Herd Mentality Vs. Herd Immunity in the Social Imagination...

We previously posted on Herd mentality. Let's review that: Herd mentality (also known as mob mentality) describes a behavior in which people act the same way or adopt similar behaviors as the people around them — often ignoring their own feelings in the process. Think of a sheep blindly following the flock no matter where they go just because that’s what the herd is doing. And this isn’t just pseudoscience: There have been peer-reviewed psychological studies conducted on the subject.

In 2008, Professor Jens Krause and Dr. John Dyer of Leeds University conducted an experiment where groups of subjects were told to walk in a random path inside of a big hall while not communicating with the other subjects. However, the researchers told a few of the subjects exactly where they should walk.

Guess what happened? They discovered that the people who were told exactly where to walk started being followed by the subjects walking “randomly.” Were told exactly where to walk... Mmm!

From Professor Krause: We’ve all been in situations where we get swept along by the crowd. But what’s interesting about this research is that our participants ended up making a consensus decision despite the fact that they weren’t allowed to talk or gesture to one another. In most cases the participants didn’t realize they were being led by others. Oh wow!

 

Now, is that the same kind of social experience in context of Herd immunity?  Interesting question, isn't it?  What is Herd immunity? We read that Herd immunity occurs when enough people become immune to a disease to make its spread unlikely. As a result, the entire community is protected, even those who are not themselves immune. Herd immunity is usually achieved through vaccination, but it can also occur through natural infection.

Its that last part of the above sentence that we want to pay attention to... "occur through natural infection". That means it passes from one to another naturally. Just as it appears to be with Herd mentality, right?  If we are talking about information then yes. And, on this blog, we are always talking about information reality in the social imagination. 

 

So how could the two be similar in terms of information reality. Again, Herd mentality is about the exchange of information. It happens when one or a couple members of a group behave in a way that attracts others to join in. Herd immunity does the same. How? 

 

It happens in this way. Herd immunity through the 'natural' exchange of information occurs naturally just as it is with Herd mentality. Now, you might think that all Herd mentality is bad but it can be good and bad. Herd immunity is also both good and bad. 

 

Its good because it leads to immunity and bad because through natural infection 'dissemination' of viral information (as it is when a message/meme has 'gone viral') someone can lose rather than gain in that process. In saying that, we realize the same thing can happen in the Herd mentality processing of information. 

 

Though some are walking the right way, that 'right' information can be rejected in order to walk the way everyone else is... just because, it seems that its more likely to be the right way or the better way as in faster or the popular way. Again, you might be wondering how is that like Herd immunity? 

 

Herd immunity doesn't pay attention to the 'right way' either as much as it pays attention to the fastest way possible to circulate what it thinks is 'right' information. This is why, Herd immunity could be argued or could be preferable at least in terms of getting results quicker than long time studies done or research conducted to find a solution. 

 

Herd mentality could be understood in the same way; however, it should not be paid attention to unless its reason for not walking the right way gets results that are better/faster than if the right way was walked all along. Now, that sounds like loopy... Well, Herd immunity is like that too. But, if we consider that any 'right' way to be the fast track, then what is the 'well thought out' slow process of scientific study/research necessary for. Aren't we seeing that now?

Where is the sense in either of these herds; especially, when you hear, "Well, everyone is doing it or going that way... aren't you going to"? Or, "Look, they are doing it, so, I guess we should go along to at least to get along, right"? Or, "I don't want to appear anti something...". Besides, "sooner or later, everyone will be doing it". 

 

Which path are we on/you on? And, who wants to find out by trial and error, right? Interestingly, both "herds" end up in the same predicament in the social imagination. Why/How? No one is outside of either... its all inclusive! 

 

Ironically, most people think that they have a choice or the ability to choose their own way to go; and, no one can say if its the right way or the wrong way... lest they be called a negative charged director; that's jargon for bully. 

 

Whatever... but then again, everyone is in a herd of some kind and if your herd is in charge your herd will attempt to herd the rest. And, every herd has a bull or two.

*scroll down to the next topic and find out what science really is...