The Laws of Imitation

The Laws of Imitation

Gabriel Tarde. 1903. (View Paper → )

This is more of a book than a paper - so I wouldn’t recommend reading it. But Tarde’s work informed later research into the diffusion of innovation.

His research emphasised the social aspect of how ideas spread - which birthed disciplines like positioning and GTM.

Laws of Imitation:

• Law of Close Contact: Imitation spreads through close social or geographical proximity.
• Law of Imitation of Superiors by Inferiors: People imitate those of higher status.
• Law of Insertion: New ideas spread by integrating into or replacing existing ones.