herd instinct

American  

noun

1. the impulse or tendency toward clustering or acting in a group, especially the presumed instinct toward or need for gregariousness and conformity.

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herd instinct British  

noun

1. psychol the inborn tendency to associate with others and follow the group's behaviour

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Etymology

Origin of herd instinct

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

Major U.S. carriers often copy one another’s pricing changes, a move that behavior analysts sometimes refer to as herd instinct.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 5, 2024

"But as we've seen, at Westminster the herd instinct is powerful and when the herd moves, it moves, and, my friends in politics, no one is remotely indispensable."

From BBC • Jul. 13, 2022

It should be noted that ROE is not impervious to other factors such as overall market sentiment and the herd instinct.

From Encyclopedia.com • Apr. 9, 2018

But this mass operated with a herd instinct.

From New York Times • Sep. 15, 2016

“It’s the herd instinct of corporate publishing. They do what everyone else does,” Blaine said.

From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie