Fad
A fad or trend or craze is any form of collective behavior that develops within a culture, a generation or social group and which impulse is followed enthusiastically by a group of people for a finite period of time.
Similar to habits or customs but less durable, fads often result from an activity or behavior being perceived as emotionally popular or exciting within a peer group or being deemed "cool" as often promoted by social networks[1] A fad is said to "catch on" when the number of people adopting it begins to increase to the point of being noteworthy. Fads often fade quickly when the perception of novelty is gone.[1]
Overview
The specific nature of the behavior associated with a fad can be of any type including unusual language usage, distinctive clothing, fad diets or frauds such as Pyramid schemes. Apart from general novelty, fads may be driven by mass marketing, emotional blackmail, peer pressure, or the desire to "be hip".[2] Fads may also be set by popular celebrities.
Though the term trend may be used interchangeably with fad, a fad is generally considered a quick and short behavior whereas a trend is considered to be a behavior that evolves into a relatively permanent change.[3]
In economics, the term is used in a similar way. Fads are mean-reverting deviations from intrinsic value caused by social or psychological forces similar to those that cause fashions in political philosophies or consumerisation.[4]
See also
- Bandwagon effect
- Category:Fads (notable fads through history)
- Coolhunting
- Google Trends
- List of Internet phenomena
- Market trend
- Memetics
- Peer pressure
- Social mania
- 15 minutes of fame
- Viral phenomenon
- Bellwether (1996 novel)
Notes
References
- Arena, Barbara (2001). The Complete Idiot's Guide to Making Money with Your Hobby. Alpha. ISBN 978-0-02-863825-6.
- Domanski, Andrzej (2004). "Collective fascinations (fads) and the idea of ephemeral culture". Kultura i spoleczenstwo (Culture and society). 48 (4). (review/summary)
- Issitt, Micah L. (2009). Hippies: A Guide to an American Subculture. Greenwood. ISBN 978-0-313-36572-0.
- Kornblum, William (2007). Sociology in a Changing World (8th ed.). Wadsworth Publishing. ISBN 978-0-495-09635-1.
- Sparks, Jared; Everett, Edward; Lowell, James Russell; Lodge, Henry Cabot (1899). The North American review. 168. New York: North American Review Publishing Co.
- Camerer, Colin (1989). "Bubbles and Fads in Asset Prices". Journal of Economic Surveys. 3 (1).
External links
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