<p>One related term I found is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandwagon_effect" rel="nofollow">bandwagon effect</a>.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>In layman’s term the bandwagon effect refers to <strong>people doing certain
  things because other people are doing them</strong>, regardless of their own
  beliefs, which they may ignore or override.</p>
  
  <p>The general rule is that conduct or beliefs spread among people, as
  fads and trends clearly do, with "the probability of any individual
  adopting it increasing with the proportion who have already done
  so". (Colman, Andrew 2003) As more people come to believe in something, others also "hop
  on the bandwagon" regardless of the underlying evidence.</p>
</blockquote>

<p><sub>
Colman, Andrew (2003). <a href="http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/0199534063" rel="nofollow">Oxford Dictionary of Psychology</a>. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 77. ISBN 0-19-280632-7.
</sub></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-10-25T07:01:01.843Z
Although this effect is similar. I think there is a slight difference.

The question says that all kids might be feeling that the assignment is unreasonable, but no one speaks up. Unless one does, and then other starting their discomfort against the assignment.

I think the Bandwagon Effect is not about the other kids feeling the assignment being unreasonable, but just because a kid stood up against it, others followed suit _regardless of their own beliefs_.
Sunny R Gupta
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-10-26T10:07:11.277Z
2012-10-26T10:12:41.693Z
2012-10-26T10:12:41.693Z
Steven Jeuris
<p>Your example of no student willing to object until one objects is analagous to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asch_conformity_experiments" rel="nofollow">Asch's conformity experiments</a>. To quote the Wikipedia article:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>In a control group, with no pressure to conform to an erroneous view,
  only one participant out of 35 ever gave an incorrect answer. Solomon
  Asch hypothesized that the majority of participants would not conform
  to something obviously wrong; however, when surrounded by individuals
  all voicing an incorrect answer, participants provided incorrect
  responses on a high proportion of the questions (32%). Seventy-five
  percent of the participants gave an incorrect answer to at least one
  question.
  ...</p>
  
  <p>The unanimity of the confederates has also been varied. When the
  confederates are not unanimous in their judgment, <strong>even if only one
  confederate voices a different opinion, participants are much more
  likely to resist the urge to conform (only 5–10% conform) than when
  the confederates all agree</strong>.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-10-26T13:23:35.707Z
2012-10-26T13:23:35.707Z
Jeromy Anglim
<p><strong>Example</strong>: In class, when a teacher proposes some unreasonable assignment, students hesitate to express their objection until someone steps-up and then others find courage to talk.</p>

<p>I've tried searching for the term for this phenomenon but I don't know what I'm looking for exactly.</p>

<social-psychology><terminology><prosocial-behavior>
What is the name of the phenomenon whereby someone steps-up and others follow?
mux
# What is the name of the phenomenon whereby someone steps-up and others follow?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-10-26)

**Example**: In class, when a teacher proposes some unreasonable assignment, students hesitate to express their objection until someone steps-up and then others find courage to talk.

I've tried searching for the term for this phenomenon but I don't know what I'm looking for exactly.

**Tags:** social-psychology, terminology, prosocial-behavior


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2012-10-26. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

One related term I found is the [bandwagon effect](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandwagon_effect).

> In layman’s term the bandwagon effect refers to **people doing certain
> things because other people are doing them**, regardless of their own
> beliefs, which they may ignore or override.
>
> The general rule is that conduct or beliefs spread among people, as
> fads and trends clearly do, with "the probability of any individual
> adopting it increasing with the proportion who have already done
> so". (Colman, Andrew 2003) As more people come to believe in something, others also "hop
> on the bandwagon" regardless of the underlying evidence.

Colman, Andrew (2003). [Oxford Dictionary of Psychology](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/0199534063). New York: Oxford University Press. p. 77. ISBN 0-19-280632-7.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Although this effect is similar. I think there is a slight difference.  The question says that all kids might be feeling that the assignment is unreasonable, but no one speaks up. Unless one does, and then other starting their discomfort against the assignment.  I think the Bandwagon Effect is not about the other kids feeling the assignment being unreasonable, but just because a kid stood up against it, others followed suit _regardless of their own beliefs_.  

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### Answer by username_3 on 2012-10-26. Score: 4

Your example of no student willing to object until one objects is analagous to [Asch's conformity experiments](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asch_conformity_experiments). To quote the Wikipedia article:

> In a control group, with no pressure to conform to an erroneous view,
> only one participant out of 35 ever gave an incorrect answer. Solomon
> Asch hypothesized that the majority of participants would not conform
> to something obviously wrong; however, when surrounded by individuals
> all voicing an incorrect answer, participants provided incorrect
> responses on a high proportion of the questions (32%). Seventy-five
> percent of the participants gave an incorrect answer to at least one
> question.
> ...
>
> The unanimity of the confederates has also been varied. When the
> confederates are not unanimous in their judgment, **even if only one
> confederate voices a different opinion, participants are much more
> likely to resist the urge to conform (only 5–10% conform) than when
> the confederates all agree**.


---

