Whether it started with one of your friends trying to annoy you at recess or a colleague beginning to dress similarly to you, you may notice that people copy you. People copy others for several reasons.
Recognizing that someone is copying you can be aggravating at times, while other times, it may seem endearing. Reasons behind someone copying you can vary. You may ask yourself, why do people copy me?
Why Do People Copy Me?
1. Imitation Is Flattery
You have probably heard Oscar Wilde’s quote, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” This phrase holds true for many instances in which someone is copying you.
Those who imitate different parts of you may unknowingly do so because they admire something about you. More reasons for this will be discussed shortly, but know that someone copying you is not always a bad thing.
Imitation in something like a budding relationship can be a good sign. If someone you are growing closer to begins to pick up on some of your traits, this can be a sense of familiarity that can help the relationship grow.
2. You Inspire Them
If you are an inspirational person, your habits can wear off on people very effectively. Whether you are a motivational speaker or simply act a certain way that attracts someone, people may copy you.
If someone feels inspired by the way you present yourself or strives to achieve accomplishments that you have triumphed in, they may feel inclined to copy some of your techniques.
This type of imitation is an endearing one, and unless someone is being excessive in copying you, you should feel proud that your wisdom was able to reach further than yourself – if that is your intention.
3. They Like Your Style
One of the most common reasons people copy others is because of their style. Be it the way you dress, how you speak, or your interests, people may like something about you and want to relate to you in a certain way.
Perhaps you notice that people are starting to wear – in your opinion – the ugliest shoes ever. This is likely because they are copying someone else’s style, whether they think the shoes actually look good or not.
Things like mainstream fashion or the rapid rise of new words or phrases are evidence of large groups of people copying the style of someone or something they have seen, oftentimes on social media.
4. You Are A Prominent Figure
If you are a celebrity, rockstar, or anything of the like, you can expect people to copy you in droves. Since celebrities are so influential to many people, their voice is heard far and wide.
People copy celebrities that they keep up with because it gives them common ground between themselves and the fame that someone else enjoys. Doing so is not always a bad thing, but this form of copying is prevalent.
Because so many people copy celebrities, advertisements use this fact to promote their brands. If someone’s favorite actor uses a brand-name stationary bike, they may feel more inclined to purchase their own.
5. They Are Jealous
Someone may copy you because they are jealous of a certain quality or possession that you have. You may notice a friend go out of their way to buy something that you just bought.
This could be simply because they wish they had bought it first. If they are jealous of a certain lifestyle that you live, trying to copy you is one way that they can fulfill whatever it is they feel they are missing out on.
Someone copying you out of jealousy is likely more aggravating to you than it is endearing, but you should not let it upset you. As you will see shortly, there are certainly more irritating ways someone can copy you.
6. They Lack Motivation
People may copy you if they lack the motivation to come up with their own ideas. Some people may not be as creatively in tune with themselves as others, so copying is a form of them figuring their own style out.
Copying due to a lack of motivation could be caused by someone simply avoiding having to think for themselves. They see that you live a certain way and follow your path because they are unsure of their own.
People who copy because they lack the motivation to grasp their own style are inherently complimenting you, although they may not even realize it. While it may be annoying to you, they may copy you unknowingly.
7. You Are Related To Them
Another surefire way to almost guarantee someone is going to copy you is if you have siblings. Typically, younger siblings may copy their older brother or sister. Twins may also copy one another.
Your younger sibling may copy you because they see that you are acting more mature than them. They may wish that they were older, like you, and start acting similarly. This is natural for sibling relationships.
If your sibling thinks your clothes are cool or the video games you play are better than theirs, they may lean towards picking out things that relate more to you than they do to them. This is all part of them growing up.
8. They Are Bored
People may copy you because they are bored. If they have nothing better to do, they might think it is funny to copy you. Of course, this form of copying is likely irritating on your end.
People who copy others because they are bored may find it funny. It gives them excitement in their life that might otherwise go misplaced. Copying out of boredom does not always mean they have malicious intent.
9. Getting Under Your Skin
On the other hand, some people will copy you to intentionally aggravate you. Whether they are bored beyond belief, mad at you, or simply act immaturely, they may copy you to make you angry.
Consider an instance such as an argument with a friend. If you get into a fight, they may start mocking you by imitating the way you talk or act. Obviously, copying to get under someone’s skin is immature.
This is likely more prevalent in younger kids, as most people recognize how childish it is as they grow older. Still, even adults intentionally copy others – like when someone buys a boat, watch, etc. just like yours.
10. A Sign Of Respect
A rather undervalued reason someone may copy you is that they respect you. Along with them copying you because you inspire them or you are a celebrity, people may copy you if they respect something about you.
Maybe you have treated someone in a way that others have not in the past, and they respect you for it. They may look to you as a sort of role model and believe that copying something you wear or do is a sign of respect.
People might copy a relative who has passed on if the relative meant a lot to the person. They might start wearing their grandfather’s old sweater or saying phrases that their mother used to say.
11. An Obsession
As you have already seen, copying is certainly not always endearing. People are prone to obsession, and becoming obsessed with another person is not uncommon. Respect is one thing; idolization is different.
People may copy you if they become obsessed with you. There is a line that can be crossed when it comes to someone copying the way you live, and such imitation can be dangerous.
To learn more, you can also read our posts on why you look better in the mirror, why you are so funny, and why people disrespect you.
Conclusion
People copy others for many reasons. They may wear the same jewelry as a celebrity, have the same attitude as their sister, or develop the same workout routine as someone that inspires them.
Copying someone is not always bad, but it can be quite annoying. If people copy you, consider whether you take it as a compliment. They may be doing it unintentionally.