Bandwagon Effect

The Bandwagon Effect is a cognitive bias whereby people do something primarily because other people are doing it, regardless of their own beliefs.

Example

"The Emperor's New Clothes" is a short tale written by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, and it's a perfect illustration of the bandwagon effect and social pressure leading to cognitive bias.

In the story, two swindlers claim to be able to weave the finest cloth, which couldn't be seen by people who were either unfit for their positions or extraordinarily stupid. Hearing this, the Emperor, fearing that he would not be able to see the cloth, sent his wisest men to see it first. These men, not wanting to appear unfit or stupid, claimed to see the cloth and praised it. The news of the wonderful cloth spread throughout the town, and everyone was excited about it, even though they couldn't see it.

When the swindlers reported that the suit was finished, they mimed dressing the Emperor in his new clothes, and the Emperor then marched in procession before his subjects. The townsfolk, also not wanting to appear unfit or stupid, all admired the Emperor's new clothes, even though they couldn't see them.

A child, who didn't understand the implication of the claim and didn't feel the same social pressure, blurted out that the Emperor was wearing nothing at all. The people realized that they had been fooled but continued to pretend until the end, fearing the shame of admitting that they had been deceived.

This story is a classic example of the bandwagon effect, where people do or believe something because many other people do or believe the same. Despite the townsfolk and the Emperor himself not being able to see the clothes, they went along with the majority view that the clothes exist, because they didn't want to appear unfit or stupid. This cognitive bias led them to act against their own perception of reality.