“Mimetic Theory- Two Types of Psychological Needs”

You Tube Channel: Sprouts

WEBVTT
Kind: captions
Language: en

00:00:00.360 --> 00:00:05.040

When you desire one thing over another
or you want to become one type of person,

00:00:05.040 --> 00:00:10.280

but not the other, you may think
that’s your personal preference.

00:00:10.280 --> 00:00:16.840

One psychological explanation of human behavior
argues that we often have no idea what we want,

00:00:16.840 --> 00:00:25.840

and hence just imitate others
— welcome to mimetic theory.

00:00:25.840 --> 00:00:31.560

Mimetic Theory is the idea that there are
really only two sides to human desire.

00:00:31.560 --> 00:00:37.240

Physical Desires are our cravings for
utility — the intrinsic value of objects.

00:00:37.240 --> 00:00:44.280

Metaphysical Desires are our longing for
identity — what objects can say about us.

00:00:44.280 --> 00:00:50.360

If you are hungry, you may want to eat anything
to satisfy a physical need. Or you might wish to

00:00:50.360 --> 00:00:56.720

eat out — in which case you may pick a place that
reinforces your self-conception, your identity,

1|Page
Learning English by watching short clips
Telegram Channel: https://t.me/learningenglishbysmy
 “Mimetic Theory- Two Types of Psychological Needs”
You Tube Channel: Sprouts

00:00:56.720 --> 00:01:03.320

and the person you wish to become. In other words,
you want to please your metaphysical desire.

00:01:03.320 --> 00:01:08.360

Rene Girard, the French philosopher who
established the theory, argued that most of our

00:01:08.360 --> 00:01:15.360

desires are metaphysical and called them mimetic
because we mimic them from the people around us.

00:01:15.360 --> 00:01:18.840

We imitate others, because we
long for their recognition,

00:01:18.840 --> 00:01:26.560

hoping that we will eventually become a heightened
being that will be remembered — ideally forever.

00:01:26.560 --> 00:01:32.400

However since this ideal is so abstract and
so hard to achieve, we take shortcuts and

00:01:32.400 --> 00:01:39.360

make associations with objects and models whom
we think have already achieved this status.

00:01:39.360 --> 00:01:43.960

And so, our deepest desires and moral
principles are fundamentally anchored

00:01:43.960 --> 00:01:50.840

by models and the objects, values,
and culture associated with them.

00:01:50.840 --> 00:01:55.880

In school, we want to wear what the cool
kids are wearing, and by the same logic,

2|Page
Learning English by watching short clips
Telegram Channel: https://t.me/learningenglishbysmy
 “Mimetic Theory- Two Types of Psychological Needs”
You Tube Channel: Sprouts

00:01:55.880 --> 00:01:59.840

we never ever want to look
like the social outcasts.

00:02:00.600 --> 00:02:04.080

This common longing for
and against certain models,

00:02:04.080 --> 00:02:10.520

raises a fundamental question: Do
we, in fact, have any autonomy?

00:02:10.520 --> 00:02:15.000

If we simply want what others want,
our decisions are not truly ours,

00:02:15.000 --> 00:02:19.920

and we are far from being independent
in our behavior. "Individualism is a

00:02:19.920 --> 00:02:25.320

formidable lie" Girard wrote.
And this leads to a problem!

00:02:25.320 --> 00:02:29.960

The relationship between a subject
and an object unfolds through a model,

00:02:29.960 --> 00:02:35.200

also called a mediator — who desires the
same things. Eventually, this can lead

00:02:35.200 --> 00:02:43.320

to rivalry between subjects and mediators —
especially if they start imitating each other.

00:02:43.320 --> 00:02:47.040

And as both don’t like the thought
that they cannot have what they want,

3|Page
Learning English by watching short clips
Telegram Channel: https://t.me/learningenglishbysmy
 “Mimetic Theory- Two Types of Psychological Needs”
You Tube Channel: Sprouts

00:02:47.040 --> 00:02:51.360

they look for a victim who
they can make responsible.

00:02:51.360 --> 00:02:56.840

As a result they unify their imitative desires
around the destruction of an agreed-upon

00:02:56.840 --> 00:03:04.000

scapegoat — to the point where that person is
singled out, expelled, or killed. After the social

00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:11.800

order is restored, and people are happy to have
solved their problems - the cycle begins again.

00:03:11.800 --> 00:03:17.000

What do you think? Was Girard right, and
are we all trapped in societies that tell

00:03:17.000 --> 00:03:22.360

us who we should want to become? Or do
we have our own independent desires that

00:03:22.360 --> 00:03:29.680

go beyond our need for food and shelter?
Share your thoughts in the comments below!

00:03:44.680 --> 00:03:48.000

If you found this helpful, check
out our other videos and subscribe.

00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:51.802

If you want to support our work,
join us on patreon.com/sprouts.

00:03:51.802 --> 00:03:56.874

For more information and additional
contents, visit sproutsschools.com

4|Page
Learning English by watching short clips
Telegram Channel: https://t.me/learningenglishbysmy
 “Mimetic Theory- Two Types of Psychological Needs”
You Tube Channel: Sprouts

5|Page
Learning English by watching short clips
Telegram Channel: https://t.me/learningenglishbysmy