I have constantly been self critical of having a herd mentality.In following education, or career path, or planning a personal life, or going after money(I didn't say making,did I??) ,or even making personal decisions,I must admit that 'herd mentality' and its better-worded sibling 'peer pressure' has often had an influence.I'm sure many of us would concur.
I'm not too sure about the factors that might have led me into the rat race,but am sure most of us are over thinking it,some probably even overdoing it.
Take case A for instance,the case of trying to evade income taxes.It is obvious that we stand to gain the rupees that we evade.However,at least among my peers and friends,there is a constant and often remarkable herd mentality in following what others often do-show falsified HRA slips,taxi bills, and so forth.Apart from the basic human nature of going after incentives,we do have a 'follow the crowd' factor.
Case B,I have experienced herd mentality working even in matters of love.There is this social pressure of being part of a couple,even more so these days.
Case C,I see herd mentality in the share markets which swing wildly between fear and greed.
To conclude,
first of all,at the end of the day,we do have some animal instincts,one of which is the constant need to be identified with the right group(read herd).So,this can be an inherent characteristic.
second,whatever most of our management books say against the herd mentality(strategies talking about unconquered lands and 'blue' oceans),we have seen time and again,hordes of intelligent people(another herd!!) bleeding in red oceans.Don't smart businessmen curb their instincts??
I feel I haven't yet taken a holistic approach on this aspect of the human mind,but this part is intended to start off a debate on the same.Let us take it as a bird's eye view and dig deeper.
Awaiting a part II from smarter folks.
-Padmaraj
I'm not too sure about the factors that might have led me into the rat race,but am sure most of us are over thinking it,some probably even overdoing it.
Take case A for instance,the case of trying to evade income taxes.It is obvious that we stand to gain the rupees that we evade.However,at least among my peers and friends,there is a constant and often remarkable herd mentality in following what others often do-show falsified HRA slips,taxi bills, and so forth.Apart from the basic human nature of going after incentives,we do have a 'follow the crowd' factor.
Case B,I have experienced herd mentality working even in matters of love.There is this social pressure of being part of a couple,even more so these days.
Case C,I see herd mentality in the share markets which swing wildly between fear and greed.
To conclude,
first of all,at the end of the day,we do have some animal instincts,one of which is the constant need to be identified with the right group(read herd).So,this can be an inherent characteristic.
second,whatever most of our management books say against the herd mentality(strategies talking about unconquered lands and 'blue' oceans),we have seen time and again,hordes of intelligent people(another herd!!) bleeding in red oceans.Don't smart businessmen curb their instincts??
I feel I haven't yet taken a holistic approach on this aspect of the human mind,but this part is intended to start off a debate on the same.Let us take it as a bird's eye view and dig deeper.
Awaiting a part II from smarter folks.
-Padmaraj
1 comment:
Good write-up!
My few cents below -
I agree with you that humans do have a "follow the crowd" mentality.
But, dont you think the crowd/herd get formed because of a single or a few individuals?
Hence I would rather like to call it "follow the leader".
Let us consider the instances that you had cited earlier -
Case A - People wouldn't have shown doctored bills/IT proofs until a time when an odd geek would have experimented uncaught.
Case B - A person in your workplace /locality takes a lead by having a successful affair in otherwise conservative and tabooed society. The crowd takes a leaf from his book.
Case C - We have heard a lot about the market kingpins influencing the share markets.
But, off course there are certain instances where our thoughts/ideologies do match that of the leader who thought on the same lines, and a few instances where we follow the crowd blindly.
To conclude,
Herd mentality is not bad as long as it does not rob the individual ideology.
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