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Story time Sunday.
This Sunday I'm going to give you some real-life examples or stories that illustrate the concept of social proof.
Are you ready to read along?
//A thread//
This Sunday I'm going to give you some real-life examples or stories that illustrate the concept of social proof.
Are you ready to read along?
//A thread//
What is social proof?
Social proof is a cognitive bias that explains why we like to behave like the people in our close surrounding. We want to be a part of the group.
In essence: We change ourselves to fit in the group and thereby prevent group exclusion.
Social proof is a cognitive bias that explains why we like to behave like the people in our close surrounding. We want to be a part of the group.
In essence: We change ourselves to fit in the group and thereby prevent group exclusion.
**My mom and the cleaning set**
My mom bought herself one day a new cleaning set to mop the floor.
She was (no joke) excited about this.
This system was built such way that she did not have to wring the mop herself.
Result: Less back issues and quicker cleaning.
My mom bought herself one day a new cleaning set to mop the floor.
She was (no joke) excited about this.
This system was built such way that she did not have to wring the mop herself.
Result: Less back issues and quicker cleaning.
My mom was so excited that she started to recommend the cleaning set to everybody.
She explained exactly what the benefits were of the product.
She identified the pains of the usual mopping system.
She explained exactly what the benefits were of the product.
She identified the pains of the usual mopping system.
Why it works?
First of all: My mom was acting a bit like a sales person here.
Secondly: She uses this system a lot. She had real proof that this was working.
Result: More people in the environment started to use this system, which strengthened the effect of social proof.
First of all: My mom was acting a bit like a sales person here.
Secondly: She uses this system a lot. She had real proof that this was working.
Result: More people in the environment started to use this system, which strengthened the effect of social proof.
**Greg Doucette and his cookbook**
Let's be honest. I sometimes watch videos of Greg Doucette.
Who is he?
He is an IFBB pro bodybuilder that has a fitness channel on YouTube.
He is all about eating low calorie dense food on a diet to suppress hunger.
Let's be honest. I sometimes watch videos of Greg Doucette.
Who is he?
He is an IFBB pro bodybuilder that has a fitness channel on YouTube.
He is all about eating low calorie dense food on a diet to suppress hunger.
He has a cookbook with low-calorie and filling recipes for a whopping price of 149 dollars.
Other YouTubers like Will Tennyson make videos about recipes from his cookbook and give it ratings.
If popular people like him adore these recipes, then it must be good. Right?
Other YouTubers like Will Tennyson make videos about recipes from his cookbook and give it ratings.
If popular people like him adore these recipes, then it must be good. Right?
Why it works?
149 dollars for a cookbook is crazy. Without knowing the author, you would never pay this much.
But you know the author.
He has followers. Friends of him have a lot of followers.
And because he is so popular, he may ask this much money.
There is social proof.
149 dollars for a cookbook is crazy. Without knowing the author, you would never pay this much.
But you know the author.
He has followers. Friends of him have a lot of followers.
And because he is so popular, he may ask this much money.
There is social proof.
**Prescription of new medicine**
When I prescribe people new medication, patients always tend to hesitate.
What will this do to my body?
Will this work?
How long do I need to take this?
I usually answer all these questions by referring (without names) to other patients.
When I prescribe people new medication, patients always tend to hesitate.
What will this do to my body?
Will this work?
How long do I need to take this?
I usually answer all these questions by referring (without names) to other patients.
Why it works?
People will feel more relaxed when they know so many other people are taking this medication as well.
They also know what they can expect and know that they are not alone in having side-effects.
When other people take it as well, it feels less bad.
People will feel more relaxed when they know so many other people are taking this medication as well.
They also know what they can expect and know that they are not alone in having side-effects.
When other people take it as well, it feels less bad.
**Fire**
Previous summer when we returned from our holiday we noticed that there was smoke formation close to our house.
We live in a rural area where normally there is no single other car on the road.
But then the roads were almost as filled as on highways.
Why?
Previous summer when we returned from our holiday we noticed that there was smoke formation close to our house.
We live in a rural area where normally there is no single other car on the road.
But then the roads were almost as filled as on highways.
Why?
There was a fire at an orchard close by us.
Everybody was driving towards there to look at the fire.
People could not withhold their curiosity.
Even if that includes doing some dangerous things.
Everybody was driving towards there to look at the fire.
People could not withhold their curiosity.
Even if that includes doing some dangerous things.
Why this happens?
Once one person decides to stop and look at something, other people tend to follow.
It's almost like you are missing something out when you are not doing this.
You want to be a part of the group event.
Once one person decides to stop and look at something, other people tend to follow.
It's almost like you are missing something out when you are not doing this.
You want to be a part of the group event.
These are some examples of how social proof creeps into my daily life. As you may have noticed, it can be beneficial.
What examples do you have in your life?
Some crazy and fun stories are allowed!
Please share it with me!
What examples do you have in your life?
Some crazy and fun stories are allowed!
Please share it with me!
If you like the thread, please share the first tweet. https://twitter.com/SarahThooft/status/1350866850360549377
