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Sheep in human clothing - scientists reveal our flock mentality (2/15/2008)
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| People will naturally 'flock' when they are unsure of the direction to travel. |
Have you ever arrived somewhere and wondered how you got there? Scientists at the University of Leeds believe they may have found the answer, with research that shows that humans flock like sheep and birds, subconsciously following a minority of individuals.
Results from a study at the University of Leeds show that it takes a minority of just five per cent to influence a crowd's direction – and that the other 95 per cent follow without realising it.
The findings could have major implications for directing the flow of large crowds, in particular in disaster scenarios, where verbal communication may be difficult. "There are many situations where this information could be used to good effect," says Professor Jens Krause of the University's Faculty of Biological Sciences. "At one extreme, it could be used to inform emergency planning strategies and at the other, it could be useful in organising pedestrian flow in busy areas."
Professor Jens KrauseProfessor 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."
Other experiments in the study used groups of different sizes, with different ratios of 'informed individuals'. The research findings show that as the number of people in a crowd increases, the number of informed individuals decreases. In large crowds of 200 or more, five per cent of the group is enough to influence the direction in which it travels. The research also looked at different scenarios for the location of the 'informed individuals' to determine whether where they were located had a bearing on the time it took for the crowd to follow.
"We initially started looking at consensus decision making in humans because we were interested in animal migration, particularly birds, where it can be difficult to identify the leaders of a flock," says Professor Krause. "But it just goes to show that there are strong parallels between animal grouping behaviour and human crowds."
This research was funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and was a collaborative study involving the Universities of Oxford and Wales Bangor. The paper relating to this research, entitled Consensus decision making in human crowds is published in the current issue of Animal Behaviour Journal.
Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by the University of Leeds
Comments:
| 1. |
Odis |
2/15/2008 2:09:08 PM MST |
Very interesting study. I have read about experiments similar to this one and they always intrigue me. I wonder if eventually there will be specified "leaders" in public places subconsciously directing the masses. It would be interesting.
"But it just goes to show that there are strong parallels between animal grouping behaviour and human crowds."
I also like it when people separate themselves from the animal kingdom by using indifferent phrases.
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| 2. |
Carmen |
2/15/2008 4:31:30 PM MST |
When walking in crowded areas, it's most often simpler to follow the crowd even if this means taking a path that is slightly longer. Taking the most efficient (shortest) path could involve walking against a tide of people headed in the opposite direction :) |
| 3. |
Avi |
2/15/2008 10:34:06 PM MST |
Does it also follow that uninformed persons who ACT as though they are informed cause the same result?
Might this explain lemmings hurnling themselves into the sea, and Yanks electing G. W. Bush TWICE?
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| 4. |
Ken |
2/16/2008 12:00:57 PM MST |
It isn't entirely clear whether we Yanks elected G W Bush at all. Quite a lot of us don't know anyone who voted for him. |
| 5. |
apex |
2/17/2008 1:14:10 PM MST |
Clearly the inbreeding south |
| 6. |
MIlarepa108 |
2/17/2008 7:32:32 PM MST |
I myself took part in this very experiment, ha ha! It was really fun! Even TV was there! |
| 7. |
Kenkire |
2/18/2008 12:45:08 AM MST |
Avi: Lemmings never and have never "hurdled themselves into the sea"
Oh and The Shrub cheated.
No one voted him in.
Watch Michael Moore's documentary on him and you'll see what really happened.
Wiki on lemmings
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemming#Myths_and_misconceptions
FTA
"The suicide myth was further propagated by Walt Disney documentary White Wilderness in 1958 which includes footage of lemmings migrating and running head-long over a ledge. An investigation in 1983 by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's Brian Vallee, showed that the Disney film makers faked the entire sequence using imported lemmings (bought from Inuit children), a snow covered turntable on which a few dozen lemmings were forced to run, and literally throwing lemmings into the sea to show the alleged suicides"
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| 8. |
Mika |
2/18/2008 12:29:05 PM MST |
interesting. but, of course, in the experiments the followers were told to walk randomly while in real-life scenarios, people will most likely have their own destinations to direct them. so it would be interesting to see how this would play out differently in a real-life situation. |
| 9. |
Chad |
2/24/2008 2:46:13 PM MST |
Does that include a mall or a group of people going to one event? What about the Wal-Mart syndrome where everyone piles through the automatic doors only until one or two choose to go through the manual doors? |
| 10. |
Lonewolf |
4/29/2008 1:21:20 AM MST |
This is why i became a satanist. I used to be a stupid lamb until i fully opened my third eye. Most rich and powerfull people are actually satanist. Like freemasons and like. We follow the goat wich walks for himself and makes his own decisions.
I hope everyone becomes a goat, ore else i feel sorry for them. Because our leaders are making them walk straight in to hell.
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| 11. |
Alexander Fürstenberg |
7/30/2009 1:18:49 PM MST |
@Carmen: You wouldn't have that problem if you were a _dominant_ male. For me slight changes in appearance made a huge difference in a pedestrian precinct. Usually I have to get out of the way of other people. |
| 12. |
brains |
8/18/2009 3:27:11 PM MST |
interesting information, but how can i use it to make a million dollars? |
| 13. |
Mithotyn |
8/19/2009 10:52:54 AM MST |
People are like sheep in many more ways than walking. |
| 14. |
vedapushpa |
8/21/2009 1:13:32 AM MST |
If one shall willingly follow the 'Great Shepherd' the Christ/God or the Hindu Indian 'CowHerd- Krishna" .. then such 'Sheep and Cow'... shall definitely Become and Be the Best of Humans ... Strong and Sensitive !!!!! |
| 15. |
Inquisitor |
8/24/2009 5:20:28 AM MST |
So, essentially, what this shows is... the fact that in a disorganized social interaction, a person who steps up as a leader will be followed?
Very new and shocking knowledge there folks.
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