The Influence of Memesis on Human Behavior

The tendency of memesis, where individuals adopt the behaviors and values of their social group, influences the importance we place on prestige and recognition. When a majority in a group endorse something as good or beautiful, individuals tend to internalize those beliefs through memetic processes. This phenomenon is key to understanding notions of prestige, as it suggests that the value attributed to prestigious objects comes not solely from the objects themselves but from the social group's validation. Gerard argues that this surplus value does not originate from the object but from the peer group's valuation, indicating the pervasive influence of memesis in our lives. Memesis extends to various aspects of human behavior, including the adrenaline rush in sports stadiums, political tribalism, cult dynamics, delusions, and even the transmission of accents.