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Fad

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For other uses, see FAD (disambiguation).
Pet rocks were a short-lived fad in the 1970s.

A fad or trend is any form of behavior that develops among a large population and is collectively followed enthusiastically for a period of time, generally as a result of the behavior being perceived as popular by one's peers or being deemed "cool" by social or other media.[1] A fad is said to "catch on" when the number of people adopting it begins to increase rapidly. They normally fade quickly once the perception of novelty is gone.[1]

Overview

The specific nature of the behavior associated with a fad can be of any type including language usage, apparel, financial investment and even food. Apart from general novelty, fads may be driven by mass media programming, emotional excitement, 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 like those that cause fashions in political beliefs or consumption goods.[4]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Kornblum (2007), p. 213.
  2. ^ Domanski (2004), p. 147–159.
  3. ^ Arena (2001), p. 341.
  4. ^ Camerer (1989).

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. Vol. 168. New York: North American Review Publishing Co.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  • Camerer, Colin (1989). "Bubbles and Fads in Asset Prices". Journal of Economic Surveys. 3 (1).
Look up fad, craze, or trend in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
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