Under the Influence

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From New York Times bestselling author and economics columnist Robert Frank, this work explores the significant impact of social context on behavior. Psychologists emphasize that our social environments shape our actions, often positively but sometimes negatively. Notably, social influence operates both ways; our choices also shape our environments. While society enforces regulations to protect individuals from physical harm—like smoking restrictions—there's a hesitance to implement similar measures against harmful social environments. Frank highlights that the greater danger of smoking lies not just in individual harm but in its influence on others to smoke as well. He attributes this regulatory imbalance to the belief that individuals should be responsible for their behavior, which can coexist with policies promoting supportive social settings. Parents generally wish for their children to avoid becoming smokers, bullies, or engaging in other harmful behaviors, yet the prevalence of such behaviors in society makes these hopes less attainable. Although the negative impacts of social behaviors are challenging to quantify, Frank argues that they deserve attention from policymakers. Fortunately, he suggests that simple policy initiatives can create more supportive environments without imposing a "nanny state" or requiring significant sacrifices.