Herd Mentality
Tiger Breedlove
GMC
As human beings, we seem to be the at the top of the food chain solely based on our superior intelligence. We have evolved to a point of self-awareness with a desire to learn and better ourselves intellectually. However, we still cannot shed some of our more instinctual traits, such as our needs, fears, and reproductive desires. Moreover, there are certain psychological traits that are similar to those of the rest of the animal kingdom. One of these traits is known as herd mentality. Herd mentality describes how humans are influenced by their peers to act accordingly, such as following popular trends and purchasing certain items. This form of influence usually occurs within the subconscious part of …show more content…
To reveal the solution to this mystery, one must observe the full effect of the herd mentality throughout history. One such example is the Mountain Meadows Massacre. This event took place in the year 1857 in which Utah Mormons had discovered the wagon family train while on the way to California. The members of the church had been threatened by the passersby so they unleashed for an attack. Unfortunately, they were murdered and buried into shallow graves. In this example, it is apparent that the overall effect of the herd mentality was clearly negative, compelling faithful men to commit murder on innocent men, women, and children emigrants. However, the herd mentality does not always end in violence, or even be a bad thing. The Burning Man Festival is a festival for artists to self-express themselves through selfless means. While this unique example does call for each person to do something individual, the cause is for the whole. It is an event full of artistic expression and culture for the benefit of all. Although its development and enactment is quite radical, the effects are highly beneficial to all involved as it is a time of self-expression converted into an expression of the group as a whole. One of the most popular examples for the herd mentality is the Salem Witch Trials. With tensions high and religion having a strong influence, countless women and men were wrongly convicted and murdered as witches and warlocks. Even though the people who performed these acts were not considered violent or murderous, they committed these crimes because the group as a whole were fearful of the unknown. It is this primal instinct, as well as many others, that causes the herd mentality to have such strong effects, whether they be positive or
Tiger Breedlove
GMC
As human beings, we seem to be the at the top of the food chain solely based on our superior intelligence. We have evolved to a point of self-awareness with a desire to learn and better ourselves intellectually. However, we still cannot shed some of our more instinctual traits, such as our needs, fears, and reproductive desires. Moreover, there are certain psychological traits that are similar to those of the rest of the animal kingdom. One of these traits is known as herd mentality. Herd mentality describes how humans are influenced by their peers to act accordingly, such as following popular trends and purchasing certain items. This form of influence usually occurs within the subconscious part of …show more content…
To reveal the solution to this mystery, one must observe the full effect of the herd mentality throughout history. One such example is the Mountain Meadows Massacre. This event took place in the year 1857 in which Utah Mormons had discovered the wagon family train while on the way to California. The members of the church had been threatened by the passersby so they unleashed for an attack. Unfortunately, they were murdered and buried into shallow graves. In this example, it is apparent that the overall effect of the herd mentality was clearly negative, compelling faithful men to commit murder on innocent men, women, and children emigrants. However, the herd mentality does not always end in violence, or even be a bad thing. The Burning Man Festival is a festival for artists to self-express themselves through selfless means. While this unique example does call for each person to do something individual, the cause is for the whole. It is an event full of artistic expression and culture for the benefit of all. Although its development and enactment is quite radical, the effects are highly beneficial to all involved as it is a time of self-expression converted into an expression of the group as a whole. One of the most popular examples for the herd mentality is the Salem Witch Trials. With tensions high and religion having a strong influence, countless women and men were wrongly convicted and murdered as witches and warlocks. Even though the people who performed these acts were not considered violent or murderous, they committed these crimes because the group as a whole were fearful of the unknown. It is this primal instinct, as well as many others, that causes the herd mentality to have such strong effects, whether they be positive or