Are You a Sheeple?
This article discusses the behaviour of 'sheeple'—a blended word or portmanteaux that encompasses the words 'sheep' and 'people'. Sheeples are commonly docile, compliant, easily persuaded, and inclined to follow the crowd. Through a comparison with the herding behaviour of animals, the article observes how large numbers of people may act at the same time and in a similar fashion. It suggests that Homo sapiens are hardwired to imitate others, and, in stressful situations, do not independently seek out the information required to determine the correct course of action; with their fight or flight mechanism in overdrive, these sheeple simply follows the crowd. This article suggests that sheeple behaviour is triggered by a variety of neurological processes in the brain on detecting danger. In this context, it is pointed out that the catalysts signalling the need for action can take many forms, and that any perceived threatening situation, be it real or imaginary, can cause sheeple behaviour. Consequently, it is suggested that apart from facing physical danger, situations such as social disapproval can provoke the brain's danger circuits. Moreover, the article suggests that it is not only neurological processes that contribute to sheeple behaviour, but that child development also plays a role. Here, reference is made to Homo sapiens’ search for protective figures and other feelings that originate from childhood. This article also highlights that sheeple behaviour is ubiquitous, found everywhere from the financial sector to outbursts of mob violence, political movements, religious gatherings, sporting events, riots, strikes, and even in the context of consumer preferences such as fashion trends. In each of these instances, the individual adopts an opinion based on what other people say and do without bothering to consider the evidence for themselves. The article goes on to consider the potentially dark side of sheeple behaviour in situations where individual judgment and opinion-forming processes are suppressed, and sheeples automatically follow a group’s movement and behaviour. And as can be seen from the madness of crowds, this behavioural pattern can cause an effect, whereby reactions ripple out, influencing the emotions of other members of the group, including their dynamics and individual cognitions. Essentially, a process of social contagion occurs, meaning a tendency to automatically mimic and synchronize expressions, vocalizations, postures, and movements with those of other people, contributing to behavioural convergence. It is also pointed out that people with an understanding of sheeple dynamics can easily exploit this human behavioural pattern. This is particularly the case in the context of leadership, where Homo sapiens’ sheeple-like tendencies offer a great opportunity for demagogue-like leaders to rise to power. It suggests that charismatic leaders will be the obvious outlets in capturing the irrational needs, desires, and fears of groups of people. The final section of this article touches on the need to be vigilant to this human tendency. It is suggested that it is all too easy to regress into sheeple-like behaviour without even being aware of it. The suggestion is made, however, that fostering independent thought will reduce the risk of the destructive elements of sheeple behaviour, but it will remain a challenge distinguishing between the wisdom and the madness of crowds
Year of publication: |
2022
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Authors: | Kets de Vries, Manfred F.R |
Publisher: |
[S.l.] : SSRN |
Saved in:
freely available
Extent: | 1 Online-Ressource (18 p) |
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Series: | |
Type of publication: | Book / Working Paper |
Language: | English |
Notes: | Nach Informationen von SSRN wurde die ursprüngliche Fassung des Dokuments October 10, 2022 erstellt |
Other identifiers: | 10.2139/ssrn.4243531 [DOI] |
Source: | ECONIS - Online Catalogue of the ZBW |
Persistent link: https://www.econbiz.de/10014244078
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