SD 5.9

Open Ended

Question:

Would you try to grab the item, or would you avoid the chaos? Why?

Sentence Stem:

At the super sale, I would _ because _.

Multiple Choice

When animals are in a herd, how do they usually behave?

• They separate and go their own way.

• They stay still and do nothing until they all die.

• They stay close together and move as a group.

• They take turns leading each other.

Multiple Choice

What does it mean to "follow the crowd"?

• Making decisions alone without anyone's influence.

• Doing the opposite of what others are doing and trying to be different.

• Watching others but not copying them.

• Doing what others are doing without thinking independently.

Multiple Choice

Why might people follow others in a group, even if they are unsure what is happening?

• Because they always know it is the best choice.

• Because they are bored and want to do something for a long time.

• Because they think everyone else knows what to do.

• Because they are trying to win a game.groupgr

Multiple Choice

What can the reader conclude based on paragraphs 1–2?

• People make the best decisions in crowds.

• Herd behavior always leads to danger.

• Herd behavior causes individuals to follow groups without thinking.

• Most people act based on logic in groups.

Multiple Choice

What is the main idea of the term "herd behavior" as it applies to animals?

• Animals form strong friendships within their herds.

• Animals compete with each other for food and resources.

• Animals stick closely together in dangerous situations for protection.

• Animals only travel in herds when they are migrating to very distant places.

Multiple Choice

How does herd behavior apply to human actions?

• It only happens during natural disasters where humans come together to try and protect each other.

• It describes how people act differently when they are alone.

• It explains why people think carefully in group situations.

• It describes how large groups of people act the same way at the same time.

Multiple Choice

What is a common characteristic of human herd behavior?

• People become more logical in group situations.

• People think independently and avoid following the crowd all of the time.

• People's actions are driven more by emotion than by rational thought.

• People's actions are always beneficial and helpful in groups.

Multiple Choice

Read this sentence from paragraph 2 of Herd Behavior:
“When herd behavior sets in, an individual person’s judgment... shut down.”

Which group of lines from A Wrinkle in Time best reflects a similar idea about loss of individuality in a group?

• “Let’s hurry... Don’t you want to find Father?” / “Yes,” Charles Wallace said, “but not blindly.” (Par. 127–128)

• “Calvin whistled. ‘I wonder if they play baseball here?’ As the boy saw them, he slowed down on his machine.” (Par. 144–145)

• “All in rhythm. All identical... Each clapped. Each child with the ball caught the ball.” (Par. 107–108)

• “It isn’t paper time yet....” (Par. 130–131

Multiple Choice

What can the reader conclude from paragraphs 3–4 about the role of emotion in herd behavior?

• Emotion leads people to create plans.

• Emotion can override logic and drive crowd behavior. 

• Emotion causes people to think carefully.

• Emotion helps people act as individuals.

Multiple Choice

Use “Herd Behavior” and A Wrinkle in Time to answer. 

Which idea is supported by information in both selections?

• People always act with logic and independence in stressful situations.

• Emotional responses help individuals stand out from the group.

• Emotions and pressure from others can cause people to behave in ways they wouldn’t alone.

• Group behavior has no influence on personal decision-making.

Multiple Choice

During a sudden building fire, a large group of people begins rushing toward the only visible exit. Most of them are running without thinking, following those ahead of them. What psychological concept best explains their actions?

• Rational decision-making, because they are carefully planning the best way to escape.

• Leadership influence, because a few people decided the best course of action for the group.

• Herd behavior, because individuals are following the crowd without independent thought.

• Crowd control, because trained professionals are directing people to safety.

Multiple Choice

Imagine you are a new investor in the stock market, and you see that everyone around you is buying a particular stock. Even though you don’t fully understand why the stock is popular, you decide to buy it too. Which of the following best explains why you made this decision?

• You carefully analyzed the stock and made an informed choice about which particular stock to buy at the right time.

• You trusted the advice of a financial expert.

• You were influenced by herd behavior, letting fear of missing out control your actions.

• You were trying to be different from everyone else.

Multiple Choice

During a large protest, the crowd suddenly becomes aggressive, with some individuals breaking windows and damaging property. According to psychologists, what best explains why people in the crowd act this way?

• They have all planned to engage in violent behavior before arriving.

• The group is under the influence of a “group mind,” which makes them act in ways they wouldn’t normally choose.

• Each person in the crowd is independently making a logical decision to cause damage like they are Thanos trying to destroy the universe.

• Police have directly instructed them to become aggressive.

Multiple Choice

Football hooliganism in Europe during the 1980s is considered a classic example of herd behavior because:

• All fans were naturally violent and destructive by nature. They get really upset when their teams lose so they act out violently to protest the other team.

• Fans carefully planned their violent actions before attending games.

• Emotional excitement and loyalty to teams led fans to join the crowd's aggressive actions without thinking independently.

• The violence was caused entirely by poor security measures.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is the best explanation for why a group of sports fans might become violent after a game?

• They all received direct instructions to fight.

• The players encouraged them to attack the other team’s fans and the players also joined in on the fighting.

• Herd behavior causes individuals to follow the group’s aggressive actions without making their own choices.

• The winning team paid them to celebrate aggressively.

Multiple Choice

How does the concept of a “group mind” explain why peaceful crowds can suddenly become violent?

• The group mind makes each person in the crowd feel more intelligent.

• It causes each person to become a better decision-maker.

• It can overpower individual judgment, making people act in ways they normally wouldn’t.

• It makes each person in the crowd less emotional and they eventually don't care anymore.

Multiple Choice

In the context of herd behavior, why might a person who usually avoids conflict become aggressive in a large crowd?

• They suddenly become a natural leader.

• They are acting logically based on their own beliefs and will probably decide to go to Church every Sunday.

• They feel anonymous in the crowd, making them less afraid of consequences.

• They are being controlled directly by someone else.

Open Ended

Question:

How does herd behavior affect people during times of crisis or panic? Provide one example from the text to support your answer.

Sentence Stems:

Herd behavior affects people during times of crisis because _.

One example from the text is _.

Multiple Choice

How is paragraph 7 of Herd Behavior similar to lines 151–152 of A Wrinkle in Time?

151     “What are you quoting from?” Charles Wallace asked.

152      “The Manual, of course,” the boy said. “We are the most oriented city on the planet. There has been no trouble of any kind for centuries. All Camazotz knows our record. That is why we are the capital city of Camazotz. That is why CENTRAL Central Intelligence is located here. That is why IT makes ITs home here.”

• Both describe how individuals use logic to resist group influence.

• Both emphasize how emotional independence leads to rebellion.

• Both illustrate how authority figures or systems manipulate group behavior through propaganda and scripted messaging. 

• Both show how people in power encourage diversity of thought within a society.

Multiple Choice

According to psychologists, what happens when a “group mind” takes over a mob?

• Individuals become more logical and make better decisions when they go to college or a four year university.

• The mob becomes peaceful and calm, regardless of the situation.

• People in the mob are more likely to act in ways they wouldn’t normally choose, feeling less accountable for their actions.

• Each person in the mob becomes fully aware of their actions and their consequences and they all transform into Transformers like Optimus Prime.

Multiple Choice

Why do crowds that form around a protest sometimes become violent?

• he organizers directly encourage people to fight.

• The police force the crowd to become aggressive.

• Herd behavior takes over, causing individuals to follow the crowd’s emotions rather than their own judgment.

• The location of the protest has a history of violence and where someone decides to protest makes a huge difference.

Open Ended

Question:

How does the concept of herd behavior relate to a real-life situation you have experienced, heard about, or seen in another story?