stooge
n. countablen. a person who acts in a way that makes them look silly or foolish, usually to make other people laugh. In psychology, it refers to someone who follows a leader's orders without thinking for themselves.
n. a person who acts in a foolish or ridiculous manner, typically for the amusement of others. In a psychological context, it describes an individual who follows a leader's instructions without independent judgment, often in a group experiment.
The comedian's stooge fell over every time he walked on stage.
In the classic comedy routine, the stooge is the one who constantly makes mistakes while the main character remains calm.
The psychologist observed how the stooge's lack of critical thinking allowed the leader to manipulate the group's decision-making process during the experiment.
Perhaps an abbreviation of Russian студе́нт (studént) [stʊˈdʲent]; the original meaning was “stage assistant, actor who assists a comedian”. It may have been a Yiddish vaudeville term.