Think about this: when you see the word fragment “SO_P,” it might not immediately make sense. But now, think of the word “EAT.” If you look at “SO_P” again, you’ll probably complete it as “SOUP.” This interesting process is called priming.  Priming happens when a word, concept, or event makes us think of related words and ideas. For instance, if you had seen the word “SHOWER” instead of “EAT,” you might have filled in “SOAP.”

What’s fascinating is that priming doesn’t just affect our thoughts; it also affects our actions. Imagine a study where people were primed with words related to being old, like “Florida” and “wrinkle.” They ended up walking slower than usual. Even more intriguing, priming is something we do without even realizing it. Priming teaches us that we aren’t always fully in control of our thoughts, decisions, and actions. We are constantly influenced by the social and cultural cues around us.

For example, research by Kathleen Vohs showed that thinking about money primes us to act more independently and be less willing to rely on others. So, living in a society that constantly reminds us of money might steer our behavior away from altruism. Priming, like other aspects of society, can shape how we think and, as a result, influence our choices, judgments, and behavior. This, in turn, affects the type of society we all live in.