Humans and the hive mind

[Mr. Twitch]

I have noticed that in high school tend to group together.Sure some groups are noticeably smaller than others but they still exist. These groups all consist of like-minded individuals with one big thing connecting the whole group, often it ends up being things like taste in music or other activities. Those who fail to find a group with whom they can relate are persecuted and are often the butt of jokes and targets for bullies. Now I seriously have to wonder whether or not these basic rules will apply once high school is finished? and if not how can a species change it's social behaviour so quickly?

 

[InnerRebellion]

I think it slightly changes once we reach adulthood. As teens, we're sort of larvae, so we group up with people who think similarly to us, then as adults we try to be more individualistic.

 

[BonsaiK]

I have noticed that in high school tend to group together.Sure some groups are noticeably smaller than others but they still exist. These groups all consist of like-minded individuals with one big thing connecting the whole group, often it ends up being things like taste in music or other activities. Those who fail to find a group with whom they can relate are persecuted and are often the butt of jokes and targets for bullies. Now I seriously have to wonder whether or not these basic rules will apply once high school is finished? and if not how can a species change it's social behaviour so quickly?

Things change as people grow older. In high school people are still finding their identities and sorting out who they are. By the time they hit adulthood, many of them have a bit more of a sense of self and no longer rely so heavily on peer group recognition for their self esteem. Of course, there are the exceptions to the rule (which are what college fraternities cater to) but most people by the time they reach young adulthood are feeling a little more sure of themselves and exhibit less peer-influenced behaviour. I experienced plenty of bullying in high school but absolutely none at University.

 

[RaphaelsRedemption]

The hive mind always exists. And it is more effective with physical closeness, hence the extreme examples shown by rioters and football fans.

All humans feel at a very basic level some need to be accepted by a hive, although many, especially in adulthood, for reasons of their own, reject identification with a hive, and attempt to exist outside its boundaries. Memebership in a hive mind can give some the feeling of safety. For others, it is a sense of loss of personal identity.

The hive mind works on a lowest common denominator level, which means that it demonstrates instincts, rather than reason. The only exception is when an idividual comes along who is strong enough to influence the hive mind. This is the origin of most cults.

In short, the larval stage of humanity, known as "teenagers" are usually well exposed to, and members to varying degrees of hive minds. It is these experiences that usually influence the metamorphosed "adult" human in choosing whether or not to conciously embrace a hive. Of course, it has to be taken into account that some humans never fully undergo metamophosis, and to varying degrees, exhibit larval instincts and behaviour throughout their "adult" life.

 

[Manicotti]

(YMMV) In college, the whole grouping thing is pretty much the same, although there isn't a lot of punishment for not doing so - bullies were never a big deal in my experience at college. Also, it's really hard not to find people you can click with because this time around, you have more say in your educational focus, and you'll find classmates with the same educational interests and generally concordant hobbies and such. TLDR - it's even easier to find friends.

The bitchy high school mentality of social exile also was never an issue for me, because pretty much everyone who didn't drop out after first semester freshman realized that we might as well get along as long as we're going to live in the same neighborhood and eat at the same tables.

I might add that this doesn't really have anything to do with hive minds or memetic behavior, unless you want to play the "social contracts" card; this is just our natural inclination as social creatures. Adolescents are getting their first major experience in figuring out their identity as well as their place in a community of peers, so it's natural to try to adapt both to each other.

I also strongly disagree with the notion that we become more individualistic as we age; I believe it would be more accurate to say that we become even more entrenched in the need for the approval of others, because there's so much more at stake and individuals are nothing in the "real" world without companies and organizations to be affiliated with. If anything, we're better as adults at disguising our codependency as "maturity," nothing more, no matter how crippling the result actually is.[footnote]This poster is tired of "You need to get laid" as a response to identity crises.[/footnote]

 

[Good morning blues]

When you're an adult, you will see that these same things persist, but work relationships force people to pretend that they don't.

People connect over shared experience and passion. There's nothing wrong with that.

 

[Dags90]

I might add that this has nothing to do with hive minds or memetic behavior; this is just our natural inclination as social creatures. I also strongly disagree with the notion that we become more individualistic as we age; I believe it would be more accurate to say that we become even more entrenched in the need for the approval of others, because there's so much more at stake and individuals are nothing in the "real" world without companies and organizations to be affiliated with. If anything, we're better as adults at disguising our codependency as "maturity," nothing more, no matter how crippling the result actually is.

I found this part of your post refreshingly concerned with use of language and clarity. Kudos on you.

I also agree heavily. We're social animals. Chances that the OP comes to the escapist and posts on these forums in large part because it's an English language website(or at least, of a language he speaks). We group with people we have superficial connections to. While speaking English may not mean we share the same philosophies, it's a good start.

You're on vacation in a place where you don't speak the native language, and run across people who speak your own language. Chances are you'll spend a disproportionate amount of time with them solely because you share language.

 

[jackknife402]

Aye, people always group together. It goes back to the old days when we had to build walls around every single encampment we ever created to keep the bad things away. Grouping together gives a sense of strength and stability where when you're by yourself, all you have is yourself and your own designs to further your goal.

Reason why in schools bullies usually pick on people in groups three or more, but they're easily frightened! A nice desk to the groin usually helps, however that backfired a bit and turned me into the school's "psychopath" until I mentioned they had thrown my books out the 3rd story window...kids were still afraid of me though.

Even at an old age the hive mind remains. I work at a grocery store and you can always see little old women group together and clog up every important path through the store. They won't even move if you try to part them. Sorta like cattle, actually I refer to them as cattle quite often...some of them even appear to chew their cud....

 

[clipse15]

I think it slightly changes once we reach adulthood. As teens, we're sort of larvae, so we group up with people who think similarly to us, then as adults we try to be more individualistic.

Well actually when you're older you tend not to care about being either since you have things like money to worry about