If the world, especially the media, has taught us something rather infamous, it is that we should follow the crowd and never disagree or question ourselves. Why? Because why would we want to anyway? It takes a lot of mental work, too much. Or maybe, perhaps, it is deeper than that.
Following the crowd, or Herd Mentality, is a type of psychological behavior that causes people, especially mammals, to make decisions and act based on the actions of others. Scientifically speaking, this phenomenon is our survival mechanism to thrive from a young primate to an older primate. Delta Health suggests that “We feel that by following this [specific] person or group in some cases they will lead us to what we ‘want,'” and that “If one does it we all do it. We do things like those around us.”
Herd Mentality is not necessarily a bad thing. However, it is a whole separate ball-game in the context of modern social media and life.
Herd behavior presents itself in many different ways in modern media such as trends, stereotypes, aesthetics, lifestyles, standards, and so on. If an individual does not ‘follow’ such orientations, they are typically seen as different and an outsider, or ‘living life wrong,’ also highly subject to judgement, and ultimately no one wants to be judged.
These trends are composed by higher influences that set the norm that there is a specific way to live. Whether using only neutral colors in your apartment, adopting the clean-girl aesthetic or doing pilates; otherwise, anything other than the current aesthetic is odd. Over-consuming and acting on such trends tend to fabricate our perspective of life and lead to lack and loss of individuality. Why? It is simple. Everyone is different; not everything works for one person the way it does for others.
So then it begs the question, how can we overcome herd behavior, both as individuals and a society?
Well first, we need to understand that our identity lies within our beliefs, our perceptions, our experiences. Not our as in a state or country or nation, but our as in ‘to each of their own.’ You can look at it as though we are not defined by others’ beliefs and experiences, but by what we go through as individuals.
Second, we need to acknowledge our participation, per se, in ‘following the crowd’ and in turn, build a healthy self-identity– one that stems from our own intellect, not the influence of opinions from people who are not us, who have not walked in our shoes. Wisdom & Wellbeing exemplifies crafting a healthy identity by building genuine relationships with others who better you, practicing mindfulness and self-affirmations, and essentially reflecting on yourself; understanding your rights and wrongs and seeking opportunity in them.
Works Cited
“Building a healthy self-identity.” Health & Wellbeing, Health Assured Team, 20 May 2022, https://www.healthassured.org/blog/building-a-healthy-self-identity/. Accessed 13 March 2025.
Kriger, Boris (Bruce). “The Role of Social Media Algorithms in Reinforcing Herd Behavior While Simulating User Autonomy.” Medium, 11 November 2024, https://medium.com/business-expert-news/the-role-of-social-media-algorithms-in-reinforcing-herd-behavior-while-simulating-user-autonomy-fc2caa6959ae#:~:text=Social%20media%20algorithms%20play%20a,critical%20engagement%20with%20diverse%20viewpoints. Accessed 13 March 2025.
McDonough, Brett. “Herd Mentality.” Delta Health, 10 January 2022, https://www.deltadsm.com/herd-mentality/. Accessed 13 March 2025.
Nauert, PhD, Rick. “What is Herd Mentality.” PsychCentral, 15 February 2017, https://psychcentral.com/news/2017/02/15/herd-mentality-explained#1. Accessed 13 March 2025.
