Breaking Mob Mentality: Pack Dynamics and Bullying Tactics

Breaking mob mentality might just be the something we need to do to conserve our personal freedoms.

Cancel culture often manifests as a collective response to perceived wrong doing, where certain people unite to publicly condemn or ostracise the target, usually an individual.

This collective behaviour can resemble pack mentality, where people join in without first critically assessing the situation, finding out the full facts or considering the consequences of jumping to conclusions.

In some cases, this collective action can escalate into online harassment or bullying, as individuals vie to assert their moral superiority or align themselves with the pre-established group-think narrative, often with no thought to the individual on the receiving end.

Understanding the bully for your personal resilience

Now, when it comes to IRL (in real life) situations bullies are pretty easy to spot. Trying to tell others what to think, how to act, I’m right (you’re wrong), nothing’s up for discussion and so on. It’s a bore to be honest!

Back in the 1990’s, for instance bullies were few and far between and generally acting from a deep insecurity with the need to pull other people down in order to make themselves feel superior. It was easy to call them out, protect your mate and they backed down easily. That’s the thing about bullies, they aren’t that strong on the inside, hence the need to overexert themselves.

When someone is confident in who they are, there is no need to be loud and aggressive or pass judgement.

I give credence to my late Mumma who taught me that hurtful people are hurting people. By this she meant that when someone spouts accusations, nasty and hurtful comments, passing judgement on others, etc, it comes from a place of hurt inside them. It’s not so much as to say ‘turn the other cheek’ but to understand the way that they behave is a clear representation of who they are, in understanding that it is easier to try to have empathy for them and allows you not to take their words/actions to heart.

Breaking Mob Mentality: The Dangerous Fusion of Pack Dynamics and Bullying Tactics

Fast forward to 2024, the internet has made it possible for bullies to come together in big packs AND loudly force their righteous opinions into the big open space of the online world.

Sometimes speaking so loudly and so often that they make it sound like their opinions are the social norm.

And pack mentality, how does it come about? The need to say or think the same thing, agree with the person to your left and to your right? In short, the human desire to belong but on steroids when that person is feeling disconnected to themselves, their own values and beliefs.

That’s pack mentality so you can see how it can be dangerous when combined with an unhappy, human that is showing bullying tendencies. A whole bunch of unhappy humans looking to pull down another.

Power to true freedom and individual expression

Is there an antidote to this cancel culture?

I would say yes. Kindly, bravely, calmly speak your own truth.

As someone who called out the bully in the 90’s it was relatively easy but I can only imagine the internal pressure and the confusion that would build in a young individual today that felt that the world was trying to speak for them.

They do not.

You speak for yourself.

It’s ok to think differently, in fact, it’s completely necessary for every open-minded discussion that we have more than one viewpoint to consider. The more that free speech and free thinking gets shut down in our society the more we move away from true inclusivity and towards an unhealthy form of totalitarianism. That’s why I believe in the importance of breaking mob mentality for the greater good.

You are one unique person and you have just as much a right to your own opinion as the person next to you.

That, my friend we call “Each to their own”.

It means that I am free to think and feel as I do, so are you, even the bully. It’s a beautiful, freedom lovers creed.

Because in pure contrast to the bully that projects from insecurity, it’s inner strength and confidence that allows another human to believe what they believe and accept that another human sees the same issue in a different way.

Those beautiful humans will be your greatest and truest friends. Loving you for who are truly are and willing to have the hard and honest conversations when needed.

Breaking mob mentality to improve individual freedoms

I hope you’ll join me in breaking mob mentality in the most kindest of ways. We can speak quietly and clearly against these oppressive voices.

Here’s to building each other up and not tearing each other down.

Finding the common threads and respecting our differences.

Quietly and confidently speaking against those that try cancel another fellow human.

Your Life, Your Story!

Much love

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I’d love to hear your thoughts below.