13/08/2021
We're all aware that people can act like sheep, following the herd mentality. Research has found this to be literally true. In a series of experiments, scientists have determined that all it takes is a minority of 5% to influence the remaining 95% subconsciously.
Sheep In Human Clothing: Scientists Reveal Our Flock Mentality.
Professor Krause, with PhD student John Dyer, conducted a series of experiments where groups of people were asked to walk randomly around a large hall. Within the group, a select few received more detailed information about where to walk. Participants were not allowed to communicate with one another but had to stay within arms length of another person.
The findings show that in all cases, the ‘informed individuals’ were followed by others in the crowd, forming a self-organising, snake-like structure. “We’ve all been in situations where we get swept along by the crowd,” says Professor Krause. “But what’s interesting about this research is that our participants ended up making a consensus decision despite the fact that they weren’t allowed to talk or gesture to one another. In most cases the participants didn’t realise they were being led by others.”
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