WHEN it comes to Barack Obama’s popularity, are some of us just sheep following the herd? Yes, he’s got bucket loads of charisma, but we may be more susceptible to conformity than we imagine (see “How to control your herd of humans”). A recent study shows that we condition our opinions in reponse to those of others – when we agree with the crowd, we get a dopamine kick, and when we disagree, we feel like we’ve been punished. It’s a basic response that’s hard to resist. Once Obama’s popularity reached a critical mass, his success may have been inevitable.…
To continue reading, today with our introductory offers
Advertisement
More from Â鶹´«Ã½
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Popular articles
Trending Â鶹´«Ã½ articles
1
Neanderthal infants were enormous compared with modern humans
2
Exclusive report: Inside Chernobyl, 40 years after nuclear disaster
3
The biggest threat to Chernobyl is no longer radiation
4
A key solution to climate change isn't happening – and that's good
5
How autoimmune conditions can unexpectedly drive mental illness
6
The man who crawls into the perilous heart of the Chernobyl reactor
7
Electric vehicle owners could earn thousands by supporting power grid
8
Largest ever map of universe captures 47 million galaxies and quasars
9
The best new popular science books of April 2026
10
Startling images show how fake news isn't just a 21st century issue
