Growing up, I spent much of my time swimming competitively. With at least five practices a week and a meet every other weekend, swimming was a notable part of my identity. I remember not understanding many of my coaches’ methods, as I was often put in lanes with significantly faster swimmers. While training with faster people can be downright intimidating, I pushed myself out of my comfort zone to keep up with the others.
Day by day, I would improve my own speed until those habits became constant. This phenomenon isn’t just me being competitive, it is the social proximity effect: a concept that states we’re all highly influenced by the people around us each day.
Humans are naturally susceptible to social influence. On the upside, it allows us to collaborate, connect, and build communities with the people around us. On the downside, groupthink mentality can be dysfunctional if it leads to conforming to a negative attitude different from one’s own personal beliefs or to changes in behavior.
I’ve noticed this phenomenon occurring in multiple areas of my life. For example, when placed in a more rigorous class at Costa, I am more likely to try harder to excel. Especially when my peers around me are held to the same academic standard or higher, I notice myself caring more about the class and my comprehension. This highlights the importance of finding good
study partners, as their habits may even influence your own. It is important to be conscious of our innate tendency to act in this way, as being thoughtful about who and what you are exposing yourself to can help control your personal development.
Not that this is some groundbreakingly new wisdom, but, as humans, we tend to mirror the habits of the people we spend the most time with. If the proximity effect states that we will naturally adopt the behavioral tendencies of the people around us, harness it in a positive way and surround yourself with good people that you can learn from.
I am not saying that the basis of your successes should be dependent on the people around you, but positive influences and healthy encouragement can be super beneficial to your personal growth.
The inspiration for this column came as I try to find a college roommate, which is a harder task than I anticipated. It is so important to surround yourself with positive people that build you up and support you, not tear you down.
Genuine friends are hard to find, so cherish them. Be conscious about how the proximity effect is present in your life, and keep it in mind when choosing your friends and relationships.
Until next time,
Kayla Kinsey
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