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Herders and their Mentality EXEMPLAR
Topic: Herd effect
by Luke, 2020 Cohort
Herd Mentality#
The herd mentality is a powerful social force that encourages individuals to irrationally conform to the behaviours of their group. Because humans care deeply about the opinions of those around us, we let those opinions guide our own supposedly independent decision making.
In practice, the herd mentality is manifested by two tendencies in human behaviour.
*(1) We have a desire to conform with the group, so we frequently change our behaviour so that it aligns with the behaviour of the herd. *
We regularly change our own opinion for the sake of conforming with the attitude of the group. We care deeply about the opinions of those around us, and this can lead us to follow the crowd instead of stating our true opinion.
Solomon Asch devised a series of obvious tests, in which groups of educated students were asked to complete. Actors were told to give false answers, and one unknowing participant would answer honestly. One test asked if a ‘target line’ was closest to three lines of varying lengths. The obvious answer is ‘C’, but the actors were told to say ‘A’. The unknowing participant was then asked their opinion. The results were that 75% of participants falsified their own opinion for the sake of conformity at least once.
Whether you conform ultimately depends on:
- the reputational costs of non-conformity. * the internal emotional burden of conforming and not speaking your mind.
How one weighs these two costs will determine their decision to conform or not conform.
(2) Group membership distorts rational decision making, meaning we do things in a group that we wouldn’t do on our own.
People also refer to herd mentality in situations when individuals descend into radicalism and irrationality when part of a group. This is sometimes called ‘mob mentality’.
Groups with little internal diversification tend to accelerate an individual’s disintegration toward radical perspectives and polarising rhetoric. Each member tries to impress their fellow members with increasingly extreme displays of allegiance to the cause. As group members search for new ways to prove their credentials to their peers, more extreme behaviour arises and what started as radicalism becomes normal.
Groups also add further protection to people who want to be led by their emotions. As like-minded people pool their resources, new possibilities arise. With added protection, individuals feel emboldened to follow their emotions, and do things they wouldn’t normally do on their own. Things seeming irrational or even crazy to do as an individual can seem quite normal for a group. Have you ever seen someone riot or participate in a witch-hunt by themselves?
There is a common saying: you can’t break a stick in a bundle. What that means is that it’s harder to defeat an individual when they are united with a group. It’s also worth noting that you can break another stick with a bundle. Bundles may offer protection, but they are also potentially dangerous.
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Disclaimer#
This content has been contributed by a student as part of a learning activity.
If there are inaccuracies, or opportunities for significant improvement on this topic, feedback is welcome on how to improve the resource.
You can improve articles on this topic as a student in "Unravelling Complexity", or by including the amendments in an email to: Chris.Browne@anu.edu.au
Herd Mentality#
The herd mentality is a powerful social force that encourages individuals to irrationally conform to the behaviours of their group. Because humans care deeply about the opinions of those around us, we let those opinions guide our own supposedly independent decision making.
In practice, the herd mentality is manifested by two tendencies in human behaviour.
*(1) We have a desire to conform with the group, so we frequently change our behaviour so that it aligns with the behaviour of the herd. *
We regularly change our own opinion for the sake of conforming with the attitude of the group. We care deeply about the opinions of those around us, and this can lead us to follow the crowd instead of stating our true opinion.
Solomon Asch devised a series of obvious tests, in which groups of educated students were asked to complete. Actors were told to give false answers, and one unknowing participant would answer honestly. One test asked if a ‘target line’ was closest to three lines of varying lengths. The obvious answer is ‘C’, but the actors were told to say ‘A’. The unknowing participant was then asked their opinion. The results were that 75% of participants falsified their own opinion for the sake of conformity at least once.
Whether you conform ultimately depends on:
- the reputational costs of non-conformity. * the internal emotional burden of conforming and not speaking your mind.
How one weighs these two costs will determine their decision to conform or not conform.
(2) Group membership distorts rational decision making, meaning we do things in a group that we wouldn’t do on our own.
People also refer to herd mentality in situations when individuals descend into radicalism and irrationality when part of a group. This is sometimes called ‘mob mentality’.
Groups with little internal diversification tend to accelerate an individual’s disintegration toward radical perspectives and polarising rhetoric. Each member tries to impress their fellow members with increasingly extreme displays of allegiance to the cause. As group members search for new ways to prove their credentials to their peers, more extreme behaviour arises and what started as radicalism becomes normal.
Groups also add further protection to people who want to be led by their emotions. As like-minded people pool their resources, new possibilities arise. With added protection, individuals feel emboldened to follow their emotions, and do things they wouldn’t normally do on their own. Things seeming irrational or even crazy to do as an individual can seem quite normal for a group. Have you ever seen someone riot or participate in a witch-hunt by themselves?
There is a common saying: you can’t break a stick in a bundle. What that means is that it’s harder to defeat an individual when they are united with a group. It’s also worth noting that you can break another stick with a bundle. Bundles may offer protection, but they are also potentially dangerous.