Mimicking Others' Mannerisms

[FireandShadows]

Sorry if there's already a topic about this, but my head hurts too much to look properly.

I was wondering if anyone else finds that they absorb mannerisms, gestures, patterns of speech, sayings, accents etc. from other people without meaning to, or even feeling as though you can't stop it happening. If I spend too long with certain people, I start to act the way they do, even when I'm at home, or if I watch a movie and there's a character that catches my attention, I start acting like them. For example, Jack Sparrow. I sometimes copy his hand gestures and the way he rocks back when he talks. Also, at the moment I've been around a new 'friend' a lot, and I'm starting to mimic things she does, which is really annoying me because I don't want to do those things.

Yeah, basically, I'm just curious.

 

[umbrellabeach]

I do that too! When and after I watch a movie, I feel like I'm still in the movie, and I act (and sometimes talk) like the characters do.
Maybe that's how I've learned to function in society; I've watched how other people act and talk, and now whenever I interact with people, I just copy what they do (though I still use proper grammar and odd words/metaphors).

 

[142857]

It is common in autism.

Echoing of speech is known as echolalia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echolalia

The mimicking of the mannerisms and movements of other is known as echopraxia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echopraxia

 

[jayraytee]

Yes, I will do that instantly pretty much. For example if I walk past someone in the hall and they say 'Hiya' I will return with 'Hiya' and if they say 'Hello' I return with 'Hello.' Without thinking about it at all I parrot them back. If they wave, I wave in the exact same way. I think its an easy out for socializing, just give them back what they give and you don't have to even think about it.