LAG TIME

"IT WAS AN IRONY THAT SEEMED TO DEFY LOGIC. As oil prices continued their dizzying upward spiral, a popular U.S. automaker in spring 2006 announced it actually would increase production of oversized sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks...And the company continues to produce - and to sell - really large gas-guzzling vehicles, because affluent consumers continue to buy them, despite $3 per gallon and upward gasoline prices. Go figure." - South Carolina Business Journal (1/1/07)

This got me thinking about lag time, the time between when people are confronted with reasons why their actions are no longer logical and when they act. My all-knowing social psychologist co-worker pointed me to a book, written in the 60s about this: Diffusion of Innovations by Everett Rogers. "Getting a new idea adopted, even when it has obvious advantages, is often very difficult. Many innovations require a lengthly period, often many years, from the time they become available to the time they are widely adopted."

This also got me thinking about the differences between political conservatives and liberals. It seems as though generally conservatives take a more skeptical stance towards new ideas and policies, while liberals are more quick to take up causes.

This also makes me think about religious conversion. Sometimes it takes people hearing the gospel one time to become Christians and sometimes it takes decades of relationship.

What is this? Is it healthy? I feel as though this is a very human quality and extends into all parts of life. Maybe it's a personality type thing.