The science of HIPSTERS: Mathematical formula shows that trying to look different ultimately makes everyone look the SAME

The definition of a hipster is a person who follows the latest trends, especially those outside of the mainstream.

But the problem with trying to be different, is that everyone following these unique trends ultimately ends up looking the same.

This is known as the 'hipster paradox', and now a mathematician has created a formula that shows why the phenomenon takes place.

According to Professor Jonathan Touboul, a mathematical neuroscientist at the Collège de France in Paris, there is always a delay between the time a trend begins to gain traction, and the time hipsters begin following it.

This delay is caused because people can’t be aware of what others are deciding, in real-time.

As a result, hipsters gradually realise that the trend, and the decision has been made while making the same decision separately. 

This leads to them gradually conforming towards what then becomes the mainstream.

Professor Jonathan Touboul plotted this phenomenon using a series of mathematical formulas (pictured). The full theory is available in his The Hipster Effect: When Anticonformists All Look the Same’ paper

He used a theory known as Hopf bifurcation. This looks at how oscillations, which in this case involved swinging between trends towards the mainstream and how hipsters track these trends, change over time. Put simply, the collective delay in recognising a trend causes stronger oscillations as time continues (pictured)

A true hipster, by comparison, would need to be constantly changing and adapting their style, personality and ‘authenticity’ as an immediate response to the trend, which the study suggests is impossible, and too difficult to maintain.

Professor Touboul used a theory known as Hopf bifurcation.

BEST ON-SCREEN MOUSTACHES

Tom Selleck (pictured) was voted has having the best on-screen moustache

A current 'hipster trend' is for moustaches.

Online streaming service Wuaki.tv recently polled its users for the top on-screen facial hair.

1. Tom Selleck, various titles

2. Dustin Hoffman as Captain Hook in Hook

3. Charlie Chaplin, various titles

4. Ned Flanders from The Simpsons

5. Will Ferrell/Ron Burgundy, Anchor Man  

This theory looks at how oscillations, which in this particular case involved swinging between trends towards the mainstream and how hipsters track these trends, change over time.

Put simply, the collective delay in recognising a trend causes stronger oscillations and as time continues, the oscillations become larger.

The full mathematical theory is available from Professor Touboul’s ‘The Hipster Effect: When Anticonformists All Look the Same’ paper.

‘If you take large sets of interacting individuals - whether hipsters, stock traders, or any group that decides to go against the majority - by trying to be different, they will ultimately all do the same thing at the same time,’ said Professor Touboul.

‘The reason for that is the time it takes for an individual to register the decisions of others. 

'You cannot be aware of what other people decide in real time, it takes a while.’

He added that uncovering what causes this paradox ‘goes beyond finding the best suit to wear this winter.’

‘[It has] implications in deciphering collective phenomena in economics and finance, where individuals may find an interest in taking positions in opposition to the majority - for instance, selling stocks when others want to buy.

‘Applications also extend to the case of neuronal networks with inhibition, where neurons tend to fire when others and silent, and reciprocally.’

Source: Dailymail