Definitionv1
Social contagion: the process by which behaviors, emotional
Social contagion: the process by which behaviors, emotional states, and lifestyle patterns spread through social networks through subtle, unconscious absorption of descriptive norms rather than direct persuasion or conscious influence
Why This Is a Definition
This definition precisely captures the mechanism of social contagion as described in the lesson, distinguishing it from direct persuasion or social pressure. It identifies the genus (process of spread through social networks) and differentia (through subtle, unconscious absorption of descriptive norms rather than direct persuasion). The definition emphasizes the unconscious, automatic nature of the influence and the role of descriptive norms, which aligns with the lesson's discussion of Christakis and Fowler's research and Cialdini's work on social norms.