Examples of mimicry in humans. Additional education in psychology
People often have to mimic socially in order to become “one of their own” in a new team or even society. For animals and insects, everything is much stricter: mimicry (situational or permanent) directly saves their lives.
Leafweed
At first glance, it is almost impossible to distinguish some insects from plant leaves: both the body shape and color are exactly the same as those of some leaves. This camouflage copes with its task perfectly - for predators the leaf beetles are practically invisible.
Most often these insects Green colour, but yellow and orange specimens are also found. To make it more similar to plants, dark spots are often randomly located on the leafhopper’s body (but more often along the edges), very similar to dry areas of leaves.
Jellyfish
Quite often, jellyfish are almost transparent, which greatly complicates the process of hunting them. At the same time, they are barely noticeable to their own prey.
Many children love to play with jellyfish sea water, but it’s not for nothing that adults are not delighted with such games: the tentacles of jellyfish are poisonous, and the consequences of a “bite” can be either a minor burn, the discomfort of which will go away in a few minutes, or a serious manifestation of an allergy that is life-threatening.
In general, you should be more careful with these animals.
glass butterfly
Glassworts have transparent wings, but these insects are especially notable for another feature: they are very similar to wasps. They have an elongated and relatively thick body, long legs with large spurs, and they really look like wasps and sometimes bees.
Glassworts also live in our latitudes, and some of their species harm trees - poplars, pine needles, apple trees, etc. While still caterpillars, they make a hole in the bark of a tree, bite into the “juicy” tissue of the tree and gnaw passages there.
As a result of their pestilence, the plant may shed all its bark or die altogether. But they also have quite a lot of benefits - they not only look like wasps and bees, but actually do their job: they pollinate plants.
Chameleon
This is undoubtedly the most popular animal that can change color. own body, thus mimicking environment. Traditionally it is believed that chameleons do this to protect themselves from predators, but now a new version, according to which a change in body color is necessary for these lizards not for self-defense, but for communication with each other.
However, this ability also helps to escape from predators: a chameleon is able to “recolor” in just a few milliseconds, and predators simply do not have time to notice it.
It is likely, therefore, that lizards are multitasking and change their color for various reasons - both to communicate with members of their own species and to save their own lives.
Bee Orchid
It turns out that not only insects and animals imitate plants, but sometimes vice versa. The flowers of some orchids are very similar to bees and wasps, and this, of course, is not meaningless decoration.
However, the answer is simple: plants thus attract males, who as a result pollinate them, transferring pollen from flower to flower. Judging by the fact that the mechanism is debugged and works year after year, insects do not learn to recognize false bees and do not transmit information about the deception to their relatives.
Darlingtonia
This carnivorous plant has long, trap-like stems that attract prey (insects) while saving the Darlingtonia from becoming prey itself.
Being similar to a snake, it scares away animals that could easily feast on it. But insects, on the contrary, happily fly into death traps, because they emit a rather pungent and for some reason attractive smell.
Insects can no longer get out of the trap, so their curiosity turns out to be fatal for them in one hundred percent of cases.
Two-color flounder
This fish is a guru of camouflage. It floats as if on its side and, if necessary, can lie on the bottom, perfectly merging in color with the surrounding surface. Depending on the habitat, the color of this fish may differ. H
Your deeds are great, evolution! Weird, but damn good and effective. Some flounders are able to change their color, just like chameleons do.
And sometimes they simply bury themselves in the sand, leaving only their eyes on the surface. So as not to take unnecessary risks, so to speak.
Leafy Sea Dragon
Amazing fish, relative seahorse, has such unusual shape that it is extremely difficult to distinguish it from algae. Not having special ways To protect itself from the predators that fill the seas and oceans, the dragon uses what it has - its amazing resemblance to plants.
If necessary, it simply clings to some algae and becomes completely invisible to predators.
The color of this fish is not constant and can change depending on the surrounding landscape. In general, everything is like a chameleon, only it seems more believable.
Fantastic leaf-tailed gecko
Another master of disguise, carefully posing as part of a plant - fantastic leaf-tailed gecko. He lives in tropical forests Madagascar and skillfully deceives many predators there who are not averse to feasting on this peculiar lizard.
And even if some animal does grab the gecko’s tail, the potential victim will easily throw off this part of the body and run away, leaving the predator with nothing. Well, almost nothing.
Flower mantis
This mantis successfully camouflages itself in bushes and other plants, where it can be virtually invisible to its prey. Of course, the specific coloring, which helps to blend in with its surroundings, also protects the praying mantis from those who hunt it.
Mimicry is a kind of mask that hides true essence or the intention of a person, or any other creature, is the desire to be invisible in order to divert the attention of another person or, on the contrary, to attract his attention to something positive, or something seemingly positive. Sometimes this happens completely unconsciously, but often mimicry occurs quite consciously in order to obtain certain results. At the heart of any mimicry is the idea of benefit. at the animal level, mimicry manifests itself as an expression of instincts; at the human level, in most cases the same thing happens, but often, a person puts on attractive masks to hide his true intention. But these masks can also be threatening, under which fear and self-doubt may be hidden.
Any forms of communication between people always contain elements of mimicry, since for people, when communicating with each other, the level of their own importance is always important, which they manifest in their opinions, in the intonations of their voice, in the content of the topic of conversation, in your gestures, looks, facial expressions. A person has a hard time experiencing the humiliation of his importance. You can recall Satin’s monologue from M. Gorky’s work: “At the Bottom,” when a homeless tramp says that “a man sounds proud,” that one should not humiliate him with pity. But they build shelters out of pity, and they also give food to the poor out of pity. And then there is nothing sublime left in this monologue. But, through Satin, pride speaks, for which significance is the main support. “I have been given power over this world,” he says proudly prince of this world, tempting Jesus Christ. In fact, people's desire for significance is a manifestation of devilish pride. And people do not disdain anything for the sake of their importance. The spectrum of significance is very large - from extreme insignificance to absurd greatness. Although in reality, the utmost insignificance may be more significant than its superior greatness if they meet on a desert island. Let us remember the story of Saltykov-Shchedrin: “How one man fed two generals”
In this manifested world, insignificance and greatness are determined by the illusory significance of various external values, which can be destroyed by some external circumstances, and then all that remains of a person’s significance is what his mother gave birth to. Therefore, all the significance of this manifested world can be considered as traps for human consciousness, and all the ways in which a person shows his significance indicate that a person has fallen into the net of the forces of lower nature and has become an obedient executor of its will. And a person’s position becomes even more hopeless when he begins to be proud of any manifestations of his importance, and strives to increase it beyond the limits of common sense.
Then one can think that a person walking the inner path is freed from the significance of this manifested world in order to enter the boundaries of a higher plane of consciousness. This is equivalent to the fact that a person turned away from traditional human significances and turned his face to higher significances. But these more subtle and higher significances are also a manifestation of the devil’s pride, it’s just that this pride “sounds” on a higher plane of consciousness. for example, a person may be proud that he owns many material values of this world. But the one who has risen, following the inner path, can be proud of the fact that he is without money, that he has given away all his property and that acquisitiveness is alien to him. Such a person is also captured by pride, only with another facet of it, more subtle and less distinguishable, and therefore, this kind of trap inner path more dangerous than those that surround a person on the human plane of consciousness.
These kinds of traps may have symbols of holiness above the entrance to them, since there, inside these traps, people who are not of this world live. But this is not holiness, but only a mimicry of it, and people who serve this kind of traps from the inside dress in clothes that emphasize their importance as servants of the holy idea that they bring to the world. Their services in churches, and communication with parishioners, their rituals and their dogmas - everything about them does not look traditional for the world of the average person, and therefore contains attractiveness, something unusual and lofty.
But these kinds of traps are located between the planes of consciousness, and their purpose is not to miss internally ready people into the realms of a higher plane of consciousness. And at the same time, for people who are sincerely striving for the truth, without realizing it, they open up opportunities for their further spiritual ascent.
In this manifested world, for seekers, all paths are blocked by masks of mimicry, hiding the true meaning of everything that lies behind them. And only sincerity, faith in one’s high destiny and trust in the Divine soul - our true “I”, allows the spiritual seeker not to fall into the traps set lower nature on the path of man's ascent to the endless heights of consciousness.
With the help of mimicry, insects hide from enemies, win the trust of the victim and attract the attention of the opposite sex. Something similar happens in business, but the goals here are usually somewhat different: to mimic not so much in order not to be eaten, but in an effort to grab it yourself a piece of someone else's pie.
The concept of mimicry
THIS CATERPILLAR (butterfly larva) with its body pattern and specific pose imitates the branch of the plant on which it feeds. This apathetic mimicry, which prevents the predator from noticing the prey, helps many species of animals survive.
MIMICRY, the imitative resemblance of some animals, mainly insects, to other species, providing protection from enemies. It is difficult to draw a clear boundary between it and a protective color or form. In the narrowest sense, mimicry is the imitation by a species, defenseless against some predators, of the appearance of a species avoided by these potential enemies due to inedibility or the presence of special means of defense. For example, the butterfly Limenitis archippus imitates the butterfly Danaus plexippus, which is not eaten by birds because it tastes unpleasant. However, mimicry in relation to insects can also be called several other types of protective adaptations. For example, a stick insect looks like an “inanimate” thin twig. The pattern on the wings of many butterflies makes them almost indistinguishable against the background of tree bark, mosses or lichens. Strictly speaking, this is a protective coloring, but there is a clear protective imitation of other objects, i.e., in in a broad sense, mimicry.
Forms of mimicry.
THE FLY COPIES THE APPEARANCE AND BEHAVIOR OF THE BEE. This type of mimicry is called Batesian.
There are three main types of mimicry - apathetic, sematic and epigamic.
Apathetic mimicry called the resemblance of a species to an object in its surroundings natural environment– animal, plant or mineral origin. Due to the diversity of such objects, this type of mimicry falls into many smaller categories.
Sematic (warning) mimicry- this is an imitation in shape and color of a species avoided by predators due to the presence of special means protection or unpleasant taste. It is found in larvae, nymphs, adults and possibly even pupae.
Epigamic mimicry, or coloration, may be observed in sexually dimorphic species. An inedible animal is imitated either by males or females. In this case, females sometimes imitate several differently colored species found either in a given area in different seasons, either in different parts range of the simulator species. Darwin considered this type of mimicry to be the result of sexual selection, in which the defenseless form becomes more and more similar to the protected one as less perfect imitators are destroyed by natural enemies. Those who manage to more accurately copy someone else's appearance survive due to this similarity and give birth to offspring.
Ratio of numbers of copied and copying species. An inedible form copied by another species must obviously be so abundant that natural enemies very quickly (after the first one or two attempts to feast on individuals of the corresponding appearance) they learn to avoid it. If there are more imitators than originals, such training will naturally be delayed, and both the original and the copy will have to suffer from this. As a rule, the number of copied individuals is many times higher than that of copying individuals, although there may be rare exceptions, for example, when development conditions for the former are unfavorable, while for the latter they are close to ideal.
Examples of mimicry.
Daytime butterflies. IN North America most shining example mimicry - imitation of the butterfly Limenitis archippus (its English name– viceroy, viceroy) to another butterfly – Danaus plexippus (this large beautiful butterfly called the monarch). They are very similar in color, although the imitation is somewhat smaller than the original and has an “extra” black arc on the hind wings. This mimicry is limited to adults (adults), and the caterpillars of the two species are completely different. The “original” has caterpillars with a bright black-yellow-green pattern, which is boldly displayed to birds and other predators. The larvae of the imitator species, on the contrary, are inconspicuous, speckled, and outwardly resemble bird droppings. Thus, the adult stage here serves as an example of mimicry in the narrow sense of the word, and the caterpillar shows protective coloration.
Mimicry is widespread in many regions South-East Asia and Australia. Among the butterflies living here, Danaids and many species of swallowtails have an unpleasant taste for birds and other predators. Their appearance is copied as much as possible edible species swallowtails and butterflies of other families. Moreover, sometimes sailboats and Danaids, protected from enemies, copy each other’s appearance no less skillfully than their defenseless imitators do. A similar situation is observed in the tropics of America and Africa. One of classic examples mimicry - the African butterfly Hypolimmas misippus, which, depending on the geographical area, imitates different species of Danaids and, thus, is itself represented by externally different forms.
Night butterflies. Most of The literature on mimicry describes it using the example of representatives of the order Lepidoptera, but excellent examples of imitation are also known among other groups of insects and other animals. The caterpillars of one of the South American species of hawkmoths look extremely unremarkable in a calm state, however, if they are disturbed, they rear up and arch their body, inflating its front end. The result is a complete illusion of a snake's head. For greater authenticity, the caterpillars slowly sway from side to side.
Spiders. As you know, spiders are the worst enemies of insects. However, the spider Synemosina antidae is so similar to an ant that only by looking closely can one recognize the mimicry. On the other hand, some ants and other insects at certain stages of their development resemble spiders in appearance and habits.
Bees and wasps. These insects serve as favorite role models. Their appearance and behavior are copied by many types of flies. Some of the imitators not only use the wasp coloration, but when caught, they pretend that they are going to sting and buzz almost the same way as the “originals”. Many species of moths from several families also resemble bees and wasps - in flight or at rest.
Beetles. Thousands of insect species imitate their appearance animal excrement. Many beetles resort to this form of mimicry, which complement their resemblance to animal feces by pretending to be dead when they sense danger. Other beetles resemble plant seeds in their dormant state.
The protective shape and coloring of the praying mantis.
Chameleons don't hide from anyone
Contrary to popular belief, chameleons do not need the ability to change colors to hide. On the contrary, by changing color, they attract attention, Australian scientists are sure. Although the vast majority of the population is confident that changing color is intended to help chameleons hide from predators, scientists are considering two hypotheses for the development of such an ability.
An example of mimicry and warning coloration. Top row - different types poisonous frogs, bottom row - different shapes one type of simulator
Orchids provoke sex on the side
Orchids are able to use the interest of male bees in “exotic partners”, preferring the imitation of their scents to the smell of local females. A comparison of flowers and insects made it possible to understand that for males “sex on the side” is natural behavior, and females do not want variety just because they are already finding a partner.
The phenomenon of mimicry in living nature is not limited to predator-prey relationships alone, in which the former try not to give away their presence, while attracting the latter, and the latter try not to be caught by the former, and if caught, then in the most terrifying form. Often, plants imitate female insects in order to attract pollinating males, who scour the world in search of reproductive opportunities.
How can a non-Muscovite imitate a resident of Belokamennaya?
If you no longer cry at the sight of the works of Zurab Tsereteli, have forgotten what Red Square and Arbat look like, say “aligarchic place”, “ishnitsa” and “loaf” - you are a Muscovite. God forbid you invite a friend to Arbat for a cup of coffee, not green tea. Moreover, celebrate City Day on Poklonnaya Hill.
St. Petersburg officials, moving to the capital, do their best to knock “shawarma”, “loaf of bread”, “curb” and “front door” out of their brains. You can change Lanvin to Comme des Garcons, Volvo to Land Cruiser, but you will never become a Muscovite.
Experience of secret mimicry of a resident of Belokamennaya from linguist Elena Omelyanova, author of a phonetics textbook:
- First of all, Akaya, emphasizing the stressed syllable in contrast. Okali in Moscow until the 18th century, Okali Ivan the Terrible and his entourage, the old boyars - the Khovanskys, Mstislavskys and Odoevskys. Then, together with visitors from the south and east, the Akanye strengthened here.
You can shush and speak in Old Moscow - pronounce a soft “r”: “first”, “Thursday”, “top”. But few people will appreciate this anymore. For high-quality mimicry of a Muscovite, it is better to remember that:
1. “Shch”, “schch”, “zhzh”, “zzh”, “zhd” are pronounced as “sh” and “zh” soft and long: “shchi”, “schet”, “buzz”, “vizhat”, "rain".
2. Instead of “chn” say “shn” (“boring”). At the same time, the “buloshnaya” becomes obsolete. “Moloshny” is already outdated.
3. Pronounce hard “t”, “d” before “e” in words such as “tempera”, “cottage”, “tertia”, “décolleté”, and in proper names - “Descartes”, “Degas”, “ Terence", "Daudet".
4. A Muscovite pronounces “ch” before “t” in the conjunctions “what” and “so that” as “sh”: “shto”, “shtoby”.
Now it's time to behave like Moscow. Norilsk-born artist, designer, sculptor Andrei Bartenev is a man of the world, more often in London at Studio 36 in Chiesenhale Art Place than on Bolshaya Nikitskaya, so his view of Moscow is pure:
- You no longer laugh or cry when you see the fruits of Tsereteli’s creativity, but treat it like fog or frost. By the absence of prostitutes in the courtyards of Tverskaya in the evening, you understand that today is Constitution Day, Police Day, and a store that closed at 8 o’clock in the evening makes you unpleasantly surprised. A real Muscovite, in response to the words of a friend from the provinces: “And my salary is two grand,” quite sincerely and not wanting to offend him, asks: “Dollars?”
Current mood: … Current music: Don Julian & The Larks - Message From A Black Man Entry tags: notes "social mimicry"
In general, what is the benefit of the phenomenon and why such mimicry is needed by living creatures, I hope there is no need to explain once again. Yes, yes, this “adaptability” serves to better preserve the species. Which, in fact, once again clearly confirms Darwin’s theories.
In human society, as I see it, something similar also exists. There is, in particular, a kind of “social mimicry”. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to notice how people adjust their behavior depending on the reality around them.
Well, I mean, for example, that suddenly rich little men, adjusting to new environment, into which they have just ascended, they begin to diligently buy “status things”, which, to be honest, they don’t really need (they are used to something completely different), but without which they will not be able to “pass for one” in "certain circles."
Or another good example of acute “social mimicry”, when a person thinks and wants one thing, but he has to somewhat mimic, “play by certain rules,” and say and do something different in order to comply with the traditions and mores of that “social group” whose favor this person values. That is, it is very easy to calculate that in some “social groups” it is better not to touch upon certain topics at all, so as not to be compromised, while some others, on the contrary, will “go with a bang.” The same words, in different “social groups,” can cause the most opposite reactions. From supportive to angrily condemning. So it turns out that a person permanently mimics, lives “with an eye on” his “surroundings”, keeping in mind what can and should be said and done, and what should never be done. Like, “comrades won’t understand.”
It is impossible to do otherwise, however, within the framework of survival in a “social group,” since if you stop mimicking your “surroundings,” then “ social group“will quickly expel you from its midst (which is natural and fair, since any “social group” is formed on some similarity of interests and values, while “renegades” with other priorities, as it seems to me, have nothing to catch there).
This is parsley. I may have stated it in a “curly” way, but I hope it’s clear...
12 links
- Industrial mimicry
In the straight world, gays face many challenges that require them to act unnaturally. But if while studying at school or university there is still the opportunity to get lost in a motley crowd, hide in a circle of friends who can understand and/or protect, then in a work team hide your sexual orientation becomes more difficult and dangerous.
Psychological mimicry
Mimicry in nature - protective property living creatures that take on landscape-style colors to avoid being noticed by predators and to escape their teeth.
A beautiful, confident woman sat in front of me. Everything was good for her, a great job, promotion, many friends, women and men. Everything is great. Or almost everything...
She told me about herself and her family with pride and love. Especially about my father, whom I still loved sincerely and tenderly.
He and I are still friends and trust each other more than a daughter and father can trust. “I even know about his hobbies,” she told me.
One thing I can’t understand is why the men with whom I develop close relationships leave me very soon. And, if I ask them about the reasons for breaking up, they shrug their shoulders and say that we can remain friends. But I need love. I want children. Well, what's wrong with me?
I watched her while she told me about herself, about her father, about her friendships with men, and I saw in her not a woman, but a young man. It was so obvious! A straight wrinkle on the forehead, a man’s sitting – cross-legged, but not the way women sit, showing off the beauty of their legs, but the way confident men sit. Movements of the beautiful strong hands They were also harsh, their speech was abrupt.
And I asked the question: “Who did your parents want when they were expecting you, a boy or a girl?”
"What does it matter?" - she asked.
“They wanted a boy, but I was born, and I had a wonderful childhood.” My parents loved me very much, especially my father. He took me with him everywhere - hiking, fishing, and hunting. I'm telling you, we are still friends.
And then I remembered my rose. I have several hibiscus, they are all from the same bush with rounded leaves with small teeth, they bloom beautifully. Last year I got a cat, and she gnawed one of the bushes, leaving bare trunks. The rose was sick for a long time, and then fluffed up bright green leaves. But they were all of a completely different shape, similar to pointed maple leaves, only the leaf consisted of three parts. Rose did not want to be eaten by the cat and changed. I was shocked then by the ability of living beings to adapt to conditions in order to survive.
So you, my girl, mimicked, I thought, because you couldn’t grow up without the love of your parents, and they wanted a boy and raised them the way they would raise a son, so that you could be proud of him - strong and brave.
Carefully, so as not to scare me, I told the young woman about this, and we began work.
It was not easy to teach her to smile tenderly, the way a woman should smile. Even sitting to be seductive, as a woman should, was not easy for her at first.
For a long time we learned to smile, give a hand, sit in a chair pulled up by a man. And an hour and a half later there was a sweet and gentle woman in front of me, whom I wanted to take care of, take her hand, warm her tender fingers.
Everything about us comes from childhood, but how carefully we need to handle these flowers of our life - children, so as not to harm them with our inept love...
Mimicry in nature is a protective property of living creatures that take on colors in the style of the landscape in order not to be noticed by predators and to escape their teeth. In humans, mimicry is often associated with the need to conform to the attitudes of a reference group or specific significant people to gain their recognition or love.
We, parents, sometimes do not notice how we put the most difficult experiences into the psyche of our beloved children, which subsequently form various complexes.
But again, times are difficult. And without childhood complexes, many women have become so courageous that they have forgotten about their essence. This is happening all over the world. Women who sought equality with men outplayed the game. A toughness has appeared in us, a strength that suppresses men who have become more feminine. The mother often becomes the head of the family and provides for it. I don't have the patience to inspire my husband, to make him stronger. There is no room for judgment here, but the problem exists. You should think about how to break it down into small, manageable tasks in order to remember that we are women.
Exercise.
Every morning in front of the mirror tell yourself: “I’m cute a beautiful woman, tender and fragile “little “U”,” as Glucose sings. “I need the love, protection and help of a strong, courageous real man. Only he can make my life safe, joyful and easy. He is strength, I am weakness, he is my support, I am a liana. I am a flower, he is the sun and the rain.” What’s the song like? “I will become your cloak, I will become your rain.” Don't forget that you are a rose, and he is your prince. But don’t demand the impossible from him, otherwise he will go on a journey to other planets. Of course, he will understand that you are his only rose. But perhaps this will not be soon, and his journey may turn out to be dangerous. Is it worth the risk?
Identification with one of the parents by gender important factor formation of the child's personality. For a boy to be happy, he must identify with his father or another man significant to him, and a girl must identify with her mother. Then everything will fall into place and there will be no misunderstandings that will lead to the problems described in our story.
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