![]() ![]() Ergo, a large group of people is more likely to think that storming the electronics aisle of a supermarket is an acceptable way to behave, and those caught up in the group lack the self-awareness to realise how ludicrous this it, so it actually happens. Groups of people often tend to behave and think in ways that are more extreme than those of individuals. Being surrounded by other people in a state of high arousal causes the same thing to happen to us, and we end up unknowingly joining in via the process of deindividuation, where we lose self awareness and adherence to social norms. Photograph: Image Source Plus / Alamy/Alamyīeing part of a large frenzied mob has several alarming effects on people, hence the phrase “ mob mentality”. Be aware of the groupīeing part of a large group can have some serious effects on your thinking (and give you a sore neck, judging by this picture). All of these conditions can usually be met when queuing outside a superstore in the rain for no logical reason, so that’s lucky. It’s possible to stay awake in a more “healthy” manner by staying in well-lit environments, staying hydrated, and engaging in cognitively demanding activities such as detailed conversations. Caffeine is an obvious option, but this has potential side-effects when taken to excess. There are many ways to stay awake without causing too much harm to yourself. ![]() Perhaps it’s no surprise that Black Friday shoppers seem so irrational and quick to anger: they’ve been up all night. But sleep deprivation has many negative effects on people, the most well-known of which are irritability and stress, and poorer concentration. If you wish to get the same opportunity, you’ll have to do the same. ![]() Photograph: Alamyīlack Friday sales may begin at usual shopping hours or just before, but such is the “enthusiasm” of shoppers that people tend to queue outside all night, in order to be the first to get the best deals. This analogy does break down a bit admittedly, but not as much as social norms on Black Friday, so I feel it’s warranted.Ĭoffee is just one way of staying alert on Black Friday. It’s like piranhas attacking a cow carcass, except instead of a cow it’s a discount flatscreen TV, and instead of teeth the piranhas have credit cards. ![]() With the mainstream media clearly on board, this concerted (and clearly effective) effort to encourage shopping and spending has increased every year to the point where Black Friday shopping has become a genuinely dangerous affair, with actual violence breaking out already today (at the time of writing, it’s not even 9am yet).įunctioning humans are seemingly reduced to the mentality of swarming creatures mindlessly desperate to obtain something. It’s basically the day after Thanksgiving in the States when the Christmas shopping period supposedly begins, where most stores offer sales and deals to encourage people in. If you’ve been living in a small cave in the middle of the wilderness with only a limited 3G signal for the past few years, you may not know what Black Friday actually is. Traditionally an American occasion, Black Friday is fast spreading overseas, and is seemingly already well entrenched here in the UK. ![]()
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