Domino effect

For other uses, see Domino effect (disambiguation).

Not to be confused with Domino theory.

A falling line of dominoes, each knocking the next over

A domino effect is the cumulative effect produced when one event sets off a series of similar 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). The literal, mechanical domino effect is exploited in Rube Goldberg machines. In chemistry, the principle applies to a domino reaction, in which one chemical reactions sets up the conditions necessary for a subsequent one that soon follows.

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. Conversely, domino effect can be used to imply that an event is impossible or highly unlikely (the one domino left standing).

See also

• Behavioral contagion
• Butterfly effect
• Cascading failure
• Causality
• Chinese whispers
• Copycat crime
• Domino
• Domino effect accident
• Domino theory
• Kessler syndrome
• Mathematical induction
• Ripple effect
• Snowball effect

Further reading

• Stronge, W. J. (2004). Impact Mechanics. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-60289-1.