Acting as fictional characters?...

I wasn't sure where else to post this, but:
I sometimes have this habit of superficially "absorbing" the persona of a fictional character so that I may pretend to act as them. Example: If I watch a show and take a particular liking to a certain character, I will feel very in tune with that character for a while afterwards. My attitude and overall mood will briefly shift to match theirs, and I may even act out scenarios that I've conjure on the spot by myself (not necessarily as the actual character, but as a separate character who happens to share their exact personality traits).

I'm not sure why I do this so often, but I would be lying if I said it didn't amuse me. I feel there's something intriguing and therapeutic about masking myself (even if in moments swept away by fantasy and day-dreaming) and being someone else. But is this normal for the schizotypal? I suspect a intermingling of borderline traits in me as well (as evidenced by an underlying lack of a solid identity, for one) but I'm not really sure where this whole thing stems from, exactly.

i've done it. i don't think it's specifically schizotypal, although in certain cases it might be considered such.

ahh crap, the edit button is already gone. i just wanted to add that for me it is not a disordered thing. i just really like interesting characters, and mimicking them is entertaining. i don't think this is that peculiar of a thing. i also don't think it's peculiar to enjoy masking yourself for short periods.

Yes...I do it a lot.
Not so much for entertainment but i actually find it helpful to have a strong character I resonate with and can mimick ...whilst at work. I guess working means role playing .
example...Watching Rose Byrne ( Ellen ) in Damages was awesome esp as there were so many episodes. I Loved the way she reconciled a devious mindset with an outward appearance of sweetness + heaps of other traits...
I related well to her and I felt supported thru seeing her in action.

i think sometimes the main difference between cluster-a types of people and the rest of the general population when it comes to any "mask"-related effect is that the cluster-a person will notice it happening and find it odd (or maybe do it deliberately) while the general-population person won't. they'll simply identify with their "mask-self" instead and never think about it or find it odd in any way

I definitely do this. Sometimes I notice myself doing it after it has already started, but often I do it on purpose when I need to accomplish something. I very useful character that I go to in social situations when I need confidence is Raymond Reddington from Blacklist.

Don't tell everybody our secrets...

anagram wrote:i think sometimes the main difference between cluster-a types of people and the rest of the general population when it comes to any "mask"-related effect is that the cluster-a person will notice it happening and find it odd (or maybe do it deliberately) while the general-population person won't. they'll simply identify with their "mask-self" instead and never think about it or find it odd in any way

exactly. I have wondered this. Sometimes I think those of us who feel conflicted about the masks we have to wear ,are more honest, even tho the majority are labelled with a PD.
Could be more self awareness, or self absorbtion either...I guess...

OneRinger wrote:Don't tell everybody our secrets...

I think the inability to retain anything means we are safe
if others here are like me , I am the best person i know to confide in 'cos I forget I was ever told , unless something is rivetting , which is rare.

Oh my, so I'm not the only one who does that!

I do this a lot. I write fiction stories, and I find myself acting like the characters I've written a lot.