Connected

I'm reading a fantastic book titled Connected, by Nicholas A. Christakis and James H. Fowler.

Basically, it's about how we are connected through social networks, digital or otherwise.

Interesting points to consider:

Number one...

The story goes that we have 3 degrees of influence. That is, we can influence our friends, our friends' friends, and our friends' friends' friends. Imagine, you have twenty close contacts (friends and family members). And those twenty contacts have twenty close contacts each, as well. And those twenty close contacts each have twenty close contacts. That is 8,000 people! So, we essentially have influence and are influenced by 8,000 closely connected individuals. We can influence weight gain, happiness, politic views, and much more.

Number two...

To a large degree, the peanut allergy scare in schools is caused by irrational "emotional stampede" spread through social contacts. The authors are not saying that peanut allergies are not a serious concern...but what they are saying is that only 150 people die each year from allergic reactions. Compare this to the 100 that die each year from lightning strikes. Even more alarming is the ten thousand students who are sent to the hospital due to traumatic brain injuries occurring during sport activities. Schools are declaring themselves entirely nut free, but are they declaring themselves entirely sports free? After all, sports injuries seem to be of greater statistical concern than allergic reactions to peanuts. (obviously playing devil's advocate here).

Number three...

A person is 15% more likely to be happy if a "directly connected" person is happy. If a person is connected to a happy person within two degrees that drops to a 10% increase in the likelihood of being happy. It drops to 6% with three degrees of separation. So, if you want to be happy, hang with happy people! Or, at least, hang with people who hang with happy people. Or, at the very least, hang with people who hang with people who hang with happy people!

Number four...

We are likely to be partnered with someone who is within three degrees of separation from ourselves. Oh, and friends are more likely to hook us up with short term partners. Family members are more likely to hook us up with long term ones (maybe duh...)!

Number five...

We respond to others' emotional reactions as if they are our own. Most believe this has biological roots, which makes sense. Think about this: If you see someone in your group open his eyes wide and flair his nostrils- both of which will help with stimulus intake, and are both physical reactions toward feeling "terrified"- then you will innately follow suit. This will help you deal with the possible impending threat. Another interesting fact is that when we are disgusted we tend to squint and narrow our nostrils. This helps us minimize the disgusting stimulus. We also imitate this if we observe it in others to avoid exposure.