Domino effect

For other uses, see Domino effect (disambiguation).

Not to be confused with Domino theory.

A domino effect is the cumulative effect produced when one event sets off a series of similar^[1] or related events, a form of chain reaction. The term is an analogy to a falling row of dominoes. It typically refers to a linked sequence of events where the time between successive events is relatively short. The term can be used literally (about a series of actual collisions) or metaphorically (about causal linkages within systems such as global finance or politics).

A falling line of dominoes, each knocking the next over

The literal, mechanical domino effect is exploited in Rube Goldberg machines. In chemistry, the principle applies to a domino reaction, in which one chemical reaction sets up the conditions necessary for a subsequent one that soon follows. In the realm of process safety, a domino-effect accident is an initial undesirable event triggering additional ones in related equipment or facilities, leading to a total incident effect more severe than the primary accident alone.

The metaphorical usage implies that an outcome is inevitable or highly likely (as it has already started to happen) – a form of slippery slope argument. When this outcome is actually unlikely (the argument is fallacious), it has also been called the domino fallacy.^[2]

See also

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• Behavioral contagion – Spontaneous, unsolicited and uncritical imitation of another's behavior
• Butterfly effect – Idea that small causes can have large effects
• Cascading failure – Systemic risk of failure
• Causality – How one process influences another
• Chinese whispers – Children's gamePages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
• Copycat crime – Criminal act that is inspired by a previous crime
• Domino theory – Cold War–era geopolitical theory on the spread of communism
• Kessler syndrome – Theoretical satellite collision cascade
• Mathematical induction – Form of mathematical proof
• Placebo effect – Substance or treatment of no therapeutic valuePages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
• Side effect – Outcome that is secondary to the one intended
• Ripple effect – Disturbance that propagates through a system
• Snowball effect – Metaphorical term for a process that builds upon itself