Log in

View Full Version : What is the tipping point for change in ideas?



razz
3-7-13, 8:35pm
Isn't this quite remarkable?
Imagine if simple living ideas could be influenced by a simple 10% minority of population being committed to those ideas!
What other impact could this finding influence?

From:
http://news.rpi.edu/update.do?artcenterkey=2902
"Scientists at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have found that when just 10 percent of the population holds an unshakable belief, their belief will always be adopted by the majority of the society. The scientists, who are members of the Social Cognitive Networks Academic Research Center (SCNARC) at Rensselaer, used computational and analytical methods to discover the tipping point where a minority belief becomes the majority opinion. The finding has implications for the study and influence of societal interactions ranging from the spread of innovations to the movement of political ideals.

“When the number of committed opinion holders is below 10 percent, there is no visible progress in the spread of ideas. It would literally take the amount of time comparable to the age of the universe for this size group to reach the majority,” said SCNARC Director Boleslaw Szymanski, the Claire and Roland Schmitt Distinguished Professor at Rensselaer. “Once that number grows above 10 percent, the idea spreads like flame.”

Mighty Frugal
3-7-13, 10:04pm
So THAT'S the reason for skinny jeans....10% that looked good in them and now we all must suffer!;)

ctg492
3-9-13, 7:06pm
I'd agree with both posts.

JaneV2.0
3-9-13, 9:42pm
I think a recent example is the turnaround on same-sex marriage. There was a long, slow buildup in public opinion, and then it just took off.