May 25, 2013

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Social Influence: The Power of the Group in Affecting Your Behavior and Actions

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“We view a behavior as more correct in a given situation to the degree that we see others performing it.” ~Robert Cialdini

Unless you’re a sociopath or psychopath, then you probably have a need to belong.  When each of us is part of a group, we want to be liked within that group.  How many of you can remember when you were in high school and may have been part of a certain group?  You may have been a jock and on the football team or you may have been a member of the chess club.  Whatever group you belonged to, they had some influence on your beliefs and behavior.  Many times it is our attraction based on our beliefs that led us to belong to that group.  Or wanting to be part of the “in crowd” led you there.  Whatever the reason, the influence of the group increased the longer you belonged.

Robert Cialdini, in his book Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, stated that we tend to look for social proof as a way to behave in given situations.  That way we will make fewer mistakes.  This is one of the reasons why people won’t stop to help someone in trouble if they are in a crowd.  Each person in a group of people will look at each other on what to do and then do nothing.  Alone, it’s a different situation altogether.  Now, when one person does take action, then the rest tend to join in.  Again, people need social proof on what to do.

One of my friends was a member of the Democratic Party and very liberal when she lived in Los Angeles.  When she remarried and moved to a small Southern town, she changed.  The conservative influence there led her to become a conservative Republican.  I’ve seen the opposite as well, a conservative becoming a liberal.  It happens in religions as well.  It happens in just about every area of life.  We literally become who we associate with the most.  The group influences our behavior.

Punch1979
The Draw of the Crowd can be Devilishly Strong
(Cartoon from Punch Magazine, copyright 1979)

Again, we want to belong and don’t want to look like fools in making mistakes or that we don’t know.  How many of you know of people when talk about something that they knew about it?  Guess what?  This is simply them not wanting to look like fools.  It could be a news event or anything else.  Other people will simply mimic those around them in order to fit in.  This is especially true when they are new to a given area or crowd.

You do have the power to control how you are influenced by a group.  How?  Well, simply associate with those that you want to be like.  If you want to be wealthy, would you associate with people who are constantly saying how bad and greedy wealthy people are?  Or would you get into a group of millionaires and billionaires?  Now, ask yourself this: How does my group or groups I am with influence my behavior?  Be honest with yourself, okay?  Because the truth is, they do.  Unless, as I stated at the beginning, you’re a sociopath or psychopath.  If you feel anything, then you will be influenced.

By the way, part of your influence will be from what you read, watch and listen to as well.  Get out and form your own group of associates and friends you’d like to be like.  Have fun too!

Cheers,

Bob
America’s #1 Mind-Body Transformation Expert and author of Mind Your Own Fitness

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May 23, 2013

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Keep Challenging Yourself Your Whole Life!

I read the story of 80-year-old Yuichiro Miura of Japan who scaled to the top of Mt. Everest, breaking the record of the oldest person ever to do so. He had previous climbs at the age of 70 and 75. It is obvious that he continues to challenge himself throughout his life and not letting […]

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May 22, 2013

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Why Retire When You Can Live Longer and Healthier Working in Your Passion…

“Sooner or later I’m going to die, but I’m not going to retire.” ~Margaret Mead In a recent article by T. Boone Pickens, in it he stated that he was celebrating his 85 birthday and would never retire until he’s in a box about to be buried. He went on to state that when he […]

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May 22, 2013

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It’s Not About Getting an Education that Counts… It’s the Action Towards a Worthy Goal and How the What You Learn Fits

I just read that Tumblr was sold to Yahoo for $1.1 billion and netted it’s founder, David Karp, $250 million.  We all know the stories of Bill Gates and Steven Jobs dropping out of college to start their companies, making each billionaires and changing the world.  David Karp dropped out of high school at the […]

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May 20, 2013

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Practice as If It’s Real and Practice It Right…

Throughout my life I learned that practice in any endeavor is important.  The problem with simply practicing is that many people who do, will do the same practice over and over.  They never make adjustments.  All they do is practice.  When you practice the wrong thing, then the practice is wrong. Practicing as if what […]

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May 19, 2013

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Building Self-Confidence Through Challenges…

Self-confidence can be developed in many different ways.  I’ve used hypnosis with many of my clients to help get them going.  Still, there’s nothing like building confidence through direct challenges.  That is one of the reasons why I have my clients take action in areas they lack confidence. I can remember in every phase of […]

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May 19, 2013

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Change and Motion in Life and Success…

In Newtonian physics and calculus (used to describe physics mathematically), change and motion is a big part of how they work.  When a Formula 1 race car moves from one point to another, this is change and motion in the real world.  Using calculus, we’d determine how fast the race car was going, whether it […]

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May 17, 2013

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Return on Investment: Making Your Time Count for Success…

In the business world, return on investment (ROI) simply means how much you’re getting back on the amount you invested. If you invested $100, then a good return would be $125 in a years time. Better yet would be returns that are higher. Every good investor is always looking for the best value. Warren Buffett […]

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May 17, 2013

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The Power of Perseverance in Losing That Belly Fat

Too many people falsely believe that they can lose their accumulated fat as fast as the contestants on The Biggest Loser television show.  Guess what?  That just ain’t gonna happen.  Unless you have an extremely controlled environment that includes personal trainers, nutritionists, a full gym, a supportive team, a medical doctor, a therapist, a chef […]

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May 15, 2013

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Instead of Anti-Aging, Think Youthfulness Instead!

When Dick Van Dyke made an appearance on The Doctors TV show, he said that he only associates with young people.  The reasoning is that old people, well, act old.  It becomes a mindset.  I’ve had so many people 50+ tell me to act my age and stop this Parkour nonsense.  And yet, my biggest […]

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