Aristotle provided the first notes of zoological significance on the ability of the chameleon to change color. In his first mention of the phenomenon, he attributed the changing of color to the character of fear. In later writings, Aristotle attempted to provide a theory on the mechanism by which chameleons are able to change color. This mechanism he described was inflation, which he said caused the skin to darken.
THE CHAMELEON COMPLEX
Many people look good but feel bad. They are chronically stressed, sad and anxious. They are lonely in their marriage and disconnected in their relationships. They know something is wrong, but have no idea what it might be. They fear, “If you really knew me you wouldn’t like me.”
Chameleons often behave so plastic, shallow, and two-dimensional that it is like witnessing an act. People wonder, Who is this person really? Why isn’t there any connection? There’s always this…distance. Everybody knows a chameleon, but not everyone recognizes it when they are one.
Chameleons believe if they were more perfect, then they would feel better, people would like them more, and they would not be hurt again. They try to become attractive in a way they did not believe they were as children. They feel shame, so they chronically alter their true “color” to protect themselves, and attempt to control the image others have of them, or impression manage. The payoff is feeling safe; the cost is lonesome suffering even while surrounded by people.
We are all chameleon-like. We behave differently in different roles to fulfill our responsibilities; this is necessary and normal. But when we behave this way with everyone then nobody truly knows us. There is little emotional intimacy, and that feels really bad. (http://drtimothytays.com/chameleon.html)
It's so sad that there are a lot of chameleon people out there...and it's more sad to know that I have a CHAMELEON FRIEND.
