Many people say that imitation is a sincere form of compliment, but if you don't agree with that, a copycat can irritate you. If you have friends who like to imitate, this can be a big problem. He will not only ruin your friendship, but demean you as an individual. At the same time, he may show insecurity and self-deprecation.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Reflecting on the Situation
Step 1. Identify if your friend likes to imitate
You shouldn't immediately accuse your friend of being a copycat. The first thing you need to do is think about his actions, your relationship, and the situation to really identify if your friend is really a copycat. Consider a few things below:
- Does your friend dress in the same style as you?
- Do your friends have the same attitude as you?
- Do your friends talk like you?
- Has your friend ever stolen an idea and tried to retell it as his own?
- Does your friend like to date people who are similar to your crush, or has he ever tried to steal your crush?
Step 2. Recognize that this is a normal part of friendship
Maybe your friends are not copying you, but you are also copying your friends. Often, friends influence each other. It's possible that you have such mutual influence that you both imitate each other. If this is the case, you may be able to imitate your friends and accept your own style. He might as well do the same.
Step 3. Ask other people for their opinion
Find someone who will listen to your voice, it could be a relative, or a very close friend. Don't involve friends you both know each other. This will only put the person in an uncomfortable situation.
- Ask the person to evaluate the situation and see if he or she agrees that your friend is a copycat.
- Your confidants may agree with you or vice versa.
- This will give you a broader perspective before you move on to dealing with imitators.
Step 4. Consider trends and popular culture as explanations for your friends' actions
Maybe you feel very modern and slang and follow current trends (you may not be very trendy but keep up with the times). Your friends may also take ideas from TV, radio, and other forms of media and try to look cool. Or it could be that your friends take the idea of “current” and popular culture from you. You are the barometer of today's cool things.
Step 5. Remember that imitation is the highest form of praise
You can choose to see your copycat friend's actions as a compliment. In the end, you are the best judge of how dangerous your friend's actions are.
- If you feel like he's just complimenting you, that's okay.
- Consider whether imitating him is self-deprecating.
- Consider whether his actions are demeaning to you.
- Determine how annoying your friend's actions are to you.
Part 2 of 3: Communicating with Your Friends
Step 1. Educate your friend's individuality
Do what you can to encourage your copycat friend to create his own style, taste, and personality. You can do this in a number of ways:
- Praise the original things he does.
- Talk about the good in him.
- Ask him about his ideas.
- In a subtle way, discuss how important it feels to be an individual.
Step 2. Don't be a passive aggressive person
Don't take your frustration out on your friend instead of communicating it with him or her. Leaving clues or trying to beat the things he does will only irritate him. Avoid the following:
- Use a tone of voice to show you are angry with him.
- Be sarcastic to show irritation.
- Tell others that the person is a copycat.
Step 3. Talk about specific things that he or she thinks you're copying
If you don't want to talk directly about his imitating behavior, there are some small steps you can take to let him know that some of the things he's doing make you upset or angry.
- If he imitates your dress style, tell him that you are trying to be different at the time.
- If he talks like you, tell him that you are trying to be unique.
- If he tries to steal your idea at work or school, say that you worked hard for it and you want the job to be yours.
- Make sure you do it in a polite and non-offensive way. Remember, he may not realize what he's doing.
- If he is very defensive, step back and review the situation.
Step 4. Talk to your friend how you feel about their imitating behavior
Let him know that it upsets you or makes you uncomfortable. Explain that this is a serious problem for you. Tell him how you feel and how his actions upset you.
Step 5. Propose serious discussion, if all else fails
If your friend is not receiving your signals or suggestions, you should talk to them.
- When you're alone, say that you want to talk about something that worries you.
- Say that you feel his actions are demeaning to you.
- Say that everyone should have their own taste and personality.
- Tell him that he is an amazing person and that you think he is very cool and smart.
Part 3 of 3: Keeping Your Personality
Step 1. Change your style
If you see your friends copying your dress or other aspects of your personal style, change a few things about yourself. This will show your friends that it's okay to have a few different styles. Maybe he will experiment with a few different styles.
Step 2. Don't share information about your shopping habits
If he imitates the same hairstyle and hairstyle as you, don't give him the information he needs to continue copying you. This will prevent him from developing his own style.
- Suggest places and styles that can encourage him to develop his own style.
- Don't clearly tell where you bought your stuff.
- Don't shop with your friends.
Step 3. Keep your innermost thoughts to yourself
If your friend doesn't understand your signal, don't talk too much about it. Don't tell me everything you think and feel. Especially don't tell him things that he will imitate as if they were his work. This hopefully will encourage him to think about himself and accept his own uniqueness and personality.
Step 4. Mark your own creations, styles and thoughts
Some bad copycats will try to steal your creations and make others think they are theirs. There are several things that can be done to avoid this problem.
- If your impersonator is someone who stole your writing and art, please sign it and provide the date it was created.
- If your friends copy the style of your room and belongings, get creative. If you want, buy things and wear something the person can't find. However, don't let this go too far as you shouldn't lose your uniqueness.
- Post an idea or something you wrote on social media so everyone can see who wrote it.
Step 5. Create a different social circle with the imitator
Part of the problem you have with the copycat may be that you are both in the same social circle. This can lead to a variety of other problems, including the copycat wanting to date the same person as you or stealing your crush. But if you create a different social circle with the copycat, it will be difficult to imitate you and steal the show.
- Rely on friends and family from different parts of the city or community to introduce you to other social groups.
- If the copycat and you go to the same school, find some friends at other schools.
- If the copycat is trying to steal your crush or wants to date the same person you have a crush on, try to find a romantic partner from another social circle and don't introduce the two.
Step 6. Stay away from your copycat friends
If your situation is very bad and other steps have failed, you should consider distancing yourself and not spending too much time with the copycat. You might as well stay away from it completely in your life. However, consider the following before taking extreme measures:
- You've tried to educate him and encourage him to find his identity.
- You have publicly expressed your frustration about his actions.
- He did nothing to reduce his habit of imitation.
- The act of imitating the person has turned evil or dangerous.
Warning
- The impersonator may not respond well to the tactics listed above. If he doesn't respond well and you stay away from him, he may try to tarnish your name, slander you, or cause you trouble. Be careful how you handle this situation.
- Don't hurt your friend's feelings. He may not even notice that you are angry!
