What’s Conformity vs Mob Mentality or Group Think — 5 Individual Filter Actions

As social animals, we are bonded and banded in pursuit of identity, wellbeing and survival but what part does conformity play?

Whatever we see and do is reflected in our choices in our environment … food we eat, apps on our phone, newsfeed, movies, hobbies, etc.

But are these choices based on personal commitments or reflect group think even mob mentality? What are your filters to situations to which you say yes or no?

How can you stop repeating familiar patterns to avoid challenges of mob rule that are not part of reality or future lifegoals?

This pattern has many names … mob mentality, herd mentality, groupthink, or crowd psychology. But the actions are based on the same idea that individuals are influenced by a larger group whether in your community or country affecting business, culture and personal mindset.

How many times has the thought crossed your mind that you may have acted today from a mob influencer’s acting stage?

The Internet Mobs from Bizarre Actions to Cults

There is no doubt that the internet has created global virtual mobs. Many have risen with a limited sense of social responsibility to be influenced by their specified ideals. People lose their moral perceptions and shift their judgements to more negative views of social expectations. Along the way, trolls continue to attack spreading disinformation, anxiety and depression.

Here’s a recent example about the newest bizarre trend on TikTok. Beyond belief that one crazy guy can post “We Are Cult, Destroy Your Limitations, Protest to Society, Be Obsessed With Us.” He can then say “Join Possessed Community” and a mass of followers are generated to crawl around shops and fast food restaurants wearing puffer jackets and hoods. Darcy Jimenez

Perhaps swarming various establishments is simply idiotic, but how many ways can a word like Cult generate eager followers for other reasons?

Social media is the newest example of mob mentality where actions and personal accountability hide behind keyboards and touch screens where anonymity inflates egos and stimulates “like-me” tribes. Herd behavior context is clicks for which companies pay for sponsored content for advertisements.

Young people lose sense of individualism; especially, as teenagers’ self- identities suppress their conscience to do what the adult herd demonstrates.

What’s Conformity Experiment?

Put yourself in this famous 1950’s Asch conformity experiment. Would you change your mind and behavior to match others expectations or even social norms?

You are put in a room with 7 undercover accomplices.

The group looks at 4 lines with the goal of determining what two lines were the same length.

The answer is obvious, but the accomplices purposefully give the wrong answer.

You give the last answer. Would you give the false answer to conform with the accomplices even if the correct answer was clearly different?

‌Results proved to be surprising. One out of 3 real people gave the wrong answer wanting to believe that the wrong answer given by the groups was the best one almost signifying a weakened sense of self where others are better informed.

Can you see how an abstract term like prejudice can be aligned with which lines are similar based on common answers even if wrong?

There are more chances that people get caught up in a group or mob mentality without realizing it. It is rarely conscious or dramatic.

Everyday group mentality makes choices to go to specific places, watch common shows, and hang out with friends. This process makes decision-making easier and maintains your group status without standing out.

Mob mentality can quickly become obvious in public crowds when gathering to protest inaction or injustice, to cheer on a sports team, grieve or celebrate an event or celebrity.

Research shows that only a small population within the mob make informed decisions that other people follow and conform to. The larger the groups the fewer informed members there are.

This type of influence can host dangerous elements that increase as the crowd’s perceptions and actions change to conform even to violence. People find themselves acting in ways that they would not abide elsewhere.

However, it is also possible with organized leadership, to better inform and direct a crowd’s beliefs and actions in a more appropriate way.

Why Turn to Groupthink or Mob Rules?

— If you disagree with a group or feel you are at risk, you are more likely to stay silent. The intimidation might be just strange looks or fear of some kind of punishment.

— If you have nothing in common with one group, you may find yourself looking for or following another herd mentality.

— If you start to feel discomfort in your group because it’s becoming more stressful like overbearing leadership, lack of a process for decision making or social interaction with other groups.

W‌hat are Descriptors of Mob Mentality — Red Flags?

— Feel invulnerable even from risks with nothing to lose

— Quickly rationalize any dissenting opinions

— Maintain status quo through self-censorship

— Believe everyone is on the same page with the same moral standards ‌

Strategies to Avoid Mob Mentality

Going against people in your group is very difficult like being cast out alone on island but there are some actions you can use:

— Be able to describe certain people and their points of view.

— Talk about unspoken rules or assumptions within your group.

— Acknowledge your biases: I used to think that but now I think this.

— Practice decision-making with a chart for positive and negative features.

— Don’t punish people who disagree with more than one opinion.

— Better understand the filters you place on your environment.

Special Filters to be the Kind of Person You Wish to Be

At the end of the day, you must live with your Personal Intentions that matter more than other biases or group think manifestations. In a world filled with multi-dimensional distractions and information overload you alone as an individual must face the impact and pressure.

Start to adjust your personal filters with best intentions for a better future:

Refuse to repeat the same cycles or be a victim in a relationship or work.

Recover, reframe and transform any experiences to remove obstacles, manage conformity and set positive goals.

Recognize red flags and mob reasoning. Chose the role you wish to play.

Train your subconscious thinking to see people and opportunities that meet your future standards.

Accept change is inevitable and tolerable, not to be consumed by others.

LAST WORDS:

There is a basis for conformity that belongs to our insights as individuals in an inclusive social order and world society. It can help to lead to a purpose-driven life and fulfillment.

However, mob mentality is too exclusive, too narrow-minded, too superficial, too wrong-headed to respect people’s individual rights. It is to be avoided, or, at least, managed through personal filters .

Questions and comments are always welcome,

Annemarie Berukoff

“You become what you think about most of the time” — Brian Tracy