by Rick Baker
On Aug 23, 2012
Years ago, I wrote about the mob - people who didn't seem to care; people going about their work without taking much time to think about the consequences of their actions; people who endured the burdens of others as if that was their destiny; people who, without visible question or resistance, accepted the norm and the status quo; people who reacted perfectly to the dominant acts of others then, behind the dominant backs, spent considerable time complaining about their unhappy lots in life.
As I defined it: The mob = the herd. And mob mentality = herd mentality.
I rarely write about or talk about the herd any more.
Yet, recently, while listening to an audio book1 I could not help but recall some of the things I have written about the herd.
Assuming I transcribed all of the words accurately, the audio book stated:
“Self Betrayal:
- An act contrary to what I feel I should do for another is called an act of self-betrayal.
- When I betray myself I begin to see the world in a way that justifies my self-betrayal.
- When I see the world in a self-justifying way my view of reality becomes distorted.
- So, when I betray myself I enter the box.
- Over time certain boxes become characteristic of me and I carry them with me.
- By being in the box I provoke others to be in the box.
- In the box we invite mutual mistreatment and obtain mutual justification. We collude in giving each other reason to stay in the box.”
I suppose people in the mob rarely, if ever, get out of their boxes.
I suppose self-betrayal is the defining essence of the herd, herd mentality, & mob mentality.
Footnote:
-
'Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting out of the Box', The Arbinger Institute, (audio book), (2012)