How Ideas Spread

Course Description
Discover the fascinating science behind viral trends, consumer behavior, and social influence. This course reveals why certain products, ideas, and behaviors catch on while others fade, giving you practical insights into psychology, marketing, and human decision-making.

What You’ll Learn in the Course

• The psychology behind why ideas and products become popular.

• The role of social influence, conformity, and divergence.

• How word of mouth and social currency drive virality.

• The impact of social networks, influencers, and data on spreading ideas.

---

Lessons

01: Social Epidemics – Why Things Catch On — 35 min
Explore the science of social epidemics through the rise of Livestrong bracelets.

02: The Basics of Consumer Psychology — 30 min
Understand how exposure and cognitive processing shape perceptions and popularity.

03: The Impact of Triggers on Consumer Choice — 27 min
See how environmental cues like music or location influence decisions and awareness.

04: Simple Rules to Make Ideas Stick — 28 min
Learn the four principles that make ideas memorable: simplicity, unexpectedness, concreteness, and credibility.

05: The Social Influence of Conformity — 31 min
Analyze why people follow crowds, even against their better judgment, and how this fuels trends.

06: The Social Influence of Divergence — 30 min
Discover why some consumers avoid popular products and how anti-conformity reshapes markets.

07: Word of Mouth – Powerful and Persuasive — 28 min
Examine how word of mouth outperforms advertising and the role of social networks.

08: The Social Currency of Shared Ideas — 32 min
Identify six key drivers that make products, ideas, and behaviors generate buzz.

09: Messages That Go Viral — 30 min
Study stories, practical value, and public visibility as drivers of viral communication.

10: Social Networks – Channels of Influence — 29 min
Explore how strong and weak social ties spread information and shape opportunities.

11: Social Influencers – Myths and Science — 27 min
Investigate whether influencers truly drive virality and the science behind their impact.

12: Tracking Results – Big Data, Little Data — 27 min
Conclude by analyzing the role of data in predicting trends and the future of idea spreading.