Impulse-Proof Your Shopping: 8 Psychology Hacks Retailers Wish You Didn't Know

December 10, 2025

Lau Racciatti

8. The Social Proof Effect

Customers leaving reviews on an ecommerce website. The reviews are five stars. Encouraging customers to leave reviews can increase sales by attracting new customers to a website. We created this image for use on our website, but have since decided to rel. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons @Alun Zuk

Social proof is a psychological phenomenon where people mimic the actions of others, assuming they are making the right choices. Retailers harness this by displaying customer reviews, testimonials, and popularity indicators like “best-seller” tags to encourage impulse buys. Recognizing the influence of social proof can help you make independent decisions based on your preferences and needs rather than the behavior of others. This awareness can empower you to shop more consciously and avoid unnecessary purchases driven by social influence.

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8. The Social Proof Effect

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