Great Article on the “Herd” mentality as it relates to the stock market here.
Brain and behavior studies clearly show that when information is scarce and threats seem imminent, people often stop listening to their own logic and look to see what others are doing.
This is exactly what we have to fear when the grid goes down. This is the sort of MASS PANIC that will be present when people have no TV, phone, internet or other way of communicating due to a massive event. I love the line … “people often stop listening to their own logic and look to see what others are doing”. This explains riots, looting and general chaos.
Be leery of the herd! They will take to the streets and roads when times get ugly. They are going to raid supermarkets, sporting goods stores, pharmacies and anywhere else the herd decides to go. DO NOT GET CAUGHT UP IN THIS. Normal people who would never take part in this type of behavior will be out in the herd. Maybe your neighbors or friends. This is why I preach that you should stay locked down during the initial hours or days of an event. You are prepared (presumably) so stay home, lock the doors load a few magazines and SIT TIGHT. Don’t feel the need to go out and try to stock up on last minute items. You are going to expose yourself and risk your family’s safety if you don’t return.
THE HERD IS OUT THERE!
-SP
Filed under: SHTF, suburban survival | Tagged: herd instinct, panic, survival
[...] Herd Mentality « Suburban Preparedness and Suburban Survival This is exactly what we have to fear when the grid goes down. This is the sort of MASS PANIC that will be present when people have no TV, phone, internet or other way of communicating due to a massive event. I love the line … “people often stop listening to their own logic and look to see what others are doing”. This explains riots, looting and general chaos. [...]
I’ve lived through two different 5-day power outages in the last 5 years, and I was pleasantly surprised by how well people behaved in a minor crisis like that. If you take a look at how most people behaved after say, catastrophes like the 9/11 attacks, most people are surprisingly good to their fellow man.
Maybe what we’re seeing is unique to wall street types? After all, if you’re looking at the behavior of wall street traders et. al., well, that’s a population that’s basically selected for traits like greed and selfishness.
In the event of a catastrophe, I damn well wouldn’t want to be living in a community composed entirely of people like Michael Douglas’ character from “wall street”. Your average person is a lot less selfish, and a lot better behaved in a crisis.
When food runs out on their shelves at home (most people having less than a 3 day supply) and there is none on the shelves, people react totally different. Personally, when I’m hungry, I want to eat NOW! Any crisis of an extended duration (more than a week), will probably cause your neighbors to go from nice guy next door to mean guy down the block!
RW
Excellent article. I wish I could tell you the herd will not be dangerous but they will be and they will move to the drum of fear, panic, and “I want”. You have a video of cops in New Orleans looting. The police will be covering the butts of their family and you will not be included. Gather your family, including hulking cousin Spike who is dumber then a plank but is strong as an ox and hunker down. Practice noise and light discipline, if a neighbor shows up complain how hungry you are. And place heavy furniture in front of the door but leave an escape route. READ ALL THE ARTICLES ON THE WEBSITE AND THINK!!!!!!!
There is something to be said for thinking for ones self. Keeping gold and silver instead of bonds is my way to shrug off conventional thought. I also prioritize getting a good amount of cash before putting money into savings and squaring the savings away before investing of any sort. I know folks who have a good amount in a mutual fund or whatever but nothing on hand except in their wallet and not even a weeks worth of cash in their checking and almost no savings.
The sheep mentality is definitely scary when you’re living in the city. It’ll have to be a long had fall before normal people start attacking their neighbors in massive hordes, though. Stay away from the riots and be prepared to stay in your home for extended periods of time and you should be fine. Have a quality semi automatic rifle and several thousand rounds of ammo on hand just in case you have to dissipate a riot that breaks out around your house.