Overcoming Societal Norms

We humans are herd animals.

Our desires to fit in means that we tend to adopt the behavioral norms of the crowd we are in. This is why the bystander effect occurs. If no one acts, no one acts. If one person acts, everyone does. Instead of despairing that most humans don’t act independently, let’s use our herd instinct to create positive social change. By taking the lead, you can create a new norm of expected behavior. I did this in my neighborhood by waving at people as they drove by. I now have a neighborhood of friendly outgoing folks, because that is now the expected norm. We can do the same thing with bullies. Start acting as if the expected norm is that witnesses will stand up and intervene and see how quickly things start to change. Don’t wait for others to take the lead. Be the leader and create the change that’s needed.