As a rule, we reckon and conform to the behavior of the majority. Because, the default nature of human dictates that the correctness of a behavior is directly proportional to the degree at which other people engage in such behavior.
Here is
an instance: doing my youth service I read about a research that shows that –
more often than not – the louder an applause, (say after a performance) the
more likely you are to join in, famously dubbed the clapping contagion. This
apparently explains the reason for the canned laughter I see in Papa Ajasco and
other comedy series when growing up.
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| FreeImages.com/A Berg |
As a rule, we reckon and conform to the behavior of the majority. Because, the default nature of human dictates that the correctness of a behavior is directly proportional to the degree at which other people engage in such behavior.
In my
opinion – and I think most evolutionary biologists will concur that – this
wisdom of the populace play an imperative role in human survival and evolution.
But is it always the right way to go? No no!
In some cases it could be salutary, in some other cases – menacing.
Think
about it, in some part of the world, it is popular to choose a particular
career, whether one is competent in the field or not. It reminds me of the
trendy “science-class-art-class-proelior”
in high school. Where the supposedly ‘smartest’ candidates SHOULD be in the
science class – an epitome of pluralist ignorance!
Even the
Yorubas will say “Ki Lamonrin se be eni, ija ni nda” (Demanding that such and
such a person emulate one exactly leads to a fight). The point being – when we
employ social proof, our idiosyncratic attributes should be at the hub of our
decisions.
