fads
Summary
A fad is a short-lived behavior, style, or object that spreads quickly through a group by imitation and then fades. It is a form of collective behavior: spontaneous and unorganized, with no goal of changing society, which separates it from a social movement.
Detail
Meaning: A fad is a temporary pattern of behavior, dress, speech, or consumption that many people adopt enthusiastically and then drop, usually within a short time. Fads are a type of collective behavior, meaning relatively spontaneous, loosely structured action by many people that is not directed by established institutions. They spread by peer imitation, media, and social networks, and people often join because others are doing so (conformity, wanting to belong). Planking and fidget spinners are typical examples.
On the MCAT: A passage describes a brief, widely shared behavior and asks you to classify it among fad, fashion, craze, mass hysteria, panic, riot, and social movement. Clues for a fad are a short lifespan, rapid spread, little organization, and no stated goal. Questions may also ask how it spreads (diffusion through media and peers) or which account of collective behavior fits, such as contagion theory, convergence theory, or emergent-norm theory.
Common confusion: Students mix up fads, fashions, and social movements. A fashion usually lasts longer, is tied to status or style, and often recurs. A social movement is organized, sustained, and aims to promote or resist social change, whereas a fad is typically brief and has no such aim. Some texts treat a craze as a more intense fad.
Sources
- Sociology (Macionis)
- Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach (Henslin)
- Introduction to Sociology (Giddens)
Written for the MCAT and checked before it was published. For study reference only. Spotted an error? Let us know.