Malcolm Gladwell's The Power Of Context

1549 Words4 Pages

The power of social interactions within a culture is often overlooked when determining what has control over an individual. How we perceive our immediate environment is dependent on the experiences we encounter. The effects of the environment on behavior are presented in a narrative written by author Malcolm Gladwell titled “The Power of Context.” Through Gladwell’s ideas, we see how the simple change of one’s surroundings will control what one experiences, which in turn alters how one behaves. Understanding how and why people behave in different cultures is a key focus in the narrative “The Mega-Marketing of Depression in Japan” written by author Ethan Watters. His narrative offers insight to the questionably immoral stratagems of a large …show more content…

Gladwell offers this external trigger as a “Tipping Point.” He argues that “For a crime to be committed, something extra, something additional, has to happen to tip a troubled person toward violence…” (Gladwell 161). An external factor, such as the tone of one’s immediate environment or the affect of social cues on an individual, is required to trigger a predisposed internal mechanism. In order for GlaxoSmithKline to be successful in advertising their drug, they will have to trigger pre-existing tendencies that would lead to the purchase of the drug. Watters showcases this when describing one of the ways GlaxoSmithKline marketed their drug. GlaxoSmithKline made it so “Depression was so broadly defined by the marketers that it clearly encompassed classic emotions and behaviors formerly attributed to the melancholic personality type” (Gladwell 525). GlaxoSmithKline is taking advantage of past internal factors. Japanese consumers are already predisposed to the melancholic personality type which they have likely experienced in their life because it was a common trait. GlaxoSmithKline was able to manipulate social external factors through advertising that would trigger this predisposition, overall convincing someone that they were depressed and should purchase the new drug. In this specific aspect of marketing GlaxoSmithKline will be successful by using new terminology and social cues to trigger pre-existing thoughts on

Show More
Related

  • The Mega-Marketing Depression Of Japan Case Study

    1346 Words  | 3 Pages

    He proves this by explaining how a Nigerian man “might experience a peppery feeling in his head” (Smith 517) or how symptoms of depression in an American Indian project feelings of loneliness. Depending on the location of the country and the language used to describe distress, symptoms of depression vary from region to region. He described this as “explanatory models” that “created the culturally expected experience of the disease in the mind of the sufferer” (Watters 518). In other words, the cause of depression is different for every country and thus each person experiences and describes depression in a way that matches their culture and environment.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of 10 000 Hours By Malcolm Gladwell

    667 Words  | 2 Pages

    Is success is achieved through hard work and dedication? Most people seem to think in this way, only one person who does not think in that way: author Malcolm Gladwell. In his article “10,000 Hours,” he talks about a rule you must follow to be successful; that rule is the 10,000-hour rule. Gladwell uses a study from Anders Ericsson in his article to support his thought; therefore, this article is rhetorically effective because he has credibility and he uses logical evidence to convey his argument.

    Read More

  • Malcolm Gladwell Analysis

    1899 Words  | 4 Pages

    Malcom Gladwell, is an author of numerous New York Times Best Sellers, who uses several techniques in his writing to clarify and support his argument. Gladwell’s techniques are using stories to appeal to the reader’s emotions. Using scientific facts and research to logically strengthen his argument. Also, writing about controversial issues to establish credibility with the readers. These techniques are found in “Offensive Play”, “Small Change”, and “Harlan, Kentucky”, works by Gladwell.

    Read More

  • The Power Of Context Gladwell Analysis

    1342 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout life people are always seeking something, whether it is finding out ideals, desires, lovers, and perhaps themselves. However, recognizing, fulfilling, and rising above one’s true self are the hardest things in the world because one always seems certain of him or herself and is strongly influenced by his or her surroundings. Hence, taking the time to practice experiences is a way for an individual to precisely know him or herself and actively participate in society. In the essay, “The Power of Context,” Malcolm Gladwell states that the features of one’s current social and physical environment will strongly influence his or her behaviors. Those actions that an individual conduct in response to the situation

    Read More

  • Conformity In The Chocolate War

    1194 Words  | 3 Pages

    Fish, Jefferson M. "Looking in the Cultural Mirror." How Cultures Make People Conform. N.p., 18 Dec. 2012. Web. 16 Mar. 2014.

    Read More

  • How Did Culture Influence Culture In Determining People's Culture Of Depression?

    1393 Words  | 3 Pages

    In “The Mega Marketing of Depression in Japan”, Ethan Watters draws attention to the ways in which concepts that are usually taken as concrete and standardized, such as depression or mental illness, are actually extremely varied and complex. In other words, people’s definition and the experience of such concepts are shaped by the cultures that they belong to. For example, if a Westerner experiences a depression, it will be different from ways that an Easterner will experience depression. However, despite the significant role that culture plays in determining people’s way of thinking, there is a certain limit to how influential culture can be; being aware of cultural differences and understanding why there are cultural differences can greatly

    Read More

  • Ross And Nisbett's The Power Of Situations

    465 Words  | 1 Pages

    In “The Power of Situations,” by Lee Ross and Richard E. Nisbett, they claim that many factors come into consideration when making a decision. For their experiment, Ross and Nisbett grabbed laypeople and gave them a scenario. The scenario told to the students was if John saw a man slumped in a doorway on his way to a meeting, would John continue walking or would he stop and help the man? The majority of the people in the experiment only asked about john, questioning, what kind of man was he? Ross and Nisbett state that only asking questions about John has little to no value in finding out if he would help the slumped man in the doorway. Instead of asking questions about John, the students should have asked questions about the man in the doorway, Ross and Nisbett proclaimed. They argued that the way the man looks makes a huge difference in John’s decision of whether to help or continue walking. Most of the students thought that knowing about John’s

    Read More

  • The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell

    748 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell looks at a number of social epidemics and analyzes their build up to the point where they tip. “Tipping” is that point where an epidemic booms, or grows, to its maximum potential. Gladwell begins defining “tipping” with a literal example of the famous shoes, Hush Puppies. Once considered old-fashioned, Hush Puppies experienced a social boom in the mid-90s when hipsters in New York made them trendy again. Gladwell continues explaining “tipping” with a medical epidemic of syphilis in Baltimore. Gladwell introduces us to three essential rules of epidemics: the Law of the Few, the Stickiness Factor and the Power of Context. The Law of the Few says a key factor in epidemics is the role of the messenger: it spreads through word-of-mouth transmission. Gladwell explains this theory with an example of how Paul Revere managed to spread the news of British invasion overnight. Gladwell continues to explain that there are several types of people that create these types of epidemics. They are called Connectors, Mavens and Salesmen. Connectors are those people that are very social and can literally connect with people with as little as two degrees of separation. Mavens are those that know a lot about a lot of different things. They may recommend a certain restaurant and you must go because you know what they told you about it is true. And Salesmen are exactly that: people that are easily social and persuading.

    Read More

  • Malcom Gladwell's The Power Of Context

    1500 Words  | 3 Pages

    An individual’s unadulterated perception of their nature and identity is highly contingent upon their mannerisms and actions in multifarious environments. “The Power of Context” concept expresses the major influence of contextual forces in the determination of an individual’s behavior in the midst of unfamiliar situations; this concept effectively repudiates the notion that one’s endeavors are reliant upon one’s preceding character features. The comprehensive examination of “the Power of Context” theory, as presented in Malcom Gladwell’s The Tipping Point, can be employed in the justification of the behavior of the characters not only in Gladwell’s study, but also the individuals identified in Susan Faludi’s The Naked Citadel. However, “the

    Read More

  • Connecting The Dots By Malcolm Gladwell Summary

    908 Words  | 2 Pages

    Probabilistic reasoning is difficult. People prefer to reject ambiguity and demand that concrete predictions be made. However, intelligence is inherently ambiguous. In intelligence forecasting, it is difficult to determine what information constitutes a signal, and what constitutes noise. In “Connecting the Dots: The Paradoxes of Intelligence Reform”, Malcolm Gladwell analyzes several high-profile “intelligence failures”, such as the Yom Kippur War, September 11th, Pearl Harbor, and the Bay of Pigs fiasco, as well as several psychological studies, and comes to the conclusion that: (1) there is no such thing as a perfect intelligence system - all systems require tradeoffs; (2) failures do not constitute the limitations of the intelligence community,

    Read More

  • Psychological Overview of the Japanese Culture

    1137 Words  | 3 Pages

    With this paper I wanted to focus on psychological aspects that had to do with a different side of the culture. There are three key aspect of information from the c...

    Read More

  • General Criticism of Araby by James Joyce

    1439 Words  | 3 Pages

    Culture, where and how a person is raised, affects a person no matter how much they dislike the way they are being taught the ways of life. However, moving to different places as a child and coun...

    Read More

  • John Dewey

    1579 Words  | 4 Pages

    The cultural paralysis was seen in the fact that “there is no free play back and forth among the members of the social group. Stimulation and response are exceedingly one-sided.” Both the rich and poor suffer: the poor in that they have little involvement in the courses taken in their lives; the rich in that their “culture becomes sterile” (DE, 84).

    Read More

  • What Does Culture Mean To Me

    727 Words  | 2 Pages

    To conclude, cultures are a major part of our lives and they constitute the image we see the world in. cultures can sometimes influence us, even in ways we don’t expect. Sometimes we find ourselves forced in cultures with negative stereotypes but that does not mean we should be ashamed of those cultural groups but rather embrace our culture and stray from the negative characteristics of that

    Read More

  • Importance Of Culture On Human Behavior

    1147 Words  | 3 Pages

    Culture can also shape individuals’ development of self, which also influence their behaviors. According to Smith (2014) an individual from Western cultures tend to develop independent self-construal which he or she tends to “strive for self-expression, uniqueness and self-actualization, acting autonomously based on his/her own thoughts and feelings, and pursuing his/her own goals” (p. 160). In contrast, an individual from East Asia tends to acquire interdependent self-construal where he or she tends to view “the self as closely connected to the social context” which he or she strive “to fit in and maintain harmony with relevant others, basing their actions and expectations and social norms” (Smith, 2014, p. 160). The different types of self-construal give rise

    Read More

More about Malcolm Gladwell's The Power Of Context

Open Document