Scientists - People are like sheep

[zengrifter]

Crowds 'pick leaders to follow'

By Roger Highfield, Science Editor
Last Updated: 11:01pm GMT 14/02/2008

People in crowds behave just like sheep, scientists claim, by blindly following one or two people who seem to know where they are going.
Like ants, humans are easily led

Researchers at Leeds University believe their findings could have important applications, notably in the management of disasters.
The study found that people, like sheep, can be easily led

The team, led by Prof Jens Krause, conducted a series of experiments in which volunteers were told to walk randomly around a large hall without talking to each other. A select few were then given more detailed instructions.

The results published today show that it takes a minority of just 5 per cent of what they called "informed individuals" to influence the direction of a crowd of a minimum of 200 people. The remaining herd of 95 per cent follow without realising it.

MORE- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/mai...cisheep114.xml

[aslan]

It reminds me of when I was in Germany in the mid-sixties. On one occasion, two drunks were involved in comical antics in the middle of the train station, loudly carrying on. It was only a short time before a throng of people gathered around to witness the nonsense. You would have thought that the Pope had just arrived, or the Beatles. Make a loud noise and the people will gather! Herd instinct. That's what it was. One watches, they all have to watch.

The second time was when we drove to a Mosel town in Germany to investigate a Wine Fest being celerated there. When we drove into town we were met by a hugh crowd that stretched from side to side of the street and a block deep. At the front of the mob were two ot three GIs who were alternately trying to reason with the mob and ducking the grasp and punches and projectiles of the leading fringe of the mob. We backed up and drove around the block. One of the GIs had escaped down a side street and met us there. He explained that one of the GIs had asked a Fraulein to dance and had propositioned her. Apparently, she had reported his behavior to her father who was outraged that his darling virgin had been so accosted. Suddenly, the GIs were under attack and as they fled the building of the dance, the entire population of the town which was attending the dance poured out on the street behind them with the father as one of the mob leaders. It was frightening to behold. As I recall, we were only able to recue the one GI; the others had to fend for themselves, but they finally got away with only bruises and body aches.

I believe that Germans have a herd instinct. I witnessed it there as I have never witnessed it anywhere else. Maybe it is a product of nationalistic pride. I don't know. It does go some part of the way to explaining a Christian nation suddenly following the Fuhrer. I wonder if Americans are just as vulnerable given the right circumstances? I hope not.

[sagefr0g]

the principle works for selling stuff also.
got a yard sale going with no action? just get in amongst your stuff for sale and rustle it around a bit. wont be long till a crowd will form.

[zengrifter]

See also - Welcome to SHEEPLE-LAND!