The Hindu : New Delhi News : Copy cat syndrome

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Monday, Apr 21, 2008
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New Delhi

New Delhi

Copy cat syndrome

Kunal Diwan

NEW DELHI: The natural tendency to emulate what one watches is known as the “copy cat tendency” among adolescents and may have adverse consequences in the form of suicides and addiction.

According to Delhi-based psychiatrist Samir Parikh the very act of observing a famous character or an eminent personality, be it in their peer group or a celebrity, and then beginning to put oneself in his shoes is called the copy-cat syndrome that is prevalent among adolescents worldwide.

Impressionable minds

“Adolescents are in an evolving stage of their personality. They are malleable and easily influenced and hence in an attempt to look “cool” they follow their idol blindly assuming him to always be correct,” says Dr. Parikh, who is the Chief of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences at a hospital in the Capital.

Dr. Parikh says that indulgence in smoking, bunking classes, thievery and car-speeding are some of the common deeds that are the result of this syndrome. Without realising the consequences, the impressionable children blindly follow their peers, which supposedly gives them a boost.

Tackle carefully

“This may also take an adverse shape in the form of copy-cat suicides, wherein the act of suicide is hyped and made to sound ‘exciting’, thus coercing adolescents to attempt it themselves. Parents and teachers should focus on building a decent skill-set for a child to ensure he develops a strong self-esteem and assertive personality,” says the noted psychiatrist.

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