Did you know that anyone of us can get caught up in mob or herd mentality situation? The internet and social media are causing an explosion of mob mentality examples. Thankfully, most of these situations do not get riotous or destructive. This article explains what mob mentality is, when it can occur, what causes it, the signs, and how to avoid it.
What Is Mob Mentality?
Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines mob mentality as “a large and disorderly crowd of people, especially one bent on riotous or destructive action.” Also from the mob mentality examples below, any of us can succumb to mob mentality and we do. Indeed, it is part of human nature. For most of us who get caught up in a mob mentality situation or cause, it does not necessarily result in a riot or destructive action. According to the Frontiers in Neuroscience, mob mentality is caused by our human desire for acceptance and to follow social norms.
Mob Mentality Examples We See Everyday And Throughout History.
There are countless examples of mob mentality. To list, below are examples of mob or herd mentality in order of their destructiveness.
1. The Internet and Social Media.
The internet is a breeding ground for mob mentality. This is because we can easily link up with like-minded individuals and we have somewhat of a cloak of anonymity. Thus, this gives us the freedom to let go of our social restraints.
2. Financial Crises.
You think of most financial crises as being about supply and demand, but there is also a herd or mob mentality to it. Specifically, this is well documented in most stock market crashes, the housing market crash of 2008, and the dot-com bubble crash of 1995 where emotions and mob mentality led to financial catastrophe. Click here for more on financial bubbles.
3. Salem Witch Trials.
Between 1692 and 1693 more than 200 people were accused of being witches, and 20 were executed. This example of mob mentality finally came to an end when the president of Harvard stated, “It were better that ten suspected witches should escape than one innocent person be condemned.”
4. The French Revolution’s Reign of Terror.
Over 50,000 executions by the guillotine occurred driven by mob mentality. In this case, the mob went into a frenzy over social injustice starting with aristocrats, then counterrevolutionaries, and then finally their own revolutionary leaders.
5. The Holocaust.
24,000 members of the German SS “Death’s Head Unit” directly participated in the death of millions of Jews and other undesirables. In this example, even accounting for an anti-Semitic mindset, this was mob mentality in the extreme. Indeed, this was much more than just “following orders“.
6. Popular Restaurant.
If you are visiting a city and encounter two restaurants, you will choose the one with the most people, right?
7. The iPhone or Other Popular Product.
You meet with people at a social gathering and find you are the only one without an iPhone. Thus, over time many of us will eventually get an iPhone to fit in or for status.
8. Sporting Events.
Deindividualization takes place during many sporting events. In this case, people will do things they would never do in other situations. Thus, everyone is part of the crowd.
9. Burning Man Festival.
This annual week-long event in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert is also a large-scale social experiment. In this situation, more than 50,000 people attend and they take on a mob mentality where money is prohibited and clothing is optional to name a few.
10. Black Friday.
Black Friday at its best can be a tribal bonding ritual resulting in good deals. Furthermore as Black Friday is designed to offer a limited amount of products over a limited amount of time, it can become a mob-driven destructive event.
For more details on mob mentality examples, see Top 10 Instances of Mob Mentality, and Herd Mentality Examples.
Mob Mentality Examples – Causes.
When we are within a large group of people, we act differently. Indeed, this is our human nature. So what is it about being in a group that causes us to act differently and in some cases resort to a mob mentality? Specifically, Nicola Davies in HealthPsychologyConsultancy’s The Psychology of Mob Mentality offers an excellent explanation of the causes of mob mentality. To list the causes, see below:
- Deindividuation. When people are part of a group, they experience a loss of self-awareness
- Lose Individual Identity. When people are part of a group, they can lose their sense of individual identity
- Heightened Emotions. Being part of a group can lead to heightened emotional states, be that excitement, anger, hostility, etc.
- Acceptability. Behaviors that are usually seen as unacceptable become acceptable when others in a group are seen carrying them out
- Anonymity. People feel anonymous within a large group, which reduces their sense of responsibility and accountability
- Diffusion of Responsibility. Being part of a group creates the perception that violent or unacceptable behavior is not a personal responsibility but a group one
- Larger the Group. The larger the group or crowd, the more likely there will be deindividuation and diffusion of responsibility
What are the Signs of Mob Mentality And How to Avoid It?
What we need is some good advice on the signs of mob mentality so that we can stop it before it gets out of hand. Also, what are some tips on how to avoid a mob mentality? For answers, see Unvarnished Facts’ Mob Mentality – What Can Be Done Bottom Line To Better Overcome And Best Avoid for a list of signs of mob mobility and a list of things you can do to avoid this type of behavior.
How Best To Avoid Mob Mentality. Whether you realize it or not, we can all fall prey to mob mentality. For instance, we encounter this groupthink daily on social media, news outlets, during family discussions, and even among friends. So, with mob mentality – what can be done about it? Click here, to explore the nature of mob mentality, the significance of recognizing its symptoms, and advice on how to steer clear of the herd mentality. Particularly, get tips to help you avoid falling into irrational mob behavior that contradicts your true self.
Also from Unvarnished Facts, see Examples of Ideology Past to Present, Political Tribalism In America, and Fear Mongering Examples.
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