Bandwagon effect impacts beliefs on Facebook, Snowden, Zimmerman events

[caption id="attachment_19560" align="alignleft" width="300"] bandwagon[/caption]

Carol Forsloff----What’s the “in crowd” thinking today and how can I fit in?  The bandwagon effect pulls hard on the crowds who waited for the George Zimmerman verdict and fret over Edward Snowden and his status as traitor or hero.  How much of this response is the bandwagon effect, and what is it, according to social science experts?

The bandwagon effect is described as  “the more people come to believe in something, others also "jump on the bandwagon" regardless of the underlying evidence. The tendency to follow the actions or beliefs of others can occur because individuals directly prefer to conform, or because individuals derive information from others.”

"Jump on the bandwagon" is also a term that is frequently used to define similar behavior, dating back from "jump on the bandwagon"  comes from events in 1848 when Dan Rice, who had been a popular clown, entered politics, using his bandwagon as he toured to secure votes during his political campaign.  Now that bandwagon effect is often talked about in politics, music and social media, where people respond to something in the way they see their social group, or favored group, to respond.

Facebook shares have increased in value over the past few days.  More and more investors will follow because of that bandwagon, but experts warn against responding immediately when there is a sudden rise in a stock, or the market as a whole.    Instead most experts remind us that values that increase can also plummet in the same direction, so that steady gains and hedging as well as diversifying is a better trend to follow, going against that “bandwagon effect.”

Edward Snowden appeals to the hero instinct in many young people, who see someone who dares to be different and will do and say what he needs to in order to keep the light on stage.  The response by many is to circle in groups, defining boundaries, exchanging social media highlights and responses, based upon that hero or traitor notion.  But a perusal of the usual and customary Facebook feed finds far more folks cheering on the fellow who is continuing to have international appeal for boldness and escape and standing up against the government.  That response has been a bandwagon effect.  In fact it has been said by writers of the Daily Beast his actions have inspired European youth to train as spies.

And if you are African American or an educated Northerner it is likely you run with the crowd that seeks signed petitions declaring inequities in the George Zimmerman trial.  Zimmerman was acquitted of charges against him for killing an African  American teen.

While we examine our finances and our feelings about news events, it is important to understand the bandwagon effect and how it may deter making an appropriate assessment of a given event.  How we respond often is governed largely by two factors:  your own beliefs and the beliefs of the group in which you belong or hope to become involved.  And once you make up your mind instantly after something happens, it will be hard to change it, given the additional fact that most people will continue to believe a falsehood that agrees with their beliefs even when the truth is made evident.

Clinical depression a core issue in the childhoods of mass killers

[caption id="attachment_17183" align="alignleft" width="225"] Site of one of the nation's most high profile school shootings[/caption]

Carol Forsloff — “Such a sad, desolate, lonely unsalvageable I feel I am,” Klebold confided to his journal. “Not fair, NOT FAIR!!! I wanted happiness!! I never got it!!! Let’s sum up my life. The most miserable existence in the history of time.”A young man speaks of his long-term depression that experts tell us is characteristic of one type of mass murderer.  Dylan Klebold was one of the shooters at Columbine High School, one of the most high-profile cases of mass killings in American schools.

A growing number of people all over the world are diagnosed with what experts tell us is the second most disabling condition, with heart disease ranking first. The escalation of the problem may be part of a growing mental health problem impacting all communities around the world and part of a complex disorder that impacts the lives of many people and that may be a core issue related to the violence in our culture.

Experts tell us that up to 80% of all suicide deaths are related to depression. Furthermore there has been a dramatic rise in depression during periods of stress and economic crises, like the current one, where joblessness and financial problems continue to plague many individuals and families.

Clinical depression can lead to drug abuse, aggression, and negative thinking, characteristics that can lead to acting out behaviors. We are told that it affects approximately 1 in 10 people in the United States and a rising number of children and adolescents.

What is clinical depression? Pervasive sadness is just one of the major characteristics, also defined as the inside form of aggression, meaning that the manifestation of depression can mean increased anger and the inability to modify behavior when under stress. In fact some research indicates that depression is a major factor in the childhood of aggressive and violent individuals. Major depression is considered a risk factor for aggression. Furthermore, a high level of aggression is often a trigger for suicide.

Dave Cullen, the author of Columbine, wrote an article for the Daily Beast where he outlined some of the major characteristics of mass murderers. He examined the research on the types of mental health problems exhibited by these individuals that include three groups that include psychopaths, the delusionally insane, and the suicidally depressed. In fact,three years after Columbine tragedy, the Secret Service reported 78% of shooters had a history of attempting suicide or had suicidal thoughts. Many of these individuals died during or shortly after their killing rampage occurred.

The recent tragedy of the killings at Sandy Hook Elementary School and a mall in Clackamas, Oregon involved young men who killed themselves following their attacks on others. Jacob Tyler Roberts was 22 years old and Adam Lanza was 20. In neither case have experts diagnosed motive or mental illness type.  What they have in common is the combination of mass murder and their own suicides. Cullen tells us most mass murderers believe they will die in the act. Many report at some time of wanting to "get even".

Determining the sequences of issues and the diagnosis of these two young men is unlikely to be early, given the conflicting stories regarding both Lanza and Roberts. As Cullen states: "Insanity or suicidal depression? Anyone who claims they can answer these questions this early is ignorant or irresponsible. But we will learn."

And in the learning, it is imperative that people take note of young people who suffer from depression and the potential for aggression as an outgrowth of its severity, according to experts. For although most people who are depressed are not mass murderers, a high percentage of those who kill others have childhood problems related to it and present a clear reason for quality mental health screening and treatment and early intervention.