herd mentality
Meaning(s)
1. conforming one's behaviour or beliefs to that of the majority
Popularity
Medium
Professional
Medium
Social
How to Memorize
a display of herd mentality
Analysis
To have a 'herd mentality' means to be influenced in decision making by the people around you and your peers as opposed to making rational decisions. A 'herd' is a collective noun for a group of animals such as cows or sheep and this idiomatic phrase means to behave like an animal - following the others instead of making independent choices and decisions.
Social Examples (Advance)
- A small group of protesters gathered outside the building, but their numbers soon swelled as people from the surrounding area came to join them in a classic display of herd mentality.
- Thanks to herd mentality, a company's share price plummeted today when a small rise in sales of their stock led to wide-scale panic selling from alarmed shareholders.
Professional Examples (Advance)
- Herd mentality in the workplace leads to bad decision making and a lack of creativity.
- I prefer to be in a role where I feel empowered to make decisions and to work autonomously. Herd mentality has never appealed to me.