Are we exhibiting imitative behavior because of
our social survival instinct?
The power of the herd
A tattoo on your upper arm, posing with a “duckface” for a photo, participating in the ice bucket challenge; thought you were hip? You follow the behavior of others more often than you think. People copy attitudes, opinions and trends, often without realizing it. In other words, herd behavior. Why does this happen so easily? Simple! We are “only” humans and are constantly reacting to our social environment.
One for all, all for one!
We live in a time when individuality seems important. We all try hard to stand out from the rest. You want to be unique, stand out and make your own choices. Yet something turns out differently. In fact, we are social beings who are all too eager to belong somewhere. When we are part of something, we feel more comfortable. After all, people feel safe in a group and are looking for comfort and security. To avoid being “thrown out” of the social group, you sometimes keep deviant ideas to yourself. You follow the group, while your preference actually lies elsewhere.
Conscious and unconscious imitative behavior
Research shows that people fall back on group behavior especially in stressful or uncertain situations. Sometimes this is a conscious choice. Often your brain works on autopilot. The mirror neurons in your prefrontal and parietal cortex play a role in this. They activate automatically when you observe someone. As a result, you are more likely to adopt the same attitude or intonation. This is an important part of herd behavior.
A classic experiment by social psychologist Stanley Milgram illustrates this nicely. One person looked up at a busy square in New York. No one responded. He added four others. The group looked up. Passersby stopped and followed their gaze. Your brain often chooses the safe route: joining what others are doing.
Step out of your comfort zone
Herd behavior often takes on a negative connotation because sometimes your choices fit the group more than your values. As a result, you lose a piece of your identity. Yet herd behavior sometimes helps, for example when groups join together during demonstrations. It is then about joint action.
Want to avoid automatically going along with behavior that doesn’t suit you? Then regularly examine what matters to you. Speak out. Show what you stand for. By taking the initiative, you create space for your own direction. By doing so, you set the tone for others instead of the other way around.
Want to learn how to influence more consciously and persuade more powerfully? Check out the Effective Influencing in 4 Months training course.
Source: Dutch Society of Radiology – Theme Neuro fMRI
