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Something Worth SharingThe Influence of Others
’Influence’ - and ‘influencing’ - is a hot topic. In The Times Top 100 Influential People of the Century, it is felt that of the 100 chosen, Albert Einstein is the ‘Most Influential Person of the Century’, on the grounds that he was the preeminent scientist in a century dominated by science. Runners up were Mahatma Gandhi, followed by Franklin D Roosevelt. When I Googled: ‘who is the most influential person in the world at the moment’, the answer was Elon Musk. While these people certainly are influential, it made me consider who influences me. I’m not a fan of “influencers” on social media so they don’t tend to be who I look to. Social influence involves intentional and unintentional efforts to change another person's beliefs, attitudes, or behaviour. Unlike persuasion, which is typically intentional and requires some degree of awareness, social influence may be subconscious or accidental. I once read that we influence - and can grow to resemble - our romantic partner over time through empathic mimicry or similarities in lifestyle - now there’s a thought about the power of influence! While driving along the narrow, steep and winding roads through the French Alps last week, I noticed that when the odd car appeared behind or in front of me, it influenced me. When behind someone I relaxed a little as they shone their full beam and helped to guide us. When in front of someone I felt a pressure - especially if they were too close to my rear bumper! The saying "you are who you surround yourself with" reflects the idea that the people we spend time with can have a significant influence on our thoughts, behaviours, and attitudes (and appearance!). I guess the point is, we are constantly influenced by others - even when we aren’t aware or are repulsed! We do, however, get to choose who and what influences us for the most part - for example, we can choose to be surrounded by positive, kind, supportive, and motivated people. We can also choose to distance ourselves from those that moan, judge, belittle, are negative, unmotivated, or toxic. Psychological research supports the idea that our social environment can shape our self-perception, beliefs, and behaviours. Therefore, being mindful of the company we keep can have a profound impact on our health and well-being.
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