Editing Popularity (section)

==Comprehensive theories==

To date, only one comprehensive theory of interpersonal popularity has been proposed: that of A. L. Freedman in the book ''Popularity Explained''. The 3 Factor Model proposed attempts to reconcile the two concepts of sociometric and perceived popularity by combining them orthogonally and providing distinct definitions for each. In doing so, it reconciles the counter intuitive fact that liking does not guarantee perceived popularity nor does perceived popularity guarantee being well liked.

==="Popularity Explained"===
''Popularity Explained'' was first published as a blog before being converted to a book and various versions have been available online since 2013.

====Conceptual foundations====
There are four primary concepts that ''Popularity Explained'' relies on.

# '''Liking and attraction are not the same.''' The interpersonal feeling of "liking" is not the same as "attraction" and that both are responsible for different human behaviours. The neurological evidence of this comes from the research of [[Kent C. Berridge]] and his [[incentive salience]] model. ''Popularity Explained'' extrapolates the conclusions of this research and applies it to human-human interpersonal interactions.
# '''A hierarchy of interpersonal attraction exists in all social groups.''' ''Popularity Explained'' develops a very broad definition of [[interpersonal attraction]] asserting that it is based on a multitude of different factors but primarily those of: socioeconomic status; interpersonal similarity; physical appearance; and efficacy. It proposes the concept of a "Hierarchy of Attraction" which, in simple terms, is just a stylized bell curve that illustrates how attractive people are relative to each other in terms of a percentile.
# '''Interpersonal attraction (in the broadest sense) results in Input of Energy.''' Input of Energy is the interpersonal actions that an individual takes, consciously and unconsciously, when they experience an interpersonal attraction. Examples of Input of Energy given in the book include: attempts at physical proximity; changes in verbal communications; changes to non-verbal communication; biased interpersonal judgments; cognitive intrusion; and helping behaviour.
# '''Sociometric and perceived popularity are correlated but not equivalent.''' By combining these two concepts, ''Popularity Explained'' defines eight prototypical student types that can be plotted on the single graph.

====Three-factor model====

According to Freedman, an individual's place in the social landscape is determined by a combination of three factors: ''what'' they are; ''who'' they are; and the situation.

# ''What'' refers to all those aspects of a person that are objective: participation in sports, physical appearance, etc. Perceived popularity is primarily the result of what a person is. It is mediated by Input of Energy combining with the Hierarchy of Attraction. This preferential receipt of Input of Energy by a select few is what propels them to the "popular" side of the graph that combines sociometric and perceived popularity.
# ''Who'' refers to the personality of the individual and how they treat other people. It is this factor that is responsible for determining where a student sits along the "liking" and "disliking" dimensions that characterize a student. The more pro-social an individual, the more they will be liked.
# The Situation refers to the circumstances that an individual finds themself in.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Santor|first1=Darcy A.|last2=Messervey|first2=Deanna|last3=Kusumakar|first3=Vivek|date=April 2000|title=Measuring Peer Pressure, Popularity, and Conformity in Adolescent Boys and Girls: Predicting School Performance, Sexual Attitudes, and Substance Abuse|journal=Journal of Youth and Adolescence|language=en|volume=29|issue=2|pages=163–182|doi=10.1023/A:1005152515264|s2cid=38800770|issn=0047-2891}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|date=1929|title=Correspondence Instruction, 1929–1930|journal=University of North Carolina Extension Bulletin|publisher= University of North Carolina Press|volume=9|issue=1|pages=15}}</ref> Different circumstances may result in different social outcomes. For example, the same student may be perceived as popular when in the social context of their church youth group but unpopular within the social context of their school as a whole.

=== Popularization vs. Personalization ===

The [[Volume-Control Model]] offers analytical framework to understand how popularity is used to gain political and economic power.<ref name="volume-control">{{Cite journal|last=Segev|first=Elad|date=2019-09-05|title=Volume and control: the transition from information to power|journal=Journal of Multicultural Discourses|volume=14|issue=3|pages=240–257|doi=10.1080/17447143.2019.1662028|s2cid=203088993 |issn=1744-7143}}</ref> This model explains the way information is organized and selected based on its popularity among users. It links between information popularization and the opposite mechanism, information [[personalization]]. Both popularization and personalization are employed together by tech companies, organizations, governments or individuals as complementing mechanisms to gain economic, political, and social power. Among the social implications of information popularization is the emergence of homogeneity, which often reflects dominant views. An example would be the  [[Search engine#Search engine bias|bias of search engines]]. While [[Google Images]] uses [[PageRank]] to organize results based on their popularity, it presents mainly white young females as a result for the query "beauty".<ref name="volume-control"/>