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Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery - or is it? They say to compliment somebody you're attracted to, you have to imitate their movements. When they touch their hair, you touch your hair as well; when they cross their legs, you cross yours as well. 

This way, you build trust and connection in your relationships. And in the business world, mirroring the movements of your interviewer or your coworkers can get you some rapport.

(Photo : Irena Carpaccio / Unsplash)

The Role of Mirroring in Borderline Personality Disorder

Mirroring or mimicking is a form of body language that is a powerful tool anybody can use in different instances. However, if misused or if done too much, it can be irritating to the person you are copying. 

Think of how, as kids, you and your siblings did everything together at the same time and in the same way. Adorable, right? But this is probably not the case for adults. 

In some extreme cases, excessive mirroring behavior can be a sign of borderline personality disorder or BPD - a condition in which a person manifests emotional instability, severe abandonment issues, and problematic relationships.

Limbic Synchrony

We all do it subconsciously, and to an extent, it is a healthy way of communicating with the people around us. This is called limbic synchrony, and it is human nature to do so. However, individuals with BPD lose control when mimicking their peers, resulting in their relationships being negatively impacted.

It is important to understand that extreme mirroring by people with BDP may be linked to difficulty in understanding their own identities, which is a base feature of the disorder. 

Because of this, they instantly adopt the characteristics, mannerisms, interests, style, attitude, and sometimes even beliefs so they can form some sort of identity.