behavioral contagion

the rapid copying of the activities of one or a few people by others in the vicinity, often with little analysis of the situation. For example, audience members who all applaud or rise to a standing ovation after an initial person does, regardless of whether they actually enjoyed the performance, are demonstrating behavioral contagion. Also called behavior contagion. See also emotional contagion; mass contagion; social contagion.

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Psychology term of the day

December 19th 2024

Bell–Magendie law

the principle that the ventral roots of the spinal cord are motor in function and the dorsal roots are sensory. [Charles Bell (1774–1842), Scottish surgeon and anatomist; François Magendie (1783–1855), French physiologist]