We always think that we are self-driven by our thoughts and actions. We are the only ones who decide what we believe in and which reaction to choose. In fact, humans are incredibly susceptible to external factors. Even a seemingly insignificant detail can completely change our perception of a situation and our behavior, as well.

Here's an example. In the summer of 1971, Stanford University psychologists decided to conduct an interesting experiment. They selected two dozen healthy men to spend fourteen days in a simulated prison.

Some of them were "guards," while the others imitated prisoners. However, the experiment suddenly degenerated into psychological violence and had to be terminated in less than a week. Those who were acting as guards developed a sense of power and began to exploit it by bullying the "criminals." The artificially created environment changed these people's perception of themselves and forced them to change their usual behavioral patterns.

According to another study, the amount of time we have available influences whether or not we will help another person in a difficult situation. Some students were asked to come to the lecture at the university’s hall strictly on time, while others were not given such a requirement. As a result, only ten percent of students who were pressed for time helped a person who had fallen. At the same time, the number of time-unlimited students who came to the help exceeded 60%.

All in all, we are influenced by our environment and the restrictions imposed on us. That’s why people are susceptible to other people’s “contagious” ideas. Read on and find out which ideas influence what you buy, wear, and eat.