Psychology
Herd Mentality
Quick fact
In experiments, when one person starts looking up at nothing, others will soon join them, even when there's nothing to see – demonstrating the power of herd mentality.
Why this is interesting
Have you ever bought a product because everyone else was buying it, even though you weren't sure you needed it? That's herd mentality at work – and it can influence everything from stock market crashes to viral internet challenges.