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Running Head: BANDWAGON EFFECT
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Bandwagon Effect
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Institution
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Cognitive biases are trends that lead an individual to think in a particular way and can
result to logical deviance from a standard of good judgment and are usually studied in behavioral
economics and psychology. Even though the truth of such biases is proved by a replicable
investigation, there usually many issues in regards to classification of such biases or how to
define them. Some of them include the effects of information-processing knew heuristics that
used by the brain to produces judgment or decision. The kinds of effects are called cognitive
biases. Biases appear in different forms such as cognitive biases known as useless, irrational or
maybe if they can result in beneficial behavior (Cutler, 2008). For instance, when someone wants
to know another person he /she may resolve to ask leading questions that are biased to
confirming their assumption on a person.
Firstly, the word bandwagon was used to mean a wagon that carries a band in a circus,
parade or entertainment. The word jumping on the wagon was first used in 1848 in the American
politics when a famous circus clown known as Dan Rice applied the bandwagon and the music to
campaign for a political seat (Moy & Rinke, 2012). After succeeding in the politics, other
politicians too campaigned using the bandwagon slogan that later saw them win various
positions. Later on, during the campaigns of William Jennings as a presidential candidate, most
politicians had embraced the bandwagon as a campaign tool. It meant that most people were
relating themselves with success even without their knowledge and that of a particular success.
The bandwagon effect is a type of group think that is found in social psychology. The main issue
is that belief or conduct that is found in people as trends and fads with chances that other people
will adopt it.
When more people believe in something, others tend to jump on the bandwagon without
having underlying evidence. The trend to follow a particular belief or action of other people can
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happen because others typically prefer to confirm or may be individuals want to get information
from others. All explanations have been applied for evidence of conformity in regards to
psychological experiments. When people make sensible choices focusing on the information they
get from others; researchers have concluded that information torrents can rapidly form in which
individuals decide to adopt the behavior of others. The Cascades clarify why some behaviors are
fragile meaning that individuals understand why they are based on less information. Brand
wagon effect has been in the society is influenced by different opinions, beliefs, trends and
actions (Cummins & Nistico, 2002).
The society has too much pressure that avoiding it means that someone is living in a dark
forest. Currently, the advances in information technology and social networks have made it
easier to control people in the society by forming different types of trends. One significant
example is in politics. However, the trend is prevalent in all aspects of people's lives and
normally individuals are responsible for things to follow. Bandwagon effects are presented in
many ways. It means to follow a group because it has a huge following or in a situation where
an individual follows something or someone because of success. Even if a particular person
agreed or liked something before its success, they hoped on the bandwagon. It means that the
bandwagon effect is witnessed in cases where people try to fix it. To understand the meaning of
bandwagon apparently, there are examples that can demonstrate bandwagon. For instance, when
television shows that everyone is buying a new brand watch, it becomes a new thing that looks
like a trend. Therefore, individuals jump on the bandwagon just like others and resolve to buy
that watch (Moy & Rinke, 2012).
Most manufacturers use this when they are advertising a new product. Usually a
bandwagon is associated with propaganda that everyone else is buying a particular brand. A
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good example of advertising propaganda is when it states that a million women are buying new
makeup foundation. In the field of microeconomics, bandwagon effect happens when
individual’s preference for a product increases when the number of customers buying it also
increases. Such interactions frequently interfere with the normal results of the concept of supply
and demand that assumes that all consumers decide to buy basing on their personal preference
and price. The bandwagon effect has positive and negative effects on the society depending on
the circumstances. Following some trends makes a person to feel better (Cummins & Nistico,
2002).
Brand Wagon in Politics
The brand wagon has been observed in politics especially during the American politics.
Individuals have voted for parties or candidates that are likely to succeed when the media
proclaim them to be stronger contenders. Additionally, it has been used in situations that have
majority opinion like the political conclusion that sees people adjust their views to suite that of
the majority view. A situation where there is a shift of opinion can happen because people draw
suggestions from the decisions of their fellows. For instance, election results are announced
earlier in the eastern regions of the U.S. whereas people are still voting in the west. This case has
shown how the differences in voter's behaviors in western regions of the U.S are influenced by
announcements about voting patterns in different time zones. In 1980, the news declared that
Ronald Regan was a winner of the presidential votes by exit polls few hours before the final
voting was closed in the west (Sonck & Loosveldt, 2010).
The bandwagon is very crucial in the American presidential primary elections. Most
states vote on different times that are distributed over months, unlike voting in a day. Such
scenario typically gives undue influence to different states because a win in early states gives
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candidates the momentum and propel them to win the nominations. Due to this issue, other states
normally front load to influence their say as influential by all means. 2008 presidential primaries
saw some delegates banned by the central party organization from conventional because they
voted early. Political experts have researched and tested the bandwagon effect in political
environments. Todd G and Robert Goidel experimented on 180 students who were assigned to
nine groups and tasked on election scenarios. More than 70% gave the information about the
expected candidate to win the elections. It was found out that independent voter that are viewed
as neutral were influenced largely by the candidate expected to win (Sonck & Loosveldt, 2010).
Expectations play a very vital role through the whole research. It was concluded that
independents are more likely to vote for any Republican candidate if there is a high expectation
of Republican to win. Albert Mehrabian contacted a study on the importance of bandwagon
effects versus the underdog effect. The false results are given to voters before the 1996
Republican primary indicated the bandwagon effect to prevail on balance. More than 6 % of the
variance during voting was justified regarding the false polls in a tight election showed can
influence elections. Therefore, when announcing poll results, the bandwagon effect can snowball
and becomes a powerful influence on leading candidates (Richardson, Tomarelli & Hendrick,
2008).
Bandwagon in Microeconomics
Bandwagon effect in microeconomics can be used to describe the relationship between
preference and demand. The bandwagon effect occurs in a situation when demand for a
commodity increases because more people are buying it. It has affected the normal outcome of
the theory of demand and supply. The bandwagon effect can be described well in clothing or
fashion. Individuals usually like to buy the latest fashion and stylish to embrace others. A person
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is likely to buy a particular fashion that is brought by people they admire or see what their
friends or celebrities are wearing. The individual’s demand or desire to wear the most current
fashion is increased because they see fashion as being popular (Cummins & Nistico, 2002).
Fashion or style is the best example that most people have experienced. It implies that if a
lot of people are buying and utilizing a particular product the demand will raise. To clarify
further, when most peers are attending a college in an environment or setting, more students will
also enroll for the college education because they will see that it is right to go to college. On the
other hand, in a situation where few peers are enrolling for the college education, few peers will
see the need to attend college. This brings up another bandwagon effect of taboo. The taboo
effect shows the similar type of behavior witnessed in consumers, but in an opposite direction. If
a person realizes that a group of people is not buying a particular product, which will view the
product as a social taboo and not consume the product (Moy & Rinke, 2012).
Bandwagon in Literature
Bandwagon can be used in literature to persuade readers to agree with arguments of the
author. It suggests that since most of the readers agree with the storyline, then everyone else
should also agree. For instance, “everyone is voting for David, definitely, he is the best
presidential candidate" when reading a book or listening to a particular politician, it is
established that the writer or the speaker strive to encourage the readers or audience to make
them feel and act in a certain way since other are also doing it regardless of having beliefs or
ideas of their own. For instance, in George Orwell’s the Animal Farm he uses bandwagon effect
efficiently. At the start, there is a very catchy and appealing song known as “Beasts of England”.
Every reader is impressed and picks up the idea as if they are agreeing will all issues
(Richardson, Tomarelli & Hendrick, 2008).
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Additionally, the effect is also viewed when Boxer a powerful and most loyal animal on
the farm used bandwagon propaganda unconsciously with ethics at the work place. He states that
"if Comrade Napoleon it, it must be right" it implies that he wishes to follow the ideas of
Comrade Napoleon. There is much bandwagon effect when the animals accept the changing
commandments and the ideals since other animals are also doing the same (Cutler, 2008).
Another effect is when Mollie is interested in establishing if she will put on the precious ribbons
and get sugar when rebellion ends. Nevertheless, Snowball tells her that they mean slavery and
she agrees without objection even though she disagrees. The primary purpose of these
techniques to ensure that the audiences think and act in a manner that is common. Such trends of
following the actions and beliefs happen when audiences see when others are conforming. It is
used in advertisement, literature and politics. Bandwagon effect is a good method for persuasive
writing which works on psychology and human minds. Equally, authors use it as a pressure tactic
that forms a sense of fear in readers when they don’t agree with others.
Another bandwagon effect is in William Shakespeare’s play, Julius Caesar, when Mark
Antony conveys his prominent talk during the burial of Caesar. It a good example of bandwagon
effect when Mark Antony delivers this incredible speech to win the hearts and favor of the
viewers. He goes ahead to refute vindications that Brutus had developed, though he had pacified
the members of the public and convinced them that why Caesar had to perish for their benefits.
Mark Antony appears in front and tells the audience so many things and he has faith that the
audience will not protest and persuades them that Brutus and Cassius were killers and
accountable for destroying the town (Sonck & Loosveldt, 2010). Talking about individually,
Antony attracts the public attention when he moves from his position and being a public figure
saying that, “Friends, Romans, and Countrymen."
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The bandwagon effect is a type of group think that is found in social psychology. The
main issue is that belief or conduct that is found in people as trends and fads do with chances that
other people will adopt it (Richardson, Tomarelli & Hendrick, 2008). When more people believe
in something, other tends to jump on the bandwagon without having underlying evidence. The
trend to follow a certain beliefs or action of other people can happen because others normally
prefer to confirm or may be individuals get information from others. All explanations have been
applied for evidence of conformity in regards to psychological experiments. When people make
sensible choices focusing on the information they get from others. Researchers have concluded
that information torrents can rapidly form in which individuals decide to adopt the behavior of
others.
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References
Cutler, F. (2008). One voter, two first-order elections?. Electoral Studies, 27(3), 492-504.
Cummins, R. A., & Nistico, H. (2002). Maintaining life satisfaction: The role of positive
cognitive bias. Journal of happiness studies, 3(1), 37-69.
Moy, P., & Rinke, E. M. (2012). Attitudinal and behavioral consequences of published opinion
polls. In Opinion Polls and the Media (pp. 225-245). Palgrave Macmillan UK.
Richardson, D. C., Tomarelli, M. M., & Hendrick, C. (2008). Bibliography of journal articles in
personality and social psychology: 1977. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin,
4(4), 638-652.
Rodner, V. L., Omar, M., & Thomson, E. (2011). The brand-wagon: emerging art markets and
the Venice Biennale. Marketing Intelligence & Planning, 29(3), 319-336.
(Sonck, N., & Loosveldt, G. (2010). Impact of poll results on personal opinions and perceptions
of collective opinion. International Journal of Public Opinion Research, 22(2), 230-255.