Are autistic people as susceptible to herd behavior as NTs?

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I was annoyed by that too.

I didn't even read the question.

Maybe neither of you understood the answers. People who truly lack *all* forms of herd behavior would probably not be capable of groupthink, ingroups, and outgroups, which exist.

Are we going to be swept along with a crowd - physically? Probably not. In other ways, it does seem possible (or real).

Last edited by coffeebean on 22 Feb 2014, 4:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.

You must not have read the OP because it didn't say anything about lacking all forms of herd behavior.

I haven't known many autistic people outside of this forum, but from what I know of those people and what I have observed in this forum I would say that autistic people are significantly less likely to be susceptible to things herd behavior, group think, mass hysteria, etc. That is not to say that autistic people are immune to or never display such characteristics. However I believe that while herd behavior is automatic and instinctive for NTs, for autistic people it is not. For autistic people it seems to mostly be acquired through trying to blend in with NT society.

I did, thanks. I wasn't responding to the OP, but to one person who said no and two who said they were "irritated at the other responses for missing the question" or whatever. I chose to expand my point of view in response to a vague jab at everyone else in the thread.

But that was not the question. The question was whether we are *as* susceptible to herd behaviour. Not whether we lack *all* forms of groups or cliques.

*as*, not *all*

Last edited by Aspendos on 22 Feb 2014, 6:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I'm not!

That is my final answer.

I hope I have at long last read, understood and answered the flaming question in question.

Thank you very much, if I may say so myself.

I do sort of have herd behaviour. I don't like to appear different. Like some advice I've had on WP before I've had to turn down because it was sometimes something that will make me feel embarrassed or self-conscious, and I will never be talked into changing my ''herd mentality'' views. Like once I was writing a post on WP about disliking loud noises when out in public, and somebody told me that I should wear earplugs when out. I know that person meant well, but I had to say that I feel uncomfortable at the thought of going out with having earplugs being seen in my ears, even if people might not notice, I'd still be conciencious to it. Then somebody else thought they'd talk me out of worrying about what strangers think, but it didn't work. Then someone suggested I could get earphones that look like regular iPod earphones but are really earplugs so that you don't stand out. That'd be the best bet for me.

But anyway, yes I think I do follow herd mentality. That's why I get too worked up about what other people have got what I haven't. I'd really love a boyfriend to be going out and about with and have sex with, or a small group of friends to be invited out with. People often say to me ''but you like set routine and peace, I didn't think you would want to be out and about with people''. But it's the herd mentality I'm thinking of. Also I'd love to have more interesting pictures of myself to post up on Facebook. Again, most other Aspies or elderly NTs will say ''you don't want to do that, that's pathetic!'' But it's what most people do. I guess herd mentality is so difficult to explain.

I'm not one of those people that goes ''yeah, I don't want to be like everybody else, screw other people, I do what I want when I want!'' and then get upset and depressed when I get picked on by people for being so noticeably different.

Sure we can. Aspie supremacy is one form.

I would agree that by percentage there are less spectromites in herds. Is that because the Autistic brain brain makes us less susceptible or the Autistic brain makes it hard for us to communicate in a NT world thus A. we have less opportunity to become part of a herd B. Our bad experiences with herds causes us to have a more negative view of herds ?

I've been to many meetings and conferences. For me, the herd mentality is to sit there and accept what the speeker is saying. I and notable in putting forward my objections in these things, or asking questions that everybody else is afraid to ask.

In street crowds; I'll sometimes go with the crowd. Sometimes out of curiosity, sometimes because it's a direction to go and I have nothing better to do. And sometimes I just look and watch as others move in unison and seem to think in unison.

I remember one time at school we got in a temporary teacher. She was very afraid and rather hopeless. The entire class picked on her until she ran from the class crying. I don't understand what happend there, but I do remember thinking that she shouldn't be a teacher. Somehow everybody (including myself) sensed that she was out of her depth and should not be a teacher.

I don't believe I'm subject to herd mentality generaly. But it also occurs to me that if I did, I probably wouldn't recognise it anyway (it being a subconsious action anyway).

As one of the earlier repliers in this thread, I'm guessing my reply was one of those that was off-topic and didn't address the actual question. Sorry if that was annoying!

Just as an explanation – I read the question, but only felt qualified to answer for myself personally, and not speak for all autistics in general. And I thought this was one of those threads where everyone gives their own answer, and then we see if anything can be determined from the collective responses.

But apparently I misunderstood (which is typical for me!) – sorry about that!

Sorry, I didn't mean to make you feel bad. You didn't do anything wrong.

I just made a general observation about how this thread developed because someone asked what I meant by "No. Next question?" ... which is really all I intended to say on the subject.

Everyone, please feel free to resume discussion.

Herding is fundamentally about acting together as one entity, en masse. It is not about having in-groups and out-groups, or having an "us against them" mentality. It is not about debating, splitting into sides or being against anything. It is just one big herd.

Cliques are based on exclusivity and breaking a large group down into smaller groups (and often pitting those smaller groups against each other to compete for status or resources). People may certainly act out some herding behaviors within a clique, but the underlying purpose of a clique is to distinguish itself from the herd (and sometimes to influence or control the surrounding herd).

Animals herd (or flock or school) to coordinate their movements as a group so they can travel more efficiently. Domesticated animals are herded by humans and dogs, but wild animals also herd together by instinct. They herd so they can travel quickly from one place to another, and evade predators.

When humans herd domesticated animals, it is generally done to make use of the animals as a resource. That herding behavior is instinctive, it does not have to be taught to the animals. Humans simply manage that instinctive behavior to control the animals.

The ultimate implication of saying that humans have a "herd mentality" is that humans have instinctive grouping behaviors that may be influenced and controlled by other humans, and humans may do this to use large groups of other humans as resources.

I think what autistic people do in large groups such as a forum like this, is more like shoaling:

That's just laziness, or habit. My son is diagnosed with Asperger's and he takes the escalator. I'm not and I take the stairs. There may well come a time when I'm not fit enough to climb stairs, and until that time comes I refuse to take escalators when I can take the stairs. Sometimes though, there is no obvious alternative and I hate having to stand still behind people who just stand there, in my way! /rant.

If someone yelled "fire!" in a crowd, and everyone started running, would you run, too, or wait to see the fire for yourself?

If several Aspie's you know told you that a specific NT wasn't nice, would you avoid that NT or see for yourself?

I don't think that responding to a warning of imminent danger is an example of herd behaviour to be honest.