Thanks! Nostalgia used to be a big issue in wars (e.g. it was thought to have caused more cases of illness than dysentery in the American Civil War). I haven’t seen the TED Talk – bookmarking to watch.
Loads! Positive transfer of emotion (happiness etc). Social contagion of (good) ideas and agitation for positive change. Day-glo socks, if you like that kind of thing.
Excellent article Matilda. It reminded me of this TED Talk by Tiffany Watt-Smith on how nostalgia used to be seen as a deadly illness https://youtu.be/S-3qnZrVy9o?si=F5iR5sQxegzUNFNw
Thanks! Nostalgia used to be a big issue in wars (e.g. it was thought to have caused more cases of illness than dysentery in the American Civil War). I haven’t seen the TED Talk – bookmarking to watch.
Are there examples of social contagion being a positive thing?
Loads! Positive transfer of emotion (happiness etc). Social contagion of (good) ideas and agitation for positive change. Day-glo socks, if you like that kind of thing.
Thanks for this piece - I’ve ordered the book on the Nocebo effect and have ideas brewing for my own piece about social contagion.