Why do people mask?

Masking can feel like a survival strategy in a society where it’s not always safe to be different. Our guests explain why.
Social stigma around behaviours that aren’t considered “normal” is one reason that people mask, in the hope of fitting in or staying safe.
Or people might mask when they’re feeling distressed or overwhelmed in a situation that is meant to be enjoyable. It can be easier to pretend to be OK than to be asked to explain why they aren’t.
In this video, Kieran Rose, Dr Amy Pearson and Jodie Smitten talk about their own experiences and explain that autistic people are often unaware they are masking until they hear about others’ experiences.
That’s why it is vital we all talk about masking and understand why it happens. “It is a lightbulb moment for the young people I work with,” says Jodie.

[@Tenshihan-Quinn]

It's an adaption mechanic in simians, more prevalent in those who have an abundance of mirror-cells in their neurology. The reason for it, is in the quick pattern-recognition used by autistic people when they witness/analyze those dominant personas who are already established (elder peers/adults/role-models, etc) and the mob-mentality/hive-mind behaviour of neuro-typicals to 'fit-in' or be shunned.
On the most basic primitive level, to fit-in equates food, shelter and general survival. This is where mirroring/masking comes in. Monkey see = monkey do. If we (Autistic-people) blend in via behavioural template mimicry - then we are establishing a chain of similar-relationships with others whose behavioural-patterns for them, is natural.