Professor Crane was ecstatic when he learned that his research study was approved for publication. However, his joyful feelings quickly dissipated when he heard that his colleague recently had three different research articles approved for publication. Professor Crane's declining emotional satisfaction is best explained by the relative principle.

Not all members of the radio audience of orson welles' war of the worlds broadcast panicked immediately. indeed, some didn't panic until they looked out of the window and saw empty streets; others didn't panic until they saw streets full of traffic. it was after checking out the situation that these citizens decided that the martians had indeed invaded earth. this example illustrates that contagion can result when people look to others for the interpretation of ambiguous situations . can result when cultural norms reinforce people's most likely responses. occurs primarily because humans are by nature irrational creatures. is especially likely when people are motivated to make independent decisions.