The Mimetic Trap

 Recently, more people have been struggling with managing their spending. We buy so many things that we eventually get rid of or that end up on a shelf with the rest of the stuff we wasted our money on. I always wondered about the real motive behind this action and why people keep doing it, never learning from their previous purchases, until I stumbled upon an amazing theory that kind of explained it all. It’s called Mimicry Desire or the Mimetic Theory. According to this theory, people desire objects not for their intrinsic value but because they see others desiring them.

In simple terms, we do not desire what we really like but rather what others like and desire, mistaking it for our own. I do not believe that we are always driven by it, but it definitely plays a crucial part in our lives. The first thing that comes to mind to solve this problem is to decrease the usage of social media platforms and spending hours on unconscious scrolling that slowly builds up these fake desires for something that we don’t really like or need.

I also believe that the effect of this theory does not only impact our spending but also our personalities and maybe values. When we see people do or like something that is not aligned with our beliefs, we might overlook it at first. It’s cool, why not? But after a while, we become used to it to the point we don’t even notice, even though it was something we did not want in the first place.

Another way I avoid making useless purchases is to never buy anything immediately. With technology, it has become so easy to spend a significant amount of money within seconds without instant effect. My simple solution is to leave the item in the cart overnight, and if I still want it, I will buy it, but mostly, I do not.

I don’t believe that this theory is the main driver behind our spending on things we don’t need, and this isn’t the only behavior affected by it. I am always fascinated by human psychology and how big of a role society plays in it. It’s in our nature, but we can change it by changing what we surround ourselves with.

That’s my take on the Mimetic Desire Theory.

And Thanks.