Honestly, what did you eat for breakfast? What clothes did you wear to go to work? Which movie did you choose to watch in the evening? And, since we're speaking openly, how did you choose your profession, your partner, or the party you vote for?

Why were those your choices and not others? Here are some questions that seem easy. Were they not your personal preferences? Do they not stem from what you considered delicious and nutritious, comfortable, pleasant, interesting, appealing, or socially responsible? It's so obvious that there's really no reason to discuss it. Isn't that so?

And yet... Without realizing it, other people have a huge impact on every aspect of our lives. We go to vote because others are going, we eat more when others are eating, we make donations – and also break the law! – when our friends do, while we feel satisfied with our job when our colleagues feel the same way.

99.9% of all our decisions are influenced by other people. It is almost impossible to pinpoint even one decision or behavior that is not affected by our social environment. However, we are not puppets of others. How the social environment affects us is something we can understand, and we can either accept or reject it. In short, it is possible to put this influence – to some extent – under our control.