The Teen Zine 

Our little green friends aren’t the only ones who change their colors instinctively. Have you ever
noticed yourself changing your personality based on the person you’re with? This is something
I’ve realized about myself only recently after some intense introspection. Without even deciding
so, sometimes we try to mirror the people with whom we interact. It’s called the chameleon
effect. This can be good! And also, bad. Let me explain:
The chameleon effect is a form of mimicry. Mimicry is healthy in the sense that it helps infants
build a sense of self, builds rapport with peers, and helps social interactions go smoothly. It’s an
unconscious change of behavior to mirror facial expressions, gestures, and speech patterns. The
nature of the chameleon effect comes from a biological standpoint; it’s just something we do as
humans. But like all things that are taken without moderation, it can get out of hand. The
chameleon effect can also be triggered as a trauma response to the fear of rejection. It becomes
unhealthy when this mechanism is used all the time, which can cause a person to lose their sense
of self. Eventually, they stop knowing who they are anymore. Unhealthy mimicry can also be
used as a form of manipulation and can cause loss of authenticity and social discomfort.
Falling back on mimicry as a protective mechanism could be caused by complex childhood
trauma. It could be from not having enough time to explore who you are, from self-
consciousness, from a controlled childhood, or from having a difficult family, and a myriad of
other causes. The side effect of too much mimicry, not knowing who you are, can be especially
despairing. But don’t despair, chameleons, there is still time to find yourself.
Social media doesn’t help us hold on to our authenticity either. Social media is basically a huge
echo chamber of opinions, trends, and unrealistic expectations. Most of which is being generated
by bots, which worsens the issue of authenticity even more. You have bots mimicking people,
and people mimicking bots! Being on socials constantly can give us some idea of what to think
about certain things, but it isn’t helpful when you’re trying to figure out who you really are as a
person or what you really think. There are a few problems with social media. One thing is that
people often mirror other opinions they haven’t really formed themselves. Another issue is that
people will mimic certain creative expressions, like dance, art, and music. And something lovely
about social media is just how fast information travels. So, this means that the internet is really
just chock full of reflections and projections that don’t have any weight, all because we can’t
seem to stop mimicking.
It’s also concerning to think about the impact the chameleon effect has on relationships, whether
it be family, friendships, or romantic relationships. Is it a true relationship if you’re mimicking
the other person to make it seem like you have more in common? There are ways to remedy the

problem, though. You can start by trying to say what you really think, pushing your own limits
little by little. Eventually you’ll find it easier to know who you are and to be yourself in public.
It is interesting that the same mechanism which helps in building our personalities can also cause
us to lose them. That sparks a question: Where is the threshold in between healthy mimicry and
unhealthy mimicry? The good news is that now, we have some food for thought! We can process,
discuss, and understand more about this fascinating topic. What does it mean for us? How can
we use this information to grow? I hope these questions find you well, and that you find answers!