“You have this social pressure to start (clapping), but once you’ve started there’s an equally strong social pressure not to stop.”

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240523-why-do-we-clap?utm_source=Live+Audience&utm_campaign=bd1819e3da-nature-briefing-daily-20240530&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b27a691814-bd1819e3da-50432164 Behavioural scientist Richard Mann investigated how applause spreads — a useful perspective when watching audiences applaud for up to 22 minutes on the trot at the Cannes Film Festival.