**Social echolalia** is the imitation of another person's behavior in social situations, often without full understanding of the subtleties. It's a coping strategy common in AS. **Sophia's dinner party:** Sophia hosted as her mother would — but she hadn't invited anyone or cooked anything. Her mother did all that. Sophia simply mimicked the hosting behavior she had observed, in the wrong context. **The modeling pattern:** Many people with AS identify successful people and adopt their way of dealing with the world. A young woman tracked closely with a series of models — first mimicking adult conversations inappropriately at age 5, then choosing excellent students as role models. When a model had a talent she couldn't mimic (music, dance), she found a new model. Without a model, she withdrew. The modeling process was like "watching someone act out a series of roles." **The "social sister" phenomenon:** A woman with AS imitates her NT sister's life step by step — including marrying and having children. The AS sister may demand multiple daily contacts. The mother is often shut out; parental advice is heard as criticism. Females with AS use this pattern more than males, possibly because of stronger pressure to fit in. This may also explain why fewer females are diagnosed — they learn to camouflage. **Source:** Lovett, *Solutions for Adults with Asperger Syndrome*, Ch 8 (pp202-204) See also: [[Each Aspie Is Unique]]