Our Choices And The Herd
Photo by Franz Nawrath on Unsplash
When you’re in the midst of it, the power of the herd is almost unavoidable. When it moves in a particular direction, the pull to do the same - to move with it - is relentless.
Aside from its very momentum, there’s a seemingly rational justification as well. All those folks couldn’t possibly be wrong, could they?
In many situations, this ‘strategy’ is useful - situations of public safety, for example, where we might see others taking steps to avoid danger, or when we join a particular social group and we dress or talk or behave similarly in order to fit in. The social proof has value within those contexts.
But there are plenty of times when the herd needs to be questioned. Situations when the choices of the masses aren’t necessarily in our best interests. Situations when the social pressure develops over time, so to speak.
Teenagers not engaging in areas of personal interest because their peers would laugh at them. Kids in college pursuing specific career choices because those are the professions ‘in vogue’. Adults not making different personal choices because their community would frown upon them.
I could give plenty of examples, but you’ve probably already thought of several yourself - examples from your own life and/or those you know and love. It’s a reality of life.
But it’s a reality that we need to learn to fight. To consciously think about our choices and options. To weigh them against our own personal criteria of what is good and what is right for us. To choose what we need and want to do even when others are doing something different. And then to actually go do it, even when it goes against the grain (and yes, even when it costs us in some way).
I accept this isn’t easy to do. It’s actually incredibly difficult, even harder when you’re young and peer pressure is a reality and hard to go against. This is why our choice of peers is so important. This is why there’s such a need for positive role models for them. This is why mentors (ideally parents) play such a critical role.
But those same things also apply when we’re adults. Who we hang out with, who we go to for advice, who we listen to. All of that matters. As an adult, we’re also better equipped to actually then decide, and do what we want. And we shouldn’t hesitate to do so, even when it goes against the herd.
