with is good, but timing is everything. Perfecting the timing of mimicry and making it appear natural, as opposed to deliberate and or overly strategic, involves a deeper curiosity and understanding of people.
For instance, do you understand how a person would react to certain mimicking gestures? If you want to convey that you like a person, you could be more obvious with the mirroring signals. However, if you are talking to a superior at work, there is a power shift. The boss knows you "like" them, so deliberate mirroring may appear to be insincere flattery. The gestures would have to be subtle. Posturing and tone of voice may be more effective in this scenario. Mirroring requires a good understanding of people and relationships.
What Chartrand and Bargh understood about the chameleon effect
This leads us to another point referenced in the Chartrand and Bargh report. They stated that "students who rated high on empathy were more likely to imitate others." Therefore, the naturalness of this mimicry comes when the person has true empathy for the person they're interacting with. Chartrand even said, "Those who pay more attention, mimic more."
If a person with low empathy tries to mimic someone, then the results will be largely negative. Their shallow interest in the other person will be obvious. A deeper connection requires deeper empathy and understanding. It may not even be worth faking mimicry or the chameleon effect at all. The better strategy would be to work on developing true empathy for the other person, such as the ability to see and feel things from their perspective, not just your own.
Another component of mimicry to consider is that the less conscious you are that you're mirroring the other person, the more sincere you appear to them. They feel that you are listening to them and seeing or feeling what they do. You are not seeking advantage or favor but are simply enjoying a conversation. You are giving them the power to influence you. This is what gives them the confidence to trust and create a bond of friendship. A single encounter may not earn someone's trust completely. Over time, the chameleon effect, employed with empathy, may help to forge a friendship in many cases.
Politicians and businesspeople are taught to empathize with the contacts they meet, so their gestures and postures appear more natural. In negotiation, your contact wants to know that their viewpoint is understood. Sometimes it's not even about the view but about the feelings behind them. For example, in customer service, when an angry customer demands to speak to a supervisor, there may be nothing the supervisor can do in terms of protocol, but by showing empathy and naturally mimicking the feelings of frustration the customer feels, progress can be achieved. The customer may feel validated even if they don’t get what they want. The chameleon effect works in this case because you can attempt to convey that you understand what they feel and then offer genuine emotional validation.
How to perfect the chameleon effect
If you want to practice the chameleon effect in order to make more friends or hone your empathy for others, there are some things you can do.
Cultivate a relationship
One thing is to take the time to cultivate a relationship with someone. When you mimic someone that you have spent time with and have experiences with, it is something that is often quite welcome.
Adapt to different situations
Another thing you can try is to adapt to certain situations throughout your day. For example, nurses have to keep being supportive of all of their patients each day as well as making sure they are getting along with their co-workers. You can try to do this too, so you can note what works and what doesn't.
Be natural
It is most important for you to let things happen naturally. If you just decide to mimic people, instead of being genuine, you will likely not get good results. Furthermore, you don't want to forget who you are, so be sure that you keep your own mannerisms, interests, and speech patterns. Doing this will mean that when you are using the chameleon effect, it will be spontaneous. In other words, it will just happen because you enjoy hanging out with someone and genuinely want to connect with them. This will help ensure you won't fail at building relationships and being likable.
At the same time, if you don't have a solid understanding of who you are and how you want to act, there is help out there. You can also learn the nuances of the chameleon effect from a professional.
BetterHelp can explain the chameleon effect
Websites like BetterHelp offer online therapy and counseling. Many people have found that talking to a counselor about life, growing up, and getting along with people has been very beneficial for their social life. You can talk to someone about figuring out more about yourself and how to interact with others effectively. BetterHelp has more than 14,000 of them, meaning that you’re likely to find someone with whom you can form a congenial bond. Additionally, with no waiting list, BetterHelp often connects people more quickly than a traditional office. Most people are matched with a counselor within 48 hours.
Ready to learn more about online therapy? It may be helpful to know that researchers have been looking at whether online therapy is as effective as traditional therapy for quite a while. The HuffPost recently outlined some of those studies to answer that very question. They say that online therapy looks good because common types of talk therapy have been shown to be just as effective for many mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and even some eating disorders. The HuffPost article highlights that one of the most important factors of a successful therapy interaction is having a counselor you can connect with and trust.
Below are some reviews of BetterHelp counselors from people experiencing a range of issues related to communicating with others.
Counselor reviews
“Judi helped me make a lot of decisions and be more communicative in my interpersonal relationships. She is a great listener and gives fantastic advice.” Read more on Judi Fischer.
“I’m so grateful for being able to talk with Donna! She quickly notices details and connects them to the issues at hand. Lots of times her suggestions of how to look at this or to express that are spot on. She has clarified things, reassured me, and guided me in improving communication and strengthening relationships. All good!” Read more on Donna Curran.
Takeaway
What is the chameleon effect a symptom of?
The chameleon effect is not an official symptom or diagnosis. However, there is limited evidence that suggests behavioral mimicry - the core feature of the chameleon effect - may be increased in those with borderline personality disorder (BPD). However, scientists have uncertainties regarding the complex relationship between BPD and mimicry, and more research is required. It is likely that the chameleon effect occurs in most individuals and may be an important part of avoiding negative social consequences.
The chameleon effect refers to mimicry of postures, mannerisms, facial expressions, and other behaviors seen in socialization. The process is passive and unconscious, meaning a person exhibiting the chameleon effect is not doing it voluntarily. The chameleon effect subconsciously encourages someone to change their actions such that one’s behavior passively changes to match one’s interaction partners. Scientists theorize that the mechanism involved is the perception-behavior link, part of the brain that integrates unconscious behaviors with perceptual cues.
A recently documented finding suggests that the mere perception of another’s behavior automatically increases the likelihood of engaging in similar behavior oneself. One experiment found that the motor behavior of the participants unintentionally matched that of strangers with whom they had previously worked on a task. Another experiment found that dispositionally empathetic individuals exhibit the chameleon effect to a greater extent than other people.
How do you test the chameleon effect?
In a laboratory setting, the chameleon effect is often tested through observation of the social interactions of two or more people. Researchers sometimes develop a standardized rating system, where the movement and behavior of the people being observed can be logged and coded for later analysis. The researchers may also collect other data through personality assessments, interviews, and questionnaires. While the first investigations of the chameleon effect relied on testing through observation, modern research sometimes uses technology like functional MRIs to investigate how the chameleon effect works at a neural level.
What is the reverse chameleon effect?
The chameleon effect refers to unintentionally mimicking another’s behavior during a social exchange. Typically, that interaction occurs mirrorwise, meaning the mimicked behavior is often flipped compared to the perceived behavior. For example, consider two people sitting and facing each other. When one person tilts their head slightly to the right, the other person unconsciously tilts their head slightly to the left. Because they are oriented opposite one another, it looks like the person being mimicked is looking in a mirror.
Researchers conducted an experiment to determine if reversing the chameleon effect would change participant’s perceptions. They used a program called Virtuo, a digital human who would engage in socialization with each participant in the experiment and mimic their head movements, similar to how the chameleon effect works between two humans. However, for some participants, Virtuo mimicked their head movements anatomically, not mirrorwise. Anatomical mimicry is the reverse of mirrorwise mimicry; if a participant moved their head to the right, so did Virtuo.
Because Virtuo and the participants were oriented face-to-face (through a computer screen), the anatomically mimicked participants perceived the opposite movements of what they would in a typical conversation. Researchers noted that participants rated Virtuo significantly more negatively when he mimicked anatomically instead of mirrorwise, suggesting mirrorwise and anatomical mimicry have opposite social consequences in face-to-face interaction.
Why do I unconsciously mimic people?
Unconscious behavioral mimicry is commonly considered a trait nearly every human possesses. Evidence suggests that unconscious mimicry - sometimes called the chameleon effect - plays an important role in human social interaction, especially when interacting with strangers. When interacting with a person someone does not know, they have very little information on which to evaluate the stranger opposite them.
It is possible that behavioral mimicry evolved as a way to signal cohesion and cooperation through the use of non-threatening body language. Evidence suggests that the more empathetic a person is, the more pronounced their mimicry. This may indicate that behavioral mimicry is closely associated with systems that drive human connection, introducing positive feelings into social exchanges, especially unfamiliar ones.
Is mirroring a mental illness?
Mirroring and mimicry are not mental illnesses, although evidence suggests that the process can become distorted when some mental conditions are present, such as borderline personality disorder. Mirroring does not represent a mental illness and is likely an important part of interacting with other humans. Evidence suggests that behavioral mimicry - unconsciously mirroring another person - leads to more positive responses than when mirroring is absent or reversed. Mirroring likely developed as a way to communicate positivity and a non-threatening demeanor through body language.
How do you know if you are a social chameleon?
“Social chameleon” is often used to describe someone adept and adaptable in social situations. The term can be used positively to describe someone charismatic and charming, or it can be used negatively to describe someone who is two-faced or fake. If you’re deciding if you are a social chameleon, it is likely worthwhile to consider how much your personality and behavior change among different friends or friend groups. If your core personality and behaviors vary significantly from person to person and group to group, you may be a social chameleon.
Is the chameleon effect common?
Some social psychology researchers believe that the chameleon effect is an innate trait that most people have, albeit to varying degrees. One feature of the chameleon effect, behavioral mimicry, is thought to help ease socialization when non-verbal cues are the only information another person can rely on. Evidence also suggests that the chameleon effect is likely strongest among those who are highly empathetic, indicating a possible association with human connection and socialization. While some people may not exhibit the chameleon effect, it is commonly thought to be widespread, if not ubiquitous.
What are five characteristics of a social chameleon?
The term “social chameleon” is not well defined, but many of the people who are referred to as social chameleons have some of the following traits:
- They are extremely adaptable in social situations and can quickly adjust their behavior, communication style, and attitude to fit in with different groups.
- They tend to be charismatic and find that many people enjoy their company.
- They may feel uncomfortable around those who are genuinely authentic.
- They could potentially be more observant of social cues than the average person.
- They are likely highly adept at empathizing but may not consistently display that trait.
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