Why the Bandwagon Effect Occurs (and the Opposite Bias That’s Just as Bad)

Have you ever stood in a queue only to discover the REAL queue was somewhere else?

This is a harmless example of the bandwagon effect, a cognitive bias that can lead us to worse decisions.

But it can help too

The Good Side of the Bandwagon Effect

The bandwagon effect can occur due to the sudden spread of new information.

That new information can lead us to better decisions.

But more often it occurs due to trends.

Why the Bandwagon Effect Occurs

There are different theories for why the bandwagon effect occurs

• it’s a simple way to reach a decision

• it helps us belong in a community

• we assume others know more

• we join a winning side

These aren’t bad, but don’t mean we reach the best decision.

The Downsides of the Bandwagon Effect

The bandwagon effect can lead to “groupthink” where ideas and data are ignored.

Instead of challenging the consensus, we avoid conflict. Even when we do challenge, we are ignored. Sometimes that’s good as the majority are right, but they aren’t always.

The Negative Opposite of the Bandwagon Effect

Some people suffer from the “snob effect”.

This is a refusal to follow the majority.

That doesn’t matter with fashion but can lead to bad decisions in more important areas.

Summary 👨‍🏫

The bandwagon effect is when we follow what the majority do.

It can help us make good decisions quickly, but can lead to bad decisions too.

The reverse is the snob effect which can also be negative.