Contagious: How Things Catch On

Catalog description

Why do some things catch on? Products become popular, apps take off, and videos go viral. Why? What makes some things succeed while others fail, and how, by understanding the behavioral science behind social epidemics, can we make our own stuff more successful? This course looks at these and related questions as it examines why things become popular. Building on research from psychology, sociology, marketing, and economics, the course explores characteristics of products, services, and ideas that lead them to catch on, what makes ideas stick, and how social dynamics shape success. We’ll talk about viral marketing, growth strategies, the role of social media, and influencers. Whether you have a product, service, or idea you want to catch on, or just want to better understand social epidemics, this course will shed light on what drives success.