Herd Mentality: The problem lies in "normalizing" almost everything!
- Neethi
- Jul 31, 2020
- 4 min read
NORMAL - a word widely used & perceived both correctly & incorrectly. But, how much of this perception lies on the good side?
To begin with , let us look at this from a bird's eye view:
On a global level, we have various organizations, statutes and treaties acting as torchbearers for bringing a global change; striving hard to make this world a better place.
On a national level, there are various constitutions for different nations, local laws, cultural & societal structures trying to ensure an order and discipline.
On a personal level, we have our social conditioning and self-conditioning; that tries to counter the former (in most cases) .
We are all the by-products of our society and it's culture first. Why is culture considered as an important influence in a person's life?
But first, what exactly is culture? Let's look at a definition considered to be a classic one.
Culture . . . is that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society.
- E.B. Tylor,
In Primitive Culture (1871)
How does a society influence it's culture over an individual? What is the mechanism behind shaping a person's mindset? The answer to all of these questions lies in the term "Social - Conditioning".
The sociological process of training individuals in a society to act or respond in a manner generally approved by the society in general and peer groups within society. The concept is stronger than that of socialization, which refers to the process of inheriting norms, customs and ideologies.
- United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
In simpler terms, Social conditioning shapes the mindsets of individuals in a way that best suits the interests of the society that they live in. These are the notions which are approved by the society and it's various institutions. From a Psychological point of view, you can call this a training session, which often could last the entire lifetime of a person. This training could be imposed on individuals from an age where their minds haven't had enough exposure and are not well-developed cognitively. Often adults too are stuck in this never-ending loop of confirming to their society's standards. Seldom does the question of "good vs bad" or "right vs wrong" arises.
We are all part of a society. We are the result of it's various norms, ideals and aspirations. However, history presents us enough examples of various individuals and groups crossing the boundaries that were pre-determined for them, breaking the rules to seek new perspectives. They dared to choose a path driven by the spirit of curiosity & exploration. They begged to differ from the herd. Many of them were often left wondering about the status quo and this gave them momentum to question their own mindsets. Later on these little introspections & retrospections, manifested into some of the greatest social movements for change.
Despite all of this, we often see a lot of important social and human rights issues being brushed off. Have you heard of someone speaking something very offensive and later brushing it off; defending that these jokes were "normal" or that they were made in the name of "fun"? In these situations, When you start holding a standpoint close to your ethical standards, you would often face a massive wave of gas lighting. And may even be labelled "extreme", because you do not subscribe to or fit into their ambit of normalcy.
This is where herd mentality comes into picture.
Herd Mentality can both be a result of :
Social conditioning based on already existing cultural notions (or)
A new wave of popular culture that's trending.
Especially in this digital age, herd mentalities are manifested profoundly. Certainly, such trends towards the good are appreciable. The unfortunate truth is that, today's times portray a grey picture. In most cases, the upsurge of certain negative mentalities embraced by large groups are turning into the new normal. Welcome to this new world of normalcy! Here, beeps are celebrated with a tinge of abuse and a fair dosage of derogation. The problem becomes bigger when these narratives are accepted in true sense. It no longer remains a word or thought used as humor. Social Media is flooded with evidences of normalizing crimes against humanity that the aforementioned organizations at international & national levels have been endeavoring to eradicate. In these scenarios, we are travelling back the same distance we have struggled to cover, bringing us back to where we started.
Starting at a smaller scale as a cognitive phenomenon called Groupthink, the process of normalization manifests into a herd mentality and in the later stages, might possibly become an accepted culture in itself,in this context, breaching the confines of ethics. A few examples being rape culture, online culture of cyber bullying, disguised gas-lighting, deep rooted class, race and caste differences etc.
Self-conditioning starts the moment a person starts seeking new perspectives, introspects, and applies the new ways that suits one's best interests. This doesn't happen overnight. Even the most inspiring people who endeavor to see the light and change have started right here, at introspection; that later paved way for self- conditioning. Both social & self conditioning are gradual processes, that build up overtime. This process of self-conditioning is a deviation from one's former view to a new reality. This deviation could be towards the good or the bad.
I conclude with this incredible quote;
Champion the right to be yourself; dare to be different and to set your own pattern, live your own life, and follow your own star.
- Wilferd Arlan Peterson
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