social contagion

English

Noun

social contagion

(pathology, sociology, psychology) The spontaneous spread of behaviour when it is unconsciously copied from one individual by another.
- 1852, Horace Bushnell, Unconscious Influence: A Sermon, page 4:
  A Peter leads a John, a John goes after a Peter, both of them unconscious of any influence exercised or received. And thus our life and conduct are ever propagating themselves, by a law of social contagion, throughout the circles […]

Synonyms

behavioral contagion / behavioural contagion

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