How does popularity impact us?

Popularity significantly impacts our behavior and decision-making, according to insights shared by Mitch Prinstein on The Jordan Harbinger Show. Here are some key points:

• Reference Groups: People constantly compare themselves to others, seeking status within different reference groups. Even those who reject mainstream trends are still influenced by a subgroup's standards 1.

• Peer Influence: Experiments show that kids are likely to adopt behaviors, including risky ones, when they believe popular peers endorse them. This influence persists even when kids think their peers are no longer observing them 1.

• Brain Processing: The perception of something as popular can change how the brain processes information. For example, seeing that others liked a risky activity can make it seem appealing to adolescents, altering their brain's natural caution response 1.

Popularity shapes our preferences and actions by leveraging social comparison and peer influence, even in subtle and indirect ways.