Mirroring behaviour

[Xentor]

Just read up on a Dutch popular science article, that stated the following (transcription mine):


Recently scientists found that our brain has "mirror receptors" that are specialised in mimicking perceived behaviour. In order to mimic succesfully, the subject has had to have experienced the connected emotion.

In sociopaths, who don't necessarily experience emotions the same as others, and in children who by their age lack experience, this can lead to faked behaviour.

In empaths, the mimicked behaviour possibly calls up the connected emotion whether they like it or not. The richer the empath's emotional spectrum, the more behaviour might be mimicked involuntarily. However, the empath whose emotional spectrum is limited, might feel completely at a loss while the body is going through motions it can't connect to any emotion.

Thoughts?

[Pesha]

Thoughts...yes. As an empath I have found at times I take with me the feeling or behaviour I have just delt with. I have even had other peoples dreams and nightmares. I found myself once "seeing" thru the eyes of another person I was close to and feeling the experience they were having quite intensly. They were in a car crash and I felt everything.

So it is indeed a good possiblity we as emapths arer born with this mirror ability.

[ladyraven]

Same here. After being around certain people or ones who having overwhelming emotions, I pick up on a few of those traits for a little while, especially the ones they use to show those emotions.

[Lunacie]

I know that I "mirror" regional accents/dialects. Therefore it seems likely that I also "mirror" emotional behavior. Ewww.

*thinks for a minute* Yep, when the kids get whiney and childish I tend to do the same. Sometimes it's deliberate so they will see their behavior mirrored to them. Sometimes it's not so deliberate. ;)

[LadyCelt]

could this be how when someone's sad, sick, angry, i become and act that way?

[Xentor]

It's one possible explanation, one which is carried by science. There's several other explanations.

[Lunacie]

could this be how when someone's sad, sick, angry, i become and act that way?

It's certainly possible. The link in my siggie is some good info (the universal empath), and we have several other links to good info posted here in this forum. A little browsing may help you figure out whether your Empathic abilities are affecting you a lot or a little. And give you some ideas on how to lessen the impact if its 'a lot'. :hugz:

[LadyCelt]

thanks for the help

[Johnathan Brisby]

ill do it consciously to let someone know i like them being close- and that they feel good and i feel the same

[Shadow Angel]

Yes I would say I have mirrored anothers emotions, feelings etc.
On a regular basis if I am honest, It is sometimes difficult for me to part myslef from it, I am highly sensitive and I often become overwhelmed by another 's emotions that it can often push me to exhaustion nearing collapse.
It is a scary thing!! LOL

[Johnathan Brisby]

Yes I would say I have mirrored anothers emotions, feelings etc.
On a regular basis if I am honest, It is sometimes difficult for me to part myslef from it, I am highly sensitive and I often become overwhelmed by another 's emotions that it can often push me to exhaustion nearing collapse.
It is a scary thing!! LOL

men project- it can be extremely creepy

[LotusFlower]

:strike:

[Wertdagf]

mirroring emotions is one of the fastest ways to gain trust or even to show obeidiance. it can allow you to trick somone into telling you somthing about themselves they might not want to. even if its for their own good. A child with cavitys hates the dentists.