Do you know the chameleon effect?

In psychology there are a great variety of syndromes and effects. Many of them They use the metaphor in the name to give way to the explanation of the effect. Some are the Peter Pan syndrome, the Jerusalem syndrome, the Othello syndrome, the Ben Franklin effect, the Mandela effect, etc. But if we have to highlight one, this is the chameleon effect.

Chameleons, those small scaly reptiles with large colorful eyes and extendable tongues. If they are characterized by something for the general public, it is their ability to change the color of their skin. Nevertheless, The popular conception that they change color to camouflage themselves is not entirely accurate.. Similarly, the chameleon effect does not indicate how people change color, but how they change.

Chameleons changing color

Only some species of chameleons have the ability to change color. Chameleons are not colorless and their color changes do not always occur in accordance with the environment. Most color changes are due to a physiological condition. Chameleons react to temperature and time of day with color changes.

The color also changes at other times due to psychological factors. For example, when in the presence of an opponent or a partner. In fights between chameleons, they also change color, The color will indicate if the chameleon is scared or angry. Therefore, color change is sometimes also a form of communication between chameleons.

People changing color

In a Woody Allen film, Zelig, a very curious character appears. Played by the same director, the main character, Leonard Zelig, appears in different places and interacting with different people. So far everything is normal, but Zelig looks different every time. When he mixes with black people, his skin tone and voice change. When she does it with Jews, she grows a beard and ringlets. When he is with heavier people, his weight also increases.

This strange case is studied by Dr. Eudora Fletcher, played by Mia Farrow. The doctor discovers in Zelig an extreme case of insecurity that leads him to camouflage himself among people, adapting his appearance in order to be accepted. Zelig has the supernatural ability to change his appearance adapting to the environment in which he operates, which is why he is known as the chameleon man. After lying about having read a book, Moby Dick, to feel included, the need for acceptance leads him to transform physically and psychologically.

Obviously, Woody Allen’s film is a parody or tries to be one in search of caricature. It shows an impossible situation but which, through metaphor, can lead to a better understanding of what the chameleon effect consists of. This effect is also called emotional contagion and consists of the tendency to feel and internalize emotions similar to those we observe and, in the same way, condition those of others. It is a process in which the person is influenced and at the same time exerts influence on the emotions and behaviors of other people or groups.

The chameleon effect

The chameleon effect defines a reality, that in a certain way we all function as if we were a mirror for other people. We imitate the emotions of others or, at least, the emotions that we unconsciously think others express. But this effect does not stop there, we also imitate postures and facial expressions, language, tone, accent and lexicon.

Our natural reaction when someone has a fit of laughter is to laugh. When we are surrounded by people whose accent is different, it usually doesn’t take long until we get the hang of it.. If we are sitting with someone who crosses their legs, we may end up sitting the same way. Although this effect does not always occur, it does appear on many occasions, both consciously and unconsciously.

Chameleon effect function

The function of the chameleon effect, from an evolutionary perspective, was already intuited by Charles Darwin. How we feel is determined, in part, by the gestures we make. In the same way, the signals that other people emit will also influence us. This makes personal well-being greater and makes us integrate within groups. Without realizing it, small signals from others tell us how to act and our mirror neurons make us imitate them.

Maybe we all have a Zelig inside us. When we are with other people, we adapt to have the same emotional state. Emotions are like viruses, they spread around us. We are programmed to infect and infect ourselves with emotions from the moment we are born. If you experience positive emotions, others will feel them too. If, on the other hand, you feel negative emotions, others will feel them too. Although this process is largely unconscious, you can take the first step with your positive emotion.

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