Borderline Personality Disorder Chameleon Effect
Updated: Dec 16, 2022
Sometimes we act like a different person than we actually are to impress another. We subconsciously build mechanisms inside our minds for other people to like us. If this happens too much, we can lose our sense of self, and the chameleon personality is created. The chameleon trait is often part of Borderline Personality Disorder(BPD) due to their low self-esteem and fear of abandonment.
If you're struggling with signs of a chameleon personality, this article should in no case be used to self-diagnose. This article is to show awareness, inform and identify the problems that come with this personality trait, which is often associated with Borderline Personality Disorder.
Chameleon effect with Borderline Personality Disorder
Low self-esteem is common among people with BPD. As a result, they frequently rely on the approval of others to make them feel good. If they are disliked by someone it can make the person with BPD feel worthless. To prevent this, people with BPD pay close attention to social cues and will mimic other people their behaviors, since this is a psychological trick for other people to like them. People with BPD often aren't aware of this trick since it happens subconsciously. Additionally, they struggle with fear of abandonment, so they want to make sure nobody leaves them.
People with borderline personality disorder frequently exhibit chameleon behaviors, which causes them to lose their sense of self. They act like a completely different person depending on the individual in front of them. When a group of individuals gets together, it might be tough to know how to behave for someone with a chameleon personality. The person with BPD must first read the room to react appropriately.
What does a Chameleon personality look like?
Copying other people's gestures, facial expressions, speech patterns, and even clothing is a great tool to make people like you. In a lot of psychological studies, it is shown that people tend to like other people who copy their behaviors. During a job interview or a date, this can be very effective. It can also become a subconscious psychological trait that manifests with a positive feedback loop.
''If it worked on that person I might as well try it on someone else.''
It might seem as if there is a choice to copy someone else's behavior. In fact, someone with a chameleon personality, most of the time, doesn't realize they are copying the other person. This can be a form of self-deception. It happens subconsciously and there is a lot of self-awareness needed to be able to spot this trait for yourself.
It can feel as if you're the only one having this type of personality. The feeling of being different is present, which can transform into loneliness even when other people are around.
For someone with the chameleon trait, social activities are especially hard and could even become scary. Not being able to be yourself and always copying the person in front of you is challenging and exhausting. You can pick up other people their hobbies, for the reason to be liked, without liking the hobby yourself.
Over the years, by subconsciously making people like you, you will become an expert social chameleon. Jumping from one social situation to another being a completely different person.
What is the cause of a chameleon personality?