Herd mentality

Don Quixote

Don Quixote

cancer survivor
Contributor
Humans are predators. What we like to forget is that we are also prey. We still tend to follow the herd when frightened enough. As such, people that like to drive us in certain directions use fear.

Security is a good way to drive the herd. Just threaten our security and watch us bunch up and run. Or suggest that we are missing out on something we want, like money, and watch us fork over our money to someone that says they can make us a lot.

Politicians have understood this and the more successful the politician or fellow human the easier we are to drive.

There are also the bellwethers. Those that for some unknown reason the herd chooses to lead. In humans it is usually someone with a great deal of charisma.
Examples of drivers are Goebells and Rove. Examples of bellwethers are Clinton and Obama.

The major problems with democracies are bellwethers and drivers.

Oh well
 
the herd mentality can be most readily seen concerning the gun control movement. Those that don't WANT to defend themselves, force others to the same vulnerability making it the 'safety in numbers' approach.
 
Good post DQ. However herd mentality extends into many other aspects of our life.
Crowds at sporting events rioting or stampeding and crushing people.
Crowds at the opening of a super sales event like cabbage patch dolls riioting and trampling people.

Then there is religion and politics....
 
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