Doing this can DRASTICALLY affect people's behavior....

In addition to what I said, this can also of course be used for businesses....

Supermarkets and Department Stores are big on researching exactly how the layout of the store, the music they play, etc., affects people's BUYING habits. For example, they've found that playing slow music means people buy MORE than if they play fast music....

Another interesting application of this was I read of how they brought down crime in New York City in the early- and mid- 1990s.

Apparently what they cracked down on was NOT "big" crime, but small things like vandalism, graffiti, and riding the subway without a fare. Many of these things (like graffiti, or seeing people dodge the turnstiles for the subway) are part of the "environment" and affect everyone's behavior in general....

If you put people in an environment where they constantly see the effects of crime (like graffiti), it affects their behavior and it makes people in general more likely to commit crimes (both large and small) themselves.

But -- change the environment, and you change people's behavior. And it was by cracking down on the little things which affect the general "environment" that NYC was able to dramatically reduce all crimes -- both big and small. (I have more detailed info on this if anyone's interested....)

- Dien

Hi Jeagan,

The book I've been reading about this is "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell. The whole story of the reduction of crime in NYC is in there.

The book is mainly about how small changes can have big effects.... It also gives you good ideas on how to use this.

Changing the environment is just one aspect... But the whole book is completely fascinating. :)

I'm now reading about exactly how "The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" became such a bestselling phenomenon.... :)

- Dien

Hi Dien,

I have just read some book reviews on "the Tipping Point" in Amazon.

Actually it may constitute being a little out of focus for my study in mailorder/internet business to be interested in the book.I am a late comer in this study group and have difficulties to have full and swift understanding of what is discussed in the forum because of my language.

Anyway I like your input as you like physics.
I appreciate it very much

Jeagan Lee from Korea