Can you picture what the world will look like in 2050?
Does a scene from The Hunger Games or another dystopian movie franchise instantly come to mind? Okay, maybe that’s a bit of a stretch, but more often than not, we hear a lot of negativity with regards to what the future is going to look like for humanity.
While some can make a compelling argument that the future looks bleak, there are a number of people who are choosing to see the future as something to be excited about. Peter Diamandis, founder of the X-Prize Foundation and Singularity University and co-author of the book Abundance, is choosing to challenge that notion and believes that the future is bright and full of potential, but your perception plays a huge part in it. 
Cognitive Biases: The Bandwagon Effect
Cognitive biases are errors that occur when we try to make decisions. There are four cognitive biases that are discussed in Abundance, and these biases impede our understanding of the world. One of the biases Diamandis and co-author Steven Kotler discuss is the “bandwagon effect.” As humans, we have a natural tendency to follow the crowd whether we are fully aware of it or not. Sometimes we “jump on the bandwagon” because we have a fear of being left out, and one our basic human needs is to feel a sense of belonging. Think back to a time when you followed the crowd. When I was in middle school, Michael Kors purses and Birkenstocks were the must-have accessories for any teenager. Somehow, I managed to convince my parents that I “needed” these two items, and they bought them for me. The truth is, though, I did not have a strong desire to own either of these items. In fact, I was more indifferent toward them both. Despite my apathy, I still wanted to feel part of the “crowd,” which is pretty typical when you are an adolescent. However, this “bandwagon effect” is a phenomenon that can take place at any age in any situation.
So next time you find yourself falling victim to the “bandwagon effect,” try challenging yourself to change your mindset and follow your own intuition.
Curious to hear more about Peter Diamandis’ thoughts on what the future is going to look like? Head on over to AssociationSuccess.org for further insight! Also, make plans to attend his webinar next Tuesday, June 28, at 12:30 PM EDT.
Note: This is a repost that originally appeared on AssociationSuccess.org on June 5, 2016.
