English I students had the final day of Lord of the Flies presentations today. The final group looked at mob psychology and how it played a part in the novel:
A mob mentality is regularly made when people are part of a group, and seem to lose their self-awareness, or experience deindividuation. This means they are less likely to follow normal restraints and inhibitions, or lose their individual identity. Groups can get carried away, which could lead to behaviors that a person might not indulge in, by themselves. This can also mean that certain groups could make behaviors that were not acceptable, and turn them to a normal activity. In a sense, it is related to peer pressure, but is only effected in a situation involving a large group, or mob, that is making the influence. This is also referred to as “Herd” or “Hive” behavior. (From student presentation)
Lord of the Flies certainly made this obvious.