Mimetic desire, a concept introduced by the French philosopher René Girard, refers to the imitation of the desires of others.
René Girard was a French philosopher and anthropologist who developed a theory of mimetic desire and the scapegoat mechanism. He was born in 1923 in France and died in 2015. Girard's work has had a significant impact on fields such as literary criticism, anthropology, psychology, and sociology. He argued that human behavior is strongly influenced by imitation and that conflicts often arise from mimetic desires and rivalries. Girard's ideas have been influential in understanding human relationships, violence, and culture.
Mimetic desires suggests that individuals' desires are not entirely autonomous but are influenced by the desires of others, leading to a tendency for people to imitate the desires of those around them.
This concept has been discussed in the context of Apple Vision Pro, a mixed reality device, in an article on LinkedIn. The article highlights how the unveiling of Apple Vision Pro has captured the attention of technology enthusiasts and emphasizes the role of mimetic desire in shaping individuals' desires and aspirations. The author expresses a strong determination to acquire Apple Vision Pro, reflecting the influence of mimetic desire in consumer behavior[1][3].
The relationship between mimetic desire and Apple Vision Pro can be understood in the context of how individuals' desires are shaped by the influence of others.
The Apple Vision Pro has generated excitement and a strong desire to acquire the device among technology enthusiasts, reflecting the impact of mimetic desire on consumer behavior. This illustrates how the desires and aspirations of individuals can be influenced by the products and experiences showcased by companies like Apple, emphasizing the role of mimetic desire in shaping consumer preferences and choices.
"Before VR can become something that everyone can afford, it must become something that everybody wants." Apple wants most people not be able to afford the Vision Pro. That's because Apple is using a strategy called Mimetic Desire. Mimetic Desire is the idea that people desire things because other people they respect desire those things. ie. If you see people you respect buying a Vision Pro, you will subconsciously want a Vision Pro.
Mimetic desire underpins influencer marketing and it's at work right here with The Vision Pro.
"What they're gonna do is inspire lust in a much larger group of people who—as I dreamed all those years ago— see VR is something they desperately want before it becomes something they can afford." BTW It's not just Apple that does this. Elon did the same thing with the Tesla by starting out with a very pricy first model. That made owning an electric car cool. By seeing people you respect buying an expensive Tesla, you're more likely MEmgoing to want to buy a Tesla.
The concept of mimetic desire is also discussed in a broader context in the book "Wanting" by Luke Burgis, which explores how individuals' desires are influenced by models – people or things that cause them to want something. The book provides insights into how mimetic desire operates in various areas of life, including love, friendship, and business, highlighting its pervasive influence on human behavior and aspirations[3].
In summary, mimetic desire is a concept that elucidates how individuals' desires are influenced by the desires of others. The discussion of Apple Vision Pro in the context of mimetic desire underscores the impact of this phenomenon on consumer behavior and the shaping of individual aspirations and preferences.
Citations:
[1] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/apple-vision-pro-evolution-mixed-reality-jes%C3%BAs-azogue
[2] https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jessyzwu_aesop-the-37-billion-empire-bottling-memetic-activity-7049194854962135041-hnc1
[3] https://www.blinkist.com/en/books/wanting-en
[4] https://www.theverge.com/23751675/apple-vision-pro-vr-headset-ios-17-mental-health-mood-journal
[5] https://read.lukeburgis.com/p/anti-mimetic-salon-1-byrne-hobart
