herd instinct


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instinct

 [in´stinkt]
a complex of unlearned responses characteristic of a species. adj., adj instinc´tive.
death instinct Freud's concept of an unconscious drive toward dissolution and death, in opposition to the life instinct.
herd instinct the instinct or urge to be one of a group and to conform to its standards of conduct and opinion.
life instinct Freud's concept of all the constructive tendencies of the organism aimed at maintenance and perpetuation of the individual and species, in opposition to the death instinct.

herd in·stinct

tendency or inclination to band together with and share the customs of others of a group, and to conform to the opinions and adopt the views of the group.
Synonym(s): social instinct

herd instinct

Etymology: ME, heord + L, instinctus, impulse
the basic need of social animals, including humans, for the companionship of peers and a tendency to find compatibility with the behavioral standards of others in the group.

herd in·stinct

(hĕrd in'stingkt)
Tendency or inclination to band together with and share the customs of others of a group, and to conform to the opinions and adopt the views of the group.

instinct

a complex of unlearned responses characteristic of a species.
herd instinct
the instinct or urge to be one of a group and to conform to its patterns of behavior.
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References in periodicals archive ?
In his 'bestseller' The New Psychology and Its Relation to Life, published in 1920 the botanist George Arthur Tansley took up the argument that the herd instinct was a primary factor in human association and associated it with the tender instinct, as 'the hope of humanity'.
'The tender instinct is the hope of the world': human feeling and social change before empathy
As such, real assets are less prone (but not immune from) the herd instinct driving prices up or down.
Balance real and financial assets to maintain a healthy portfolio
The herd instinct is always strong in punters and, with the usual motley crew of TV prats to guide them, we can expect plenty of value on the exchanges, particularly in running.
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Thus, there was nothing to dig up against the administration, and the herd instinct in the media never was activated.
The African killing fields; you heard all about the Ethiopian famine. Here's the story that President Reagan, relief groups, and the media didn't tell you
There is a malevolent herd instinct at work, most noticeably at Westminster, to stuff Labour.
Wake up! Dave's a Maggie in disguise
In times of panic markets are also driven by sentiment and herd instinct but they should recover when confidence returns.
Investors take stock of declining market
Goat facts:A goat can produce up to nine litres of milk a day Goats more commonly have twins than a single kid Both male and female goats can have beards Goats are very sociable animals, with a strong herd instinct.
Goat numbers soar to meet demand for dairy products
Horses with his tendency to idle do so partly as a result of the herd instinct and partly because they have already fulfilled the command to run away from their rivals.
Falbrav wins like a champion, but only just; James Willoughby on why Falbrav's two-length Juddmonte win was better than a five-length victory
Without enough food and with the strong herd instinct which exists in every bovine, I would have thought that she would have tried to get back to some other animals.
The great escape; How Bluebell diced with death to avoid the dinner plate
Derek Simpson of Unite said: "We will not stand by and allow a herd instinct to take effect.
Union threat at pension cuts; EMPLOYMENT: yourmoney
Politicians usually run ahead of this herd instinct thinking that if they are not seen to act quickly and decisively then they will not be reelected.
Regulation is not the answer to nation's ills
On rarer occasions still something akin to a herd instinct will develop and everyone will follow a leader.
BETWEEN THE LINES: Guessing games put us on a level playing field

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