What term is used to describe the tendency of individuals to look to the behavior of others when making decisions?

The term that describes the tendency of individuals to look to the behavior of others when making decisions is consensus. This concept reflects how people often rely on the actions, opinions, and behaviors of those around them to guide their own choices. Consensus shows that individuals are influenced by the collective behavior or opinions of a group, often leading them to align their decisions with what appears to be the majority viewpoint. This can occur in various contexts, such as social settings, workplace environments, or when navigating ambiguous situations, where understanding and adaptation to the prevailing norms can enhance group cohesion and foster agreement.

In contrast, persuasion refers to the act of convincing someone to do or believe something, feedback relates to the information given in response to actions or performance, and collaboration involves working jointly with others to achieve a common goal. While all these concepts involve elements of social interaction, they do not specifically capture the phenomenon of looking to others for guidance in decision-making as well as the idea of consensus does.