The Influence of Your Friends on Your Beliefs.

It's likely you have strong views on a wide range of topics: like whether Pepsi is superior to Coke, which football team is the rightful Super Bowl champion, or which Chris is the most ideal movie star—Pratt, Pine, Hemsworth, or Evans. Why are there so many Chrises? However, are all these views truly yours? People are social beings. And when discussing anything from TV shows to politics, many psychological factors come into play. This can sometimes lead to poor decisions and biased opinions. Yet, by understanding how your thoughts can be influenced, you can identify when this is happening— and perhaps even prevent it. One type of bias can stem from the people you surround yourself with. It's natural to be friends with those who share your opinions and values. However, numerous studies have demonstrated that when you converse with individuals who hold similar views, you might end up adopting even more extreme opinions. In essence, you become polarized. For instance, some research has shown that when individuals with varied perspectives on a social issue engage in respectful dialogue, those with more extreme views on both sides of the issue become even more polarized. This is known as the boomerang effect, where a counter-argument reinforces one's initial stance. Researchers suggest this is partly due to your social identity: the idea that your beliefs and the groups you identify with are integral to your identity, leading you to defend them. So, if you and your friends are staunch supporters of peanut M&Ms, hearing an argument in favor of crispy M&Ms could make you even more adamant about your peanut-loving identity. I can attest to this. Another way your views can be influenced in a debate is through the initial thoughts that come to mind— because these can serve as an anchor, essentially a starting point, for the rest of your reasoning. One study from 2000 involved taking an old car to 60 car experts, including mechanics and car dealers. The pretend customer shared their opinion on the car's value, either higher or lower than its actual worth, then sought the expert's opinion. And the initial suggestion impacted the experts' evaluations, making them similarly higher or lower. Psychologists believe this is due to selective accessibility, where an anchor makes certain information more accessible in your mind, which in turn affects your opinions. For example, a smaller study in 2010 revealed that when it was warmer outside, or individuals were simply asked to think about hot things, their responses to survey questions indicated a stronger belief in global warming.

If you come across a fiery debate online, for instance, the initial comment you read in the discussion could sway your opinion and shape your thoughts—even though research on this anchoring effect is limited. Your views might also be influenced when making a decision with others due to groupthink, which can make you overlook flawed reasoning. Imagine you're a Doctor Who enthusiast and get caught up in a heated argument after someone influential declares that Matt Smith's Eleventh Doctor is indisputably the greatest. The conversation starts with this anchor, filled with arguments in favor of Matt Smith. Perhaps you're more of a Tom Baker fan and think bow ties aren't cool, but you choose not to voice your opinion out of self-censorship, believing others won't want to hear it. You might notice that any arguments in favor of other Doctors are rationalized by the group, dismissing them as weak arguments. Or people might stereotype fans of David Tennant, claiming they only like him for his looks and ignoring their actual opinions. After a lot of back-and-forth, it might seem like everyone agrees that Eleventh Doctor is the best, but that's not always the case—it's an illusion of unanimity. This illusion makes people more likely to change their stance. When making decisions, from government policies to school group projects, these and other aspects of groupthink can sway decisions and stifle critical discussion. So, it might feel like your opinions aren't truly your own. However, there are ways to resist the pull of polarization, anchoring, and groupthink. At its core, it's about critical thinking and questioning why your opinion might be too extreme or wrong, not just why it might be correct. Some studies suggest that having someone play the Devil's Advocate—arguing against the preferred decision and asking thoughtful questions—can be beneficial. However, an extreme counter-argument could backfire and lead to the boomerang effect. Other research indicates that talking with people outside your group and listening to diverse views can help. You might find that what you thought was normal was actually an extreme position, or that the issue is more complex than you initially thought. Additionally, you can learn about something or initiate a group discussion before forming a solid opinion—like reading various news articles before diving into the comments or tweetstorms about them. We're all naturally influenced by those around us—it's inevitable, and it's not necessarily a negative thing. But by being aware of bias and potentially flawed choices, you can regain some control and understand that it's okay to speak up, disagree, and change your mind. After all, we're all in this together, learning as we go. But, in the end, it's up to you to decide what you think is best.