imitation
n. the process of copying the behavior of another person, group, or object, intentionally or unintentionally. It is a basic form of learning that accounts for many human skills, gestures, interests, attitudes, role behaviors, social customs, and verbal expressions, but it can also take pathological form, as in echolalia and echopraxia. Some theorists propose that true imitation requires that an observer be able to take the perspective of the model. This contrasts with other forms of social learning, such as emulation, local enhancement, and mimicry. There is controversy concerning whether true imitation occurs in nonhuman animals or whether they either merely emulate the actions of others or are attracted to the location of others and by chance appear to show imitation. —imitate
vb.