In his final two essays published in the 1915 and 1919, Trotter elaborated the role of gregariousness in human sociality to argue that the sensitiveness to others which emerged from the
herd instinct led naturally to pacifism and internationalism and that an understanding of human association and the possibility of evolutionary social change pointed to a scientific model of statecraft designed to adjust the environment in order to unleash the creative potential inherent in sensitiveness and overcome a rigid class structure.
The trouble with this thinking is it is prone to what businessman Warren Buffett calls 'Mr Market' which can be overzealous and under-zealous as the
herd instinct takes control of the price.
Investors do tend to have a
herd instinct and it may just be that when one sheikh heads for Manchester City, the next sheikh thinks this is a sure thing and decides (quite how, I don't know) that Notts County are the next big thing and he better go out and buy them.
But despite the fact the
herd instinct has much to do with the severe fluctuations on the money markets, investors should have realised by now that past history has shown a large market downturn is eventually followed by a market recovery.
It reflects the unfairness, the
herd instinct, the bullying nature and the "end justifies the means" mentality of so much that goes on in the wider world.
We are always being told that horses are 'flight' animals, who are encouraged to run by the
herd instinct.
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: 'The bank was right to ignore the
herd instinct of the City, urging a higher rate.
LINCOLN 2 BRADFORD CITY 1 THE
Herd instinct for goals put Lincoln on the way to a hard-earned victory.
Throw some unrestrained hotheads into the mix, plus some more determined on direct action, add some nervous and possibly overwhelmed guardians of law, order and authority, season with some
herd instinct, and the recipe is there for spilled blood - as was seen yesterday, particularly at the Royal Bank of Scotland branch in the City.
The current
herd instinct will have justifiable concern if the entire system, the one in which private enterprise, laissez-faire regulation, and globalisation was replaced by something else.
The
herd instinct is very powerful but it is not something that is normally recommended in determining strategy," said Professor Cannon.
It's almost a
herd instinct, in which people can be tempted to buy blind.
