Don't Trust the Crowd

I spend very little time in the financial pages of the newspaper but a heading caught my eye in the Nov. 22 edition of the Washington Post. It was by Bob Frick, Kiplinger writer on "Personal Finance." The heading read, "Don't trust the crowd if you value the truth."



Frick was commenting on the tendency of investment clubs to concentrate on one method of choosing their investments and not tolerate dissent in the group. Challenges to the prevailing opinion are often met with deep skepticism if not hostility. That phenomenon is called "group think" in which he explains, people seem to adandon reason and simply follow the crowd." Psychologists through experiments have concluded that humans seem to be hard-wired to believe what the crowd tells us. Further, tests show that disagreeing with a group stimulates the pain centers of the brain.



That may explain why the prophets of the Hebrew Scriptures spoke of themselves being in agony. Their lonely voices raised against the group think of their day gave them a perpetual headache. And, of course, their criticism of the policies and action of people in high places gave them the reputation of being a headache to those who wouldn't tolerate dissent.



The model for going against the stream of public opinion is Jesus. Following his daring act of cleansing the temple the were a number who observed this demonstration of discernment and authority and as well as other dramatic signs and decided that here was where there was excitment. After describing the event and the crowds reaction the gospel writer, John, concludes, "But Jesus on his part, would not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and need no one to testify about anyone; for he himself knew what was in everyone." John 2:23ff.



It was clear that the crowd is fickle, responding to unreliable whims and appetites. In short an unreliable guide. Especially is this true of a population for whom self-preservation and nationalistic pride is their ultimate concern. It seems this concern develops into a demonic spirit that is extremely difficult to resist or break. Inevitably it is wrong and leads to sorrow and loss.