Why do babies copy adults and people around them?Is it because of a special type of hormones?

Question: Why do babies copy adults and people around them?Is it because of a special type of hormones?
- Keywords:
  baby,
  hormone,
  mimic
Asked by maddiec to Colin on 25 Jun 2013.
- Colin Dick answered on 25 Jun 2013:
  
  Hi Maddie!
  
  I don’t know the answer to this, but my guess is that it is not to do with hormones, perhaps more to do with animal instincts. Most of the species in our world have survived because the young animals copy their parents habits (such as hunting and sheltering) and humans are no different. Even adult humans copy each other to a certain degree!
  
  Cheers,
  
  Colin.

Question: Why do babies copy adults and people around them?Is it because of a special type of hormones?