Posted on 02/14/2008 7:32:27 PM PST by blam
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.
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.
"There are strong parallels with animal grouping behaviour," says Prof Krause, who reports the work with John Dyer in the Animal Behaviour Journal, with colleagues at the Universities of Oxford and Wales Bangor.
"We've all been in situations where we get swept along by the crowd 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."
The work follows another study by Dr Simon Reader of Utrecht University that showed that most of us are happy to play follow-my-leader, even if we are trailing after someone who does not really know where they are going.
"Even more striking, that study found that even when we are shown a faster route, we still prefer to stick with the old one and tell others to take the long road too.
That discovery could have lethal implications when it comes to evacuating a building or ship in an emergency, when people would likely stick to the familiar evacuation route, even if slower than an alternative.
Some people aren’t leaders until they’re thrust into a leadership position.
I became a factory foreman when my boss was seriously injured and didn’t return to work. I didn’t want the job due to the fact that I tend toward shyness. However I took it and realized early on that I needed to get tough to assume control.
Once I started writing people up and even had one fired, my crew fell into line in a hurry.
“In most cases the participants didn’t realise they were being led by others.”
I am your leader, you all just don’t know it. It’s not a nightmare, I control the knobs on your TV set.
Too many people try to escape by going back the way they came in.
Too many people try to escape by going back the way they came in.
Rule # 1: Always have a plan.
Rule # 2: Always have a backup plan because the first one may fail.
Rule # 3: Think and practice REDUNDANT systems!
"This way, comrades, to the gun diposal centers!"
followed by
"Comrades, you are dirty and dusty from your plight; this way to the showers!"
see: THE CROWD - A Study of the Popular Mind by Gustav Le Bon
http://www.amazon.com/Crowd-Gustave-Bon/dp/0486419568
The back jacket of the book mentions that Hitler, Mussolini & others were(are) familiar with LeBon's work, and it is readily apparent that their followers acted(act) very similar to the behavior that LeBon describes.
i.e.: Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups!
Just one of many great points from the author of 'The Crowd':
"The masses have never thirsted after the truth. They turn aside from evidence that is not to their taste, preferring to deify error, if error seduce them. Whoever can supply them with illusions is easily their master; whoever attempts to destroy their illusions is always their victim."
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