What are the 3 biggest determinants of your behavior?
According to the research it is
1. your genetics
2. your peer group
3. your parents
In that order (that may come as a surprise)
You can't choose 2 out of those 3 things. But your peer group you can.
Yet most people have no idea how important an influence on the direction of life, their decisions, their actions, their choices their peer group is.
The research tells us that it is an even more important influence on your behaviors and habits than your parents.
(Harris, Psychological Review 1995)
A 2007 study by Christakis & Fowler found that person's odds of becoming obese rose about 57% if a friend became obese.
57% !
And even when researchers stopped letting people pick their own friends and assigned them at random, it held. College students who drew higher-performing roommates got better grades themselves. (Sacerdote, 2001)
A 1999 study by Drigotas, Rusbult et al found that this effect worked equally strongly in the positive too. Dubbed the Michelangelo phenomenon they found that close others sculpt you toward your ideal self, simply through affirmation.
No discipline, no effort, no willpower required, you just place yourself in an environment with the people you want to become more like
If you want to get really good at drinking - hang out with people who drink a lot.
Want to get really good at complaining? Hang out with other people who complain.
Want to become an expert at finding reasons why due to some external obstacle, you can't do what you want to in life? Hang out with people who do this on a regular basis.
Want to become a better criminal? Go to prison
Want to grow a mission that has a global impact, while developing strong health, resilience and connection to family and community at the same time? Make sure the peer group who influences you most lives this way.
Don't get me wrong - discipline, willpower and drive are all important markers of success too.
But they are overrated.
Or rather, the importance of your peer group is underrated.
Trying to achieve a goal using willpower without sorting out your peer group is like heating a house with the windows open.
You may still achieve your goal, but it will take you a lot longer, you will use more energy, and it will be a lot more expensive.
So given that your peer group is the 2nd most important influence on your behaviors, decisions, habits and actions - who is your peer group?
And are they supporting you in the direction you want to move in?
dsbatten / Daniel Batten
npub13l…4lpsy
2026-07-29 15:19:34 UTC
Author Public Key
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2026-07-29 15:19:34 UTCEvent JSON
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"content": "What are the 3 biggest determinants of your behavior?\n\nAccording to the research it is\n\n1. your genetics\n2. your peer group\n3. your parents\n\nIn that order (that may come as a surprise)\n\nYou can't choose 2 out of those 3 things. But your peer group you can. \n\nYet most people have no idea how important an influence on the direction of life, their decisions, their actions, their choices their peer group is. \n\nThe research tells us that it is an even more important influence on your behaviors and habits than your parents.\n(Harris, Psychological Review 1995)\n\nA 2007 study by Christakis \u0026 Fowler found that person's odds of becoming obese rose about 57% if a friend became obese.\n\n57% !\n\nAnd even when researchers stopped letting people pick their own friends and assigned them at random, it held. College students who drew higher-performing roommates got better grades themselves. (Sacerdote, 2001)\n\nA 1999 study by Drigotas, Rusbult et al found that this effect worked equally strongly in the positive too. Dubbed the Michelangelo phenomenon they found that close others sculpt you toward your ideal self, simply through affirmation.\n\nNo discipline, no effort, no willpower required, you just place yourself in an environment with the people you want to become more like\n\nIf you want to get really good at drinking - hang out with people who drink a lot.\n\nWant to get really good at complaining? Hang out with other people who complain.\n\nWant to become an expert at finding reasons why due to some external obstacle, you can't do what you want to in life? Hang out with people who do this on a regular basis.\n\nWant to become a better criminal? Go to prison\n\nWant to grow a mission that has a global impact, while developing strong health, resilience and connection to family and community at the same time? Make sure the peer group who influences you most lives this way.\n\nDon't get me wrong - discipline, willpower and drive are all important markers of success too.\n\nBut they are overrated.\n\nOr rather, the importance of your peer group is underrated.\n\nTrying to achieve a goal using willpower without sorting out your peer group is like heating a house with the windows open.\n\nYou may still achieve your goal, but it will take you a lot longer, you will use more energy, and it will be a lot more expensive.\n\nSo given that your peer group is the 2nd most important influence on your behaviors, decisions, habits and actions - who is your peer group? \n\nAnd are they supporting you in the direction you want to move in?\n\n",
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