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Considering again to your childhood, do you bear in mind your dad and mom ever asking you, “If your whole buddies jumped off a bridge, would you do it too?”

I do know this fictional situation was usually introduced to me after I argued to do one thing “as a result of everybody else was doing it” however it didn’t usually work very properly.

As adults, the time period “leaping on the bandwagon” is a generally used phrase expressing our tendency to do one thing simply because “everybody else” is doing it.

We have a tendency to love conformity as a result of agreeing with different individuals is useful because it permits us to coexist and cooperate with one another. Based on the Asch Conformity Experiment, that is due to two issues:

Individuals usually use this false reasoning to speak others into taking a sure motion or believing one thing simply because it’s the frequent factor to do. Nevertheless, that is flawed logic and may have unfavourable penalties, so it’s vital to have the ability to establish the bandwagon logical fallacy so that you don’t fall into its entice.

On this article, we’ll have a look at what the bandwagon fallacy is after which overview 9 examples that will come up throughout an argument so you’ll be able to know precisely what you’re searching for when attempting to identify this logical fallacy.

Let’s get began.

What’s the Bandwagon Fallacy?

The bandwagon fallacy is predicated on the idea that almost all’s opinion is at all times legitimate. This has a peer strain part to it, because it argues that if everybody else believes one thing, you need to too.

Nevertheless, this logic solely proves {that a} perception is frequent, not that it is correct. This logical fallacy is utilized in arguments to persuade others of one thing when there is no such thing as a factual argument to make use of to show the subject at hand.

This defective methodology of reasoning is frequent to come back throughout, whether or not it’s getting used unintentionally or on objective for somebody’s profit.

Promoting is particularly full of examples of the bandwagon fallacy as a result of it’s a great way to make potential clients imagine they may change into half of a bigger group who already advantages from utilizing a sure services or products. 

The bandwagon fallacy has 18th century political beginnings, as musicians would experience on a bandwagon forward of a crowd after they had been going to a political rally, which might collect increasingly individuals due to the joy.

The idiom that has come from this means that folks will comply with something if it’s garnered lots of people’s consideration, even when they do not know what it’s or whether or not or not it’s true. The bandwagon fallacy has a snowball impact, which means as increasingly individuals bounce on the wagon, others will proceed to take action as properly. 

This saying transitioned to the figurative time period we use immediately by the Eighteen Nineties.

The bandwagon fallacy is particularly highly effective when the one who is on the receiving finish of it desires to be widespread or to really feel like they’re part of a bunch. It’s additionally efficient at tricking individuals who aren’t good at making their very own selections or they’re hesitant to strive something new.

This fallacy is usually used within the following conditions:

Its typical kind is:

The bandwagon fallacy goes by a number of different names, such because the “argumentum advert populum” (enchantment to the individuals), “authority of the various” and “enchantment to recognition”.

These phrases are sometimes used interchangeably, however on this article, we’ll stick to the most typical title and definition of this fallacy with out digging into the slight variations that others could have. 

Let’s check out some examples of bandwagon fallacies so you will get a complete understanding of tips on how to spot them.

9 Bandwagon Fallacy Examples to Spot Throughout an Argument

1. Health and Well being Tendencies

Caroline eats a well-rounded weight-reduction plan and workouts frequently. Nevertheless, all of her buddies at work are beginning a low-carb weight-reduction plan that consists largely of protein shakes.

Her officemate tells Caroline about their plan and the way they’re going to all preserve one another accountable, so she ought to take part. Caroline decides this have to be the wholesome factor to take action she agrees to do that particular weight-reduction plan together with everybody else.

This can be dangerous for Caroline, particularly if her coworkers aren’t very educated about well being and health and so they’re primarily aiming to shed weight. Caroline’s weight could already be best and consuming a extra well-rounded weight-reduction plan might be in Caroline’s greatest curiosity contemplating her train schedule. 

Health and well being traits are sometimes examples of the bandwagon fallacy, as a result of issues change into widespread even when they aren’t good for everybody. Latest examples of this embody particular diets just like the gluten free weight-reduction plan, the paleo motion, consuming vegan, and many others.

Additionally, weight-reduction plan aids (comparable to ephedra) have brought about a dangerous bandwagon fallacy impact. Ephedra turned widespread with out individuals taking note of dosing, which finally led to fatalities. 

2. Going to Faculty

“As a result of everybody else goes away to school, it have to be the suitable factor to do.”

Our nation does spend a disproportionate amount of cash on those that attend school than those that select to not. Nevertheless, the overwhelming majority of individuals don’t even find yourself attaining a bachelor’s diploma.

There may be plenty of debate on whether or not or not going to school is extraordinarily needed for most individuals, however there isn’t a lot debate about the truth that there are exceptions to this, and there are various individuals who have change into very profitable in life with out attending school.

3. Promoting

Promoting typically usually makes use of the tactic of constructing one thing appear widespread, due to this fact making it interesting. Check out this advert for toothpaste for example:

The advert suggests that you just’re already behind the curve as a result of so many individuals have already switched, which is an enchantment to have you ever “bounce on the bandwagon” so to talk.

4. In Historical past

Most individuals believed the earth was the middle of the universe till the sixteenth century, which we now know isn’t true.

The “geocentric” mannequin that was as soon as generally believed was a faith-based commentary that was largely accepted as a result of others claimed it to be true with out making their very own observations or calculations.

Those that ultimately uncovered the reality like Galileo and Copernicus had been individuals who wouldn’t enchantment to what everybody else believed (i.e. they didn’t bounce on the bandwagon) only for the sake of it. 

5. In Films

The bandwagon fallacy usually arises in films. When you’ve seen Imply Women, you’ll be able to most likely bear in mind a scene the place everybody in the highschool was copying the issues the antagonist, Regina, was doing.

Irrespective of how ridiculous her actions appeared, everybody was following Regina’s lead simply because Regina was so widespread. As her actions and trend statements began to be mimicked by others, increasingly individuals jumped on that bandwagon so they may match into the group.

6. In Trend

Trend traits come and go…and are available again once more. And with as a lot as 90’s trend has been ridiculed within the media within the mere twenty years because it was the norm, I’ll by no means perceive how–or why– it returned so rapidly. 

As I walked by means of school campus final 12 months seeing an enormous variety of individuals following this development, I needed to marvel what number of of them truly felt like they had been expressing themselves precisely how they needed to…and what number of had been following this rising trend development simply because different individuals had been doing it.

I really feel for individuals who will inevitably look again on their photos from school 20 years from now, questioning WHAT they had been pondering…however I’ve to imagine as traits change, that may at all times be the case.

7. Social Media Use

Sarah believes social media is damaging to relationships. She prefers face-to-face interactions and thinks communication could be misunderstood by means of social media.

Nevertheless, as a result of all of her buddies have joined and speak to one another by means of this medium, Sarah has determined it should not be that unhealthy and creates an account. 

Sarah has determined to desert her values and beliefs in favor of her buddies’ behaviors. She doesn’t have proof that social media is both good or unhealthy for relationships, however she assumes it have to be alright since everybody else is doing it. So, Sarah has jumped on the bandwagon.

8. Shopping for the Newest Devices

“Everyone seems to be getting the brand new smartphone that’s popping out this weekend, it’s important to get it too!”

It is a kind of peer strain that falls underneath the bandwagon fallacy. The speaker is attempting to persuade somebody that they need to do one thing as a result of everybody else is, so it have to be a good suggestion. 

Nevertheless, if the individual has a cellphone that works completely properly for them and so they don’t have a want for a brand new one, the truth that different individuals are shopping for it doesn’t create a necessity–it might create a need–however that doesn’t make it needed.

Plus, if their price range doesn’t permit for it, following the group with this one could be dangerous.

9. Sports activities

With regards to cheering on sports activities groups, spectators have been identified to start out following a workforce after they change into profitable–even when the workforce has been round for a very long time.

Then, if that workforce turns into much less widespread or has an unsuccessful season, the sports activities lover strikes on to change into a fan of the following workforce that’s profitable or widespread.

On this case, the fan’s perception that the workforce they’re rooting for is the “greatest” is predicated solely upon their commentary of different individuals’s rising enthusiasm for the workforce.

Whether or not or not the workforce ought to be their favourite is irrelevant, it’s their reasoning behind rooting for the workforce–believing they need to as a result of increasingly individuals are doing it– is what makes this an instance of a bandwagon fallacy. 

Closing Ideas on Recognizing the Bandwagon Fallacy

This fallacious line of reasoning presents an argument with out proof of its validity– it solely acknowledges recognition.

Whereas there are plenty of widespread beliefs which might be, the truth is, true–it’s the info that assist the beliefs that make them true, not the concept they’re widespread. 

You’ve most likely seen that the bandwagon fallacy doesn’t take any opposite proof into consideration when making a declare, which isn’t solely irrational, however can be harmful.

Be looking out for any such argument sooner or later so you’ll be able to spot it and acknowledge the fallacy quite than fall into its entice. 

Connie Mathers is an expert editor and freelance author. She holds a Bachelor’s Diploma in Advertising and a Grasp’s Diploma in Social Work. When she isn’t writing, Connie is both spending time together with her daughter and two canines, operating, or working at her full-time job as a social employee in Richmond, VA.