People are gregarious by necessity. Since the days of the first cave dwellers, humans-hairless, weak, and helpless save for cunning-have survived by joining together in groups; knowing, as so many other edible creatures have found, that there is protection in numbers. And that knowledge, bred in the bone, is what lies behind mob rule. Because to step outside the group, let alone to stand against it, was for uncounted thousands of years death to the creature who dared it. To stand against a crowd would take something more than ordinary courage; something that went beyond human instinct.
Humans are inherently social beings, a trait that has been essential for survival since ancient times. From the earliest cave dwellers, individuals recognized that forming groups provided safety and security against threats. This instinct to seek companionship and community has been deeply ingrained in human nature, as being part of a collective helps ensure protection and resources necessary for life.
This necessity for group cohesion explains the phenomenon of mob rule, where individuals may follow the crowd rather than stand alone. Throughout history, defying the group was often perilous and could lead to isolation or death. Thus, standing against a crowd requires extraordinary bravery that surpasses basic human instinct, highlighting the complex interplay between social behavior and individual courage.
