Popularity 3
I've reciently had to reevaluate my thoughts on popularity. Previously I considered popularity to be something of a transaction between people based on supply, demand and personal need. Further investigation has led me to see that it is somewhat more complex than that. Don't worry, I haven't completely changed tack and I certainly haven't switched to the romantic's idea that some people are simply meant to be together. If anything, my new thoughts are more cynical than the previous ones.
Reciently I realised that the idea that the vast majority of people are working out complex running cost/benefit analysies on their interpersonal relationships was expecting a bit much of them. Most people are narrow minded twits who hate thinking and love television (you dear reader accepted obviously, you are exceptional). It got me thinking. The studies on popularity theory have mostly been conducted on first year psychology students (because they are cheap) and thus are somewhat inadequate for determinging popularity in other groups the further they are removed from that particular demographic.
So what really appeals to the vast mass of humanity? One word: ADVERTISING.
It isn't about having a quality product. It is all about the packaging. Sure, if you are after a long term friendship you might have to produce some substance at some stage to produce any real connection, but as far as the general benefits of popularity it is all about how you sell yourself. The real balance isn't about benefitting others while reducing personal costs or anything like that; rather, it is gaining maximum exposure to a large number of people and a way that makes you stand out as memorable but not so strange as to make people feel uncomfortable.
I still laugh when I think about the introduction of Dr Pepper into Australia. The hype went on for a month or so before they even got the stuff into stores. People were salavating at the thought of it. I can remember when it was finally released and people were rushing into stores to be the first to taste the latest pop sensation. People really wanted to like it. Some went back three or four times hoping that they might aquire a taste for it if they kept trying but alas, the palate that thinks Vegemite is a positive experience simply could not adjust to slurping down carbonated cough medicine. The lesson I want to pluck from this isn't the end result of America's favourite soda being used to clean Australian drains, but the preliminary advertising onslaught that led so many Aussies to give it a go in the first place. Why did people think they were going to like it? They had nothing to go on but what the television told them. The moral: people will give an unknown product a go if they are repeatedly told that it is good. Most people don't test their sources of information and believe whatever they hear. So now, lets see how this can be applied to my popularity study.
1) Testemonials
Studies have shown that people automatically believe what they hear as they hear it. Disbelief is at best a two step process of believing and then evaluating that belief. Therefore, having people talk you up in public and particularly around people with whom you seek popularity is a fair strategy, particularly if what they say is plausable. Add to this that repetition works. Cocktail party studies have shown that in a group discussion, a single person repeating the same opinion several times has the same effect on an individuals assessment of the group's overall opinion as several members saying the same opinion once each. Have a wingman in any important group discussions and make sure you repay the favour some day. A single vocal sychophant in a group can make you seem more popular in the group and the other group members will adjust their opinions of you to fit the groupthink pressure.
2) Product Exposure
Ever heard that abesnce makes the heart grow fonder? It is bullshit. If you believe it, it is only because you've heard the saying so many times that you've believed without testing. You don't need to live in a person's pocket for them to be exposed to you regularly. We can't all afford the luxury of having a sychphant bring us up in every conversation but there are ways of increasing your presence in people's lives without necessarily increasing their presence in yours. Being actively involved in any party discussions means that you'll be followed by the wallflowers as well as the active participants. If that's not your style, you could down a bottle of tequella and become the chief topic of conversation for weeks after that coffee table strip show. Mass media is another option. Most of us can't afford a billboard campaign to convince people to like us,
3) Distinctiveness
This was something I'd overlooked a little in my previous thinking. Bright red packaging does little to promote a product if every other product on the shelf is bright red. Popular people are the ones that are different enough to stand out and be differentiated easily from among a popular group. The punk with the beatles cut stands out amongst the mohawks. Distinctiveness is what will allow people to easily recognise you and allow maximum impact of proximity. Keep it within reason though. People might enjoy the watching the show but they don't necessarialy want to be part of it. Everybody knows the guy with purple socks but nobody is dating him. Make sure that whatever makes you stand out doesn't make you an alien.
Well, now you're up to date on my thoughts for the hour.
Reciently I realised that the idea that the vast majority of people are working out complex running cost/benefit analysies on their interpersonal relationships was expecting a bit much of them. Most people are narrow minded twits who hate thinking and love television (you dear reader accepted obviously, you are exceptional). It got me thinking. The studies on popularity theory have mostly been conducted on first year psychology students (because they are cheap) and thus are somewhat inadequate for determinging popularity in other groups the further they are removed from that particular demographic.
So what really appeals to the vast mass of humanity? One word: ADVERTISING.
It isn't about having a quality product. It is all about the packaging. Sure, if you are after a long term friendship you might have to produce some substance at some stage to produce any real connection, but as far as the general benefits of popularity it is all about how you sell yourself. The real balance isn't about benefitting others while reducing personal costs or anything like that; rather, it is gaining maximum exposure to a large number of people and a way that makes you stand out as memorable but not so strange as to make people feel uncomfortable.
I still laugh when I think about the introduction of Dr Pepper into Australia. The hype went on for a month or so before they even got the stuff into stores. People were salavating at the thought of it. I can remember when it was finally released and people were rushing into stores to be the first to taste the latest pop sensation. People really wanted to like it. Some went back three or four times hoping that they might aquire a taste for it if they kept trying but alas, the palate that thinks Vegemite is a positive experience simply could not adjust to slurping down carbonated cough medicine. The lesson I want to pluck from this isn't the end result of America's favourite soda being used to clean Australian drains, but the preliminary advertising onslaught that led so many Aussies to give it a go in the first place. Why did people think they were going to like it? They had nothing to go on but what the television told them. The moral: people will give an unknown product a go if they are repeatedly told that it is good. Most people don't test their sources of information and believe whatever they hear. So now, lets see how this can be applied to my popularity study.
1) Testemonials
Studies have shown that people automatically believe what they hear as they hear it. Disbelief is at best a two step process of believing and then evaluating that belief. Therefore, having people talk you up in public and particularly around people with whom you seek popularity is a fair strategy, particularly if what they say is plausable. Add to this that repetition works. Cocktail party studies have shown that in a group discussion, a single person repeating the same opinion several times has the same effect on an individuals assessment of the group's overall opinion as several members saying the same opinion once each. Have a wingman in any important group discussions and make sure you repay the favour some day. A single vocal sychophant in a group can make you seem more popular in the group and the other group members will adjust their opinions of you to fit the groupthink pressure.
2) Product Exposure
Ever heard that abesnce makes the heart grow fonder? It is bullshit. If you believe it, it is only because you've heard the saying so many times that you've believed without testing. You don't need to live in a person's pocket for them to be exposed to you regularly. We can't all afford the luxury of having a sychphant bring us up in every conversation but there are ways of increasing your presence in people's lives without necessarily increasing their presence in yours. Being actively involved in any party discussions means that you'll be followed by the wallflowers as well as the active participants. If that's not your style, you could down a bottle of tequella and become the chief topic of conversation for weeks after that coffee table strip show. Mass media is another option. Most of us can't afford a billboard campaign to convince people to like us,
3) Distinctiveness
This was something I'd overlooked a little in my previous thinking. Bright red packaging does little to promote a product if every other product on the shelf is bright red. Popular people are the ones that are different enough to stand out and be differentiated easily from among a popular group. The punk with the beatles cut stands out amongst the mohawks. Distinctiveness is what will allow people to easily recognise you and allow maximum impact of proximity. Keep it within reason though. People might enjoy the watching the show but they don't necessarialy want to be part of it. Everybody knows the guy with purple socks but nobody is dating him. Make sure that whatever makes you stand out doesn't make you an alien.
Well, now you're up to date on my thoughts for the hour.