A Social Contagion Experiment
What began as an accidental linguistic slip- shortening “hectic” to “HECKS”; quickly evolved into my influence experiment. I didn’t plan it, but its spread revealed how effortlessly micro-behaviors travel. What seemed like a silly word became a social cue, a mood signal, and unexpectedly, an anchor for this influence activity.
Using “HECKS” everywhere.
Studio critiques, hallways, group chats- turned it into a recognizable pattern others naturally mirrored. Eight or more people adopted it without persuasion; humor, emotional contagion, cognitive fluency, and social proof all accelerated the ripple effect. The phrase became a tiny in-group badge, traveling through peer networks faster than expected.
This project showed me how influence often works quietly- not through formal persuasion but through mimicry, ease, identity, and emotional resonance. “HECKS” became a collective shorthand for chaos and excitement, proving that even playful linguistic quirks can create measurable social impact when they align with human psychology and community dynamics.