These Social Proof Examples Show How You Become a Lemming

These Social Proof Examples Show How You Become a Lemming

Have you ever been drawn to a crowd just because there was a crowd? Do you ever find yourself buying something based on its popularity? How about laughing when everyone else laughs even if you didn’t get the joke? These situations are all social proof examples. The Social Proof Principle is a theory stating that you decide what’s correct based on what other people think is correct. This theory is often used to sell products by showing how popular they are with other people. Learn with social proof examples and see when the social proof principle of persuasion might lead

Sleep in the Elderly: How Sleep Changes as You Age

Sleep in the Elderly: How Sleep Changes as You Age

Is sleep in the elderly different than sleep at other ages? Are the elderly at a higher risk of sleep-related disorders? Sleep changes with age, and sleep in the elderly is no exception. Unfortunately, sleep in the elderly is characterized by declining sleep quality and difficulty sleeping. Sleep in the elderly can also have physical, mental, and emotional side effects, and sleep should be an important part of your health plan at any age.

Escalating Commitment: Why Hazing Creates Loyalty

Escalating Commitment: Why Hazing Creates Loyalty

Have you heard terrible stories about pledging fraternities? Why do people keep joining and stay loyal if it’s so awful? How does the psychology of hazing create escalating commitment? Escalating commitment is a manipulation tactic that leverages one small commitment to create bigger and bigger commitments. Your desire for consistency creates a commitment bias. Learn how the escalation of commitment bias creates loyalty even after difficult experiences.

Safety in Numbers? Not With the Bystander Effect

Safety in Numbers? Not With the Bystander Effect

Do you feel safer going out at night when there are people around? Have you heard of the bystander effect? Pluralistic ignorance shows there might not be safety in numbers. Pluralistic ignorance is a phenomenon in which a group of people behaves contrary to the norms and standards of most of the individual members of that group. The bystander effect is a type of pluralistic ignorance. Learn how to counter the bystander effect.

The Liking Bias: Why You Can’t Say No to Your Friends

The Liking Bias: Why You Can’t Say No to Your Friends

Have you ever found it hard to say “no” to someone you like? What if a friend or neighbor tries to sell you something? It might feel easier to just buy it than to feel uncomfortable after rejecting them. How does the liking bias influence the way you make decisions? Robert Cialdini’s Liking Principle of persuasion is a theory stating that people are more likely to grant requests from people they know and like. It also states that you’re more likely to grant requests from people you perceive to be good-looking or to like you. We’ll cover the basics of