A Snapshot
What is socionomics? Socionomics is a field of study conducted under the hypothesis that waves of social mood motivate the character of social actions.
What is social mood? Social mood is a shared mental state among humans that arises from social interaction. Social mood predisposes individuals in the group toward emotions, beliefs and actions. It fluctuates constantly in a fractal pattern. It is unconscious, unremembered and endogenously regulated.
How long has socionomics been around? Robert Prechter began developing the idea in the 1970s, and it first reached a mass audience in a 1985 cover article in Barron’s. Since then, researchers have applied the hypothesis to explain events including election results, trends in popular culture, the timing of epidemics and pandemics, the emergence of prohibition movements, and financial manias and crashes.
Can I take a university course on socionomics? Yes, at one university that we know of, the College of William & Mary.
Is socionomics an accepted academic field or is it still emerging? Prechter and others have authored books, articles and peer-reviewed papers about the theory and its application. Socionomists have presented at multiple academic conferences including the Academy of Behavioral Finance and Economics and at a number of universities including the London School of Economics, MIT, Georgia Tech, SUNY, the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford and Trinity College Dublin. But, like behavioral finance and other new fields, it is a long way from being “mainstream.”
How can I learn more? The resources below are a great place to start.
Interactive Interview with Robert Prechter
Socionomics Explained
In this engaging interview, Robert Prechter explains the socionomic premise and how he developed it. Read the interview.
Full Streaming Video
History’s Hidden Engine Documentary
Chronicling the new and revolutionary science of socionomics, History’s Hidden Engine is the result of more than three years of research and filmmaking by David Edmond Moore. In just 59 minutes and with the help of news footage, popular songs and cultural images, this documentary explores how social mood drives trends in movies, music, fashion, economics, politics, the media and the stock market. Moore traveled North America to capture the insights of 17 thinkers at the vanguard of socionomic research. Watch the Video
Quick Summary
The 5 Tenets of Socionomics
This PDF lists five tenets of socionomic theory as well as a few items to remember as you begin to “think socionomically.” View the Tenets
Read the Entire PDF
Socionomics in a Nutshell
If you’re new to socionomics, Robert Prechter’s seven-page report is a great place to start. Prechter explains the socionomic hypothesis and shows you that events don’t govern mood — mood governs events. Read the Report
Read the Entire PDF
The Financial/Economic Dichotomy in Social Behavioral Dynamics
This landmark paper by Robert Prechter and Wayne Parker, PhD., proposes a new model of finance. Originally printed in the Journal of Behavioral Finance, you can now access it for free. Read the Report.
Want to learn even more? Sign-up to receive weekly socionomics updates. You’ll get several additional fascinating (and free!) resources to help you understand this fast-emerging field.
Finally, the Socionomics Institute produces a monthly subscription magazine, The Socionomist.
All the best as you begin your journey into the intriguing world of why societies do what they do.
The Socionomics Institute
The Socionomist enables you to see trend-shaping waves of social mood, as reflected by the stock market — and capitalize on them. The June issue looks at phases of social mood and features a “Research Roundup,” which highlights five academic studies that shine a light on important aspects of socionomic theory. Mood Riffs topics include “quiet luxury,” loneliness, the Writers Guild strike and efforts by countries to trade in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. Read the June issue when you become a Socionomics Premier Member.