Ctrl+C Affect

[dark]

I have noticed from my own self and from what some others have posted, INTPs have a mimic affect. I know personally, in high school, I would and could mimic any persons voice to near exact sound as long as it didn't go out of my own vocal range. Also I have learned to mimic peoples reactions to situations simply because I, before I mimiced others like this, would just be blank, and people would tend to think something was wrong with me.

The question is this, do INTPs mimic everything? Are we even capable of emotions at all or are we just mimicing someone elses emotions. Since we are introverted I was wondering if we can only do original things in our own minds, and to the outside world we seem original because of our very developed sense of mimicing people. Then again I could be only speaking for myself since I can't see into everyone else's minds.

[O and I think this is correct, I understand why some people find us repulsive, or just me, I must be mimicing their own emotions at that moment, unknowingly and causing them some negative-ness.]

Also if this is true, the only real truthful conversation an INTP can have is with another INTP, where mimicing of emotional happenings wouldn't exist.

 

[Cognisant]

It makes sense... but if you're right then I'm probably an INTJ

 

[dark]

From all I have read, there isn't that much difference between INTP and INTJ in general forms, but I am usually wrong due to not enough information. I do know for certain I personally am a NT, the other letters are up to debate in my head, but I usually seem to be INTP type, I think. I know I can and will lead like an INTJ, happens quite often, but will half the time just sit back and let someone else do the work. But um mimicing was my point not types haha.

 

[dark]

Ok ignore my post above, I started reading even more, and discovered even more differences, a lot really.

 

[Deleted member 1424]

The question is this, do INTPs mimic everything? Are we even capable of emotions at all or are we just mimicing someone elses emotions. Since we are introverted I was wondering if we can only do original things in our own minds, and to the outside world we seem original because of our very developed sense of mimicing people. Then again I could be only speaking for myself since I can't see into everyone else's minds.

I'd actually be more inclined to say that all people mimic other people to an extensive degree, but certain types could be more aware of it or uncomfortable with it.

Even your F types had to learn from somewhere the nature of emotional stimuli and the proper responses to them as determined by their culture.

edit:
To paraphrase a saying I've heard 'Truly creative and original individuals are just better at hiding their sources than everyone else.' I suspect this is true across all boards of human behavior. Originality itself could simply be a phenomena of people mimicking other people incorrectly or mixing their sources so as to effectively erase them.

 

[Glordag]

I'd actually be more inclined to say that all people mimic other people to an extensive degree, but certain types could be more aware of it or uncomfortable with it.

Even your F types had to learn from somewhere the nature of emotional stimuli and the proper responses to them as determined by their culture.

edit:
To paraphrase a saying I've heard 'Truly creative and original individuals are just better at hiding their sources than everyone else.' I suspect this is true across all boards of human behavior.

I think that I agree with this. I've seen the "INTPs mimic others" theory in several places. Originally I thought it had some merit, but now I think that there's probably more to it than that. INTP primarily interacts with the external world through their external function, Ne. With regards to social interactions, I think this means we will tend to use an "innate understanding" that we've developed of people and personalities to sort of "politicize" our own personality to the group.

In other words, I think that INTPs most likely pick up on what personality best "fits" with a group, and then has no other external way to handle this other than regurgitating it back at the group. It's not that the INTP is being fake to fit in, it's more that he or she literally has no other way to relate back to the group or person unless they've developed one of their other extroverted functions somewhere along the lines.

Development of or the opportunity to use other extroverted functions changes everything. For example, in a 1on1 setting I (and likely other INTPs) will be able to tap into Fe much easier than in a group. Thus, I sometimes display something other than "mirror personality" in an intimate situation with another person.

Edit: Haha, I guess I kind of talked myself out of agreeing with the quoted text. Woops! I guess my hypothesis is that anyone with high Ne and poorly developed other extroverted functions will display some degree of personality mirroring in a group.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

I mimic people based on assumed values and expectations, it can be better stated as having no true identity for myself. Based on behavior alone, I could probably fit in with most social groups because I have a wide range of interests and prefer to go with the flow of things.

What I cannot or will not mimic is flamboyant and totally superficial behavior. Anything I do would have to at least have an ounce of personal truth to it. For example, having a conversation about a now-playing movie I most likely will never go see. I would go so far as to say I think the story sounds interesting, but I won't go into details about planning a night out to go watch it. Thus my behavior is restricted by my values.

I think that I agree with this. I've seen the "INTPs mimic others" theory in several places. Originally I thought it had some merit, but now I think that there's probably more to it than that. INTP primarily interacts with the external world through their external function, Ne. With regards to social interactions, I think this means we will tend to use an "innate understanding" that we've developed of people and personalities to sort of "politicize" our own personality to the group.

In other words, I think that INTPs most likely pick up on what personality best "fits" with a group, and then has no other external way to handle this other than regurgitating it back at the group. It's not that the INTP is being fake to fit in, it's more that he or she literally has no other way to relate back to the group or person unless they've developed one of their other extroverted functions somewhere along the lines.

Development of or the opportunity to use other extroverted functions changes everything. For example, in a 1on1 setting I (and likely other INTPs) will be able to tap into Fe much easier than in a group. Thus, I sometimes display something other than "mirror personality" in an intimate situation with another person.

I agree, especially with the last part. My weak Fe cannot handle the weight of a whole group, it is much easier and effective for me to have intimate conversations.

 

[Jesse]

I find it hard to have those 1 on 1. At least with a group people are bouncing off each other and it's easier to say something. Those 1 on 1's usually follow the same pattern every time and try to mimic their behavior or at least continue the conversation. Of course with my true friends it's really easy and I don't mimic. I don't think it has anything to do with being an INTP, it's just human nature. Saying that I find it hard to summon up any personal feeling besides curiosity to some types of news and I pretend to feel sympathetic.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

I find it hard to have those 1 on 1. At least with a group people are bouncing off each other and it's easier to say something. Those 1 on 1's usually follow the same pattern every time and try to mimic their behavior or at least continue the conversation. Of course with my true friends it's really easy and I don't mimic. I don't think it has anything to do with being an INTP, it's just human nature. Saying that I find it hard to summon up any personal feeling besides curiosity to some types of news and I pretend to feel sympathetic.

Not mimic as in mirror copy, but do you find yourself able to adapt to any crowd?

 

[Glordag]

I find it hard to have those 1 on 1. At least with a group people are bouncing off each other and it's easier to say something. Those 1 on 1's usually follow the same pattern every time and try to mimic their behavior or at least continue the conversation. Of course with my true friends it's really easy and I don't mimic. I don't think it has anything to do with being an INTP, it's just human nature. Saying that I find it hard to summon up any personal feeling besides curiosity to some types of news and I pretend to feel sympathetic.

I think it's hard for any INTP with poorly developed extroverted functions outside of Ne to interact with a unique personality, 1on1 or not. That's probably most of us. I don't think it's a common trait amongst all personalities. Just look at a good number of your more extroverted friends. While they may have mannerisms they've picked up from others, I bet a good many of them have much more "unique" ways of conversing than your introverted friends. As always, it's certainly possible that I'm wrong. If it's not the case, then perhaps this speculation is off (: .

 

[orion]

i know im great at im not sure if u would say mimicing but adapting ive always found it easy to enter any group and in short time adapt and be exepted i think INTPs are better at adapting thier personality to people i for example im great at lieing and manipulating people because i can fake everything about me(im not proud of it). so i believe from observation of other INTPs and myself our outward emotions were learned if u ever watch younger INTPs especialy middleschool age ones are social outcasts but by highschool they learn to copy soocial behavior fantasticly and learn to change with amazing speed. also if you watch other INTPs or yourself you will notice that you start talking like people you are often around(or in a way that best fits you situation). this adapting property is also used in more then social situations i find social behavior interesting and now subconcisly observe people and myself.(srry random thought)

 

[EyeSeeCold]

also if you watch other INTPs or yourself you will notice that you start talking like people you are often around(or in a way that best fits you situation).

Yes, this is what I mean. Because of compartmentalization it can be a pretty interesting situation to be in the company of two contrasting social groups. I don't consider myself "fake", I just choose to show whatever is appropriate for minimal conflict. I've gotta say I do admire ENFPs' authentic nature, they're always who they are.

 

[dark]

Interesting, in high school I watched people a lot, the people I "hung" out with were usually the same with everyone, yet I noticed about myself, each of my friends I had, saw me as a different person, like out of 12 people that knew me, each had a completely different personality to pin on me, yet all would say that I was analytical and questioned everything. Other than some minor traits I could never throw off, each person would see me differently so I assume I adapted differently amongst each person without knowing it. Of course I could never see this happening with other people, even from afar, they were who they were, made me constantly think I was living a lie, even though I didn't lie about anything, and also I have been doing almost the same thing in college, yet I haven't been trying to be a mimic, it just happens I think.

 

[nexion]

Maybe, but perhaps not always. I have quirks and emotions that are uniquely mine, and not shared by anyone else around me.

 

[The Gopher]

yeah I do tend to fit in very well with anybody much better that the INTJs I know(Unless it's one on one with SJs that I did not grow up with). Even very different groups and I guess all INTPs are like this but I am very strange with my family but not with anybody else(until I get to know them and it kinda creeps them out the first time). So guys what you do is ask very different people to say something at your wedding/birthday/deathbed/ect about what you are like.

 

[nexion]

I wonder if it would be easier or harder to mimic someone in an impersonal format rather than a personal one... such as a forum.

 

[Glordag]

I wonder if it would be easier or harder to mimic someone in an impersonal format rather than a personal one... such as a forum.

Harder, imo. Much, much harder.

 

[nexion]

And yet it is so much easier to put a mask on in the internet... I wonder if there is some sort of connection there?

 

[nexion]

So guys what you do is ask very different people to say something at your wedding/birthday/deathbed/ect about what you are like.

That would be amazing, to hear all of the different perspectives people have of me, all the impressions I gave them. I have no idea what I would hear. Most likely, something based on the impression I first made on them, which, depending on my mood at the time, could be vastly different from person to person (other people's perspectives play a role as well however). And then there's my mom, who would something like "He's my son and I love him." Meh. Oh well. That can't be helped.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

Wouldn't it actually be easier? You can just look at the quality of their writing and look for patterns in their content.

 

[nexion]

Wouldn't it actually be easier? You can just look at the quality of their writing and look for patterns in their content.

My thoughts were somewhat along these lines. Nuances, however... there are many things that affect it, and I'm just not sure.

 

[Glordag]

Wouldn't it actually be easier? You can just look at the quality of their writing and look for patterns in their content.

Well...I suppose this depends on the amount of time we're given. With enough time, I think nearly any style of writing could be emulated. I'll grant you that. However, I think it takes a lot more effort to emulate writing than to emulate others in person. At least, that's how I feel like it is for me.

 

[Deridaburi]

I also have the ability to mimic other peoples voice inflections, tones, and general body language. I remember when I was about 6 or 7 being able to freak out the foreign students that came to our house by exactly repeating what they were saying to each other in their own language. Now that I think about it I do subconsciously mimic other peoples emotions or general mood most of the time because I have no emotional state. Or at least I'm not aware of it.

 

[dark]

Oh interesting, I have never been able to speak another language, oh so "American" stereotypical of me. Most likely it is because of cultural starvation.

Mimicing text, do you mean make it exactly as the person being mimiced would have done it? Or to a relatively close format that couldn't be noticed in authorship?

To the 1st possibility, I can't see logic in that, since we couldn't and wouldn't know what the original creater would have done in a new form of content. Since I know I have written things on notepad mutliple times, and each time I take a different approach and sounds like a completely different person, yet it still has that part of me in it.

So yeah I agree we do seem to have a part of ourselves, but is it a subtle existance? Such as when we mimic, if we do, does it come through as a signature of sorts, that we can't possibly remove.

I believe personally that nothing can be created without having part of the creater in it. Such as if you were to believe in a god, that created the entire universe and all in existance, that would have to have part of that god, welcome to pantheism, or panentheism, depends on how you value that god. I can not see a religious view in any other form that believes that their god created existance, of course I think I am atheist, so this is speculative.

 

[anyaa]

hey..man..I even cant mimic voice..but reactions..I think i do quite a lot of times

 

[LPolaright]

Mimicking is found in everyone, sooner or later when you hang around much with a person you will find that he will start mimicking your reactions and sometimes your voice. And that is for a psychological reason, the more we like someone and/or want some of his quality the more we would mimic that person to get that quality.

If you see someone cry you will most likely be sad too, that is your sympathetic sense.

Also, in order to get a long with someone the best tip is to mimic their body language - because people see comfort in their mirrored personality.

INTPs are introvert thinkers - maybe that is our way to understand someone in a deeper level, by acting how he does. Being intuitive we immediately unconscionably try to find the bigger picture behind a pose he does or why he acts the way he does. We analyze in order to see why. An example to that will be Sherlock Holmes (even though fictional), which took it into an even deeper level.
But thats just my theory on this.