Mass suggestion: A way to save the world?
Psychological research has had a tendency to study negative effects of behavior both on the individual and cultural level. But new research has started to focus more on the positive aspects of behavior. I like this shift, as I think it will change how we interact with the world. In one TED talk I watched, scientists were studying genetic superhumans. That is, people with genetic ‘flaws’ that has proven to give these people abilities normal people don’t have. By getting more knowledge about these ‘superhumans’ we are also a step closer to knowing which environmental, psychological and biological factors contribute to their genetic make-up.
Mass suggestion
Humans in a big crowd have an inclination to behave the same way. It is difficult to resist the force of it. This is why people, who ordinarily are sensible, can do things that they regret afterwards . It is also the reason people who normally are harmless can become violent.
There are thousand different ways we can be affected by mass suggestion, both in a negative and positive sense.
A mass-suggestion experiment
If I could do a study as a researcher, I would want to look at how positive mass-suggestion could affect us . Let’s for fun’s sake call it a social media experiment. If every person shared the research hypothesis I’m about to present with one person, it would be interesting to see what would happen next.
My hypothesis would be something like: Can we by mass-suggestion, make people around the world do the same thing on the same day?
For example I could propose that the 30th of september, every one of us tried to do one random act of kindness. What do you think would happen? Could it affect us all in a positive way?
The date could be set one year in advance to make sure that many get the message, but as information can spread like fire in the right circumstances maybe it would not be necessary to wait that long.
So, would somebody be interested in an experiment like that? What can each and all of us do by simply being kind towards others?
Why not try? We got nothing to lose.
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Mirrorgirl 
July 27, 2015 at 15:00
i am new here,and i wrote my feelings..will you please take a look..
July 31, 2015 at 14:19
Reblogged this on A Spoonful of Stars.
October 4, 2015 at 16:58
[…] My kindness to a stranger idea […]
January 21, 2016 at 01:33
Random acts of kindness. I believe that people are inherently kind. Sometimes, we forget how little acts of kindness can actually lift another person’s spirit. -katrina centeno
January 21, 2016 at 06:35
I love the idea, I hope it’s possible. These days with the help of social media, I think it can be done.
January 21, 2016 at 11:22
Beautiful idea from a beautiful heart! Though I’d say let’s try to do a random act of kindness whenever possible, each and every day, to begin with, this fixing a date idea is good for a mass movement!
January 22, 2016 at 02:58
why fix a day? 🙂 Good deeds are often selfless and self driven I believe. But I can be wrong!
January 22, 2016 at 20:13
You Are right! We shouldn’t need encouragement, but maybe we sometimes forget to actually do kind things towards others in our busy lives
January 22, 2016 at 09:19
I think on a massive scale, every little act of kindness could lead to a world of difference. I think media can really create a mass suggestion by their contents.
January 22, 2016 at 09:32
Exactly, kindness should be a natural instinct. Yet we suppress it for fear of being bullied. Kindness really takes no effort on our part, and world peace is given a real chance.
January 22, 2016 at 14:23
Great vision, it is very important to raise awareness to environmental and social issues
January 23, 2016 at 16:13
Superhumans? Now that’s something that is really interesting. I think mass suggestion is true. Having negative/positive people around can really affect your perspective in everything.
January 24, 2016 at 04:47
i love oscar wilde quotes. they’re just on point! in japan, they have this sort of society-based judgment when you do something bad, the society will have their backs against you. that’s why they don’t want to wrong others.
January 24, 2016 at 10:36
It’s possible. And it’s really possible now that technology is within just a few clicks/taps of our hands or fingers. 🙂
January 25, 2016 at 23:11
That is a great idea indeed. Everyone do one random act of kindness on one day. Even something as little as a smile can make someone’s day.
March 19, 2016 at 23:06
Hi, Fab blog! I have just set up mine, but still in the very early stages! Just making efforts to link in with fellow bloggers to improve our followers and get the word out there for us both. I would appreciate you having a peek at my blog, as I have just published my first post. Feel free to like, comment, follow or just take a peek. Thank you 🙂
March 26, 2016 at 11:38
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April 10, 2016 at 09:30
[…] Mass suggestion: A way to save the world? […]
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May 21, 2016 at 13:12
[…] you had the power to establish a new norm or new idea in this society of ours, what would that be? That everyone should try to do one random act of kindness to another every week. 8) Does gore scare you? Yes? No? Why? Depends! I have a blood phobia, but otherwise I am not easily […]
November 10, 2017 at 06:43
[…] Mass suggestion: A way to save the world? […]
November 10, 2017 at 06:45
[…] Mass suggestion: A way to save the world? […]
November 12, 2017 at 10:05
Revisiting this produces the same thought as earlier, but this time I’ll write it down:
Reproduction stop. 10 years. The next ten, one child only. The next five, 2 kids max. Year 26 will finally be normal again. The problem is overpopulation. Women have the power to change this.
June 7, 2019 at 09:10
It is great to read your useful blogs.
Best wishes
March 20, 2022 at 17:44
Hi,
Hope you are doing well.
I’m doing mental health awareness re-blogs.
If you want me to share your post on the subject, can you please suggest the one you would like me to re-blog?
Thank you