Mere Exposure Effect
- “why do I like a song I hated at first”
- “mere exposure effect explained”
- “why repetition makes me like things”
- “familiarity and liking”
01 · Side by side
Side by side
Comparison sheet
| Aspect | Mere exposure | Bandwagon effect |
|---|---|---|
| Runs on | Repetition | Popularity |
| Needs others | No | Yes |
| Conscious | Not required | Usually |
| Reverses | With over-exposure | When the crowd leaves |
02 · Which one you meant
Which one did you mean?
In shortReaders who land here meaning Mere Exposure Effect rather than Bandwagon effect are usually searching for phrases like “why do I like a song I hated at first”, “mere exposure effect explained”, “why repetition makes me like things”.
Bandwagon Effect
- “why do I want what everyone else has”
- “bandwagon effect explained”
- “does popularity mean quality”
- “joining because everyone else did”
03 · Which came first
Which came first
In shortBandwagon effect. 1849 — The word 'bandwagon' is first recorded, for the wagon carrying a circus band. The often-repeated story that Dan Rice campaigned for Zachary Taylor from one in 1848 is rejected by his biographer, and the political sense does not appear for another fifty years.
- 1849
Bandwagon Effect. The word 'bandwagon' is first recorded, for the wagon carrying a circus band. The often-repeated story that Dan Rice campaigned for Zachary Taylor from one in 1848 is rejected by his biographer, and the political sense does not appear for another fifty years.
- 1968
Mere Exposure Effect. Robert Zajonc argues in 'Attitudinal Effects of Mere Exposure' that repeated, unreinforced exposure is by itself sufficient to improve attitude, drawing on word frequency, interpersonal contact and repeated hearings of music.
04 · Read either one