Negating the misguiding effects of social proof on human psyche: a Quranic perspective

Human beings tend to act spontaneously. While many factors may lead to that, there is nothing more validating and reassuring than conforming to the behaviours of others while one is on the verge of decision-making. Social proof is one of the biggest factors that heavily take hold of our decisions in daily life, as it exerts forces that can change our behaviours and opinions to meet perceived group norms, and it also applies to the way people decide what represents correct behaviour. Even though social proof can be seen as something beneficial at times for positive purposes, the problem arises when people begin responding to it in a subliminal manner as such that they can be fooled by fake evidence, hence manipulated, and misguided. The effects of social proof are not limited to worldly matters, but they could affect the affairs which concern one’s practice of Islam, thus affecting one’s faith in a harmful way. This study aims to shed light on the approach of debilitating and negating the misguiding effects of social proof on the human psyche from the Qurānic perspective. The research adopts inductive and analytical approaches in presenting the discussion and concludes that the Qurān mentions some instances of how social proof takes place in affecting people’s inclination and behaviour in a damaging way which is clearly in opposition to the Islamic principles and natural inclination of human being. Considering the detrimental consequences of it, the remedies to negate the misguiding effects of social proof are prevalent throughout the Qurān as guidance for human beings to safely navigate this worldly life for a better life in the hereafter. This research deduces that the practical ways suggested by the Qurān can be summed up into two significant points which are seeking knowledge and the practice of thinking and contemplating.