Mob Mentality – What Can Be Done? Bottom Line To Better Overcome And Best Avoid

We’ve all been there—caught up in the heat of a Twitter argument, nodding along with family opinions we don’t really share, or jumping on the latest trending bandwagon. That’s mob mentality, and it’s deeply wired into our social nature. Most of the time, we don’t even notice it happening. So, in this article I pose this question about mob mentality – what can be done about it? Indeed, once you understand how group psychology shapes your decisions, you can learn to pause, think independently, and stay true to your values. Also, I’ll provide you tips on how to identify and steer clear of this herd mentality.

1. Mob Mentality – What Is It And Its Causes? 

Mob mentality, also known as herd mentality, is a social phenomenon where individuals in a group adopt certain behaviors or beliefs based on the actions of others within the group. See the definition of mob mentality below:

“a large and disorderly crowd of people, especially one bent on riotous or destructive action.”

Merriam-Webster

Mob mentality can occur due to peer pressure or from the human tendency to conform, fitting in with a larger collective. Further, it is often fueled by emotions and a desire for acceptance. Hence, this leads individuals to abandon their personal values and critical thinking abilities. Consequently, the members of the mob align themselves with the views or actions of the majority. For more on the causes of Mob Mentality, see Unvarnished Facts’ Mob Mentality Examples – Causes.

2. Mob Mentality – Prevent And Overcome By Knowing Its Signs. 

So recognizing the signs of mob mentality is essential to preventing and overcoming this dangerous psychological phenomenon. When individuals begin feeling pressured to conform, or they lose their sense of individuality and autonomy within a group, these may be warning signs of mob mentality taking hold. Hence to counteract this behavior, it’s important for individuals to maintain awareness of their own beliefs and values. Also, practice critical thinking skills. Lastly, seek alternative opinions outside of the dominant group narrative.

Daily, we see countless indicators of mob mentality on internet social media, cable news, and most TV talk shows. To list, see the signs of mob mentality below.

Signs of Mob Mentality

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a. Invincible Optimism.

First, this aspect of mob mentality can lead to a sense of invincibility and optimism that ignores potential risks.

b. Frequent Dismissal Of Dissenting Opinions.

Here mob mentality sets in and dissenting opinions are rationalized away or dismissed.

c. Group’s Moral Standard Must Be Applied To All.

In this case, those caught up in a mob mentality may believe that their group’s moral standards should be applied universally, even to those outside the group.

d. Self-Censorship To Maintain The Status Quo.

Also, it is typical that a member of a mob will self-censor themselves in order to avoid rocking the boat or challenging the status quo.

e. Belief That All Group Members Think The Same. 

Here, there is often a belief that everyone is in agreement and on the same page, even when this is not actually the case.

“Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, and one by one.”

Charles Mackay

Mob Mentality – What Can Be Done To Best Avoid? 

It is true that most people feel this invisible tug to follow the crowd, like a magnet pulling them toward what everyone else is doing. However, a better path to follow often lies just outside that comfort zone. Indeed, this is the space where you’re willing to trust your own compass. Also, I’ve noticed that the people who make the biggest impact aren’t necessarily the smartest or most talented – they’re the ones who were brave enough to question what everyone else took for granted. To list, below are some tips to counter mob mentality:

1. Be Inclusive.

First, to avoid mob mentality, it’s important to include people with diverse perspectives and encourage open discussion.

“Collective fear stimulates herd instinct, and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd.”

Bertrand Russell

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2. Identify Group’s Unspoken Rules And Assumptions.

Also, by identifying and analyzing unspoken rules or assumptions within your group, you can better understand how they may be contributing to a mob mentality.

3. Acknowledge Biases.

Be self-aware. To explain, acknowledging and addressing your own biases can help prevent them from influencing your decision-making in a group setting.

4. Avoid Emotional Decisions.

In particular, practice rational decision-making. Indeed, making decisions based on reason rather than emotion can help prevent the irrationality that often characterizes mob mentality. Specifically, emotions like anger and stress can drastically affect your decision-making. Here you can make decisions you would not normally make or just go with the crowd.

5. Don’t Punish Honest Disagreement.

Unquestionably, punishing those who are honest or disagree with you can create a culture of fear and conformity. Consequently, this contributes to mob mentality. Instead, be curious about dissenting opinions taking the time to understand these alternative opinions.

6. Have Strong Values And Personal Identity. 

Without a doubt, developing a strong sense of personal identity and values helps lay a foundation for resisting conformity pressures from others. Also, sometimes it is just good to pause, and ask yourself if the group’s behavior line up with your values.

Morals Vs Values – Informative Lists Where You Will Really See The Differences

7. Do Your Due Diligence.

Lastly, don’t just sign up for a group or a new trend. First, do your homework and determine why it appeals to the majority and does it line up with your values.

Mob Mentality Examples: The Ways They Occur, Reasons They Happen And How To Avoid

For more on the signs of mob mentality and avoiding it, see WebMD’s What Is Mob Mentality? and Profit.Co’s Herd Mentality: Why Do We Want To Do What Everyone Else Does?. Also for more from Unvarnished Facts, see the latest articles on Accountability, Bias, Culture, and Fear.