You've been there. Everyone starts running toward an exit, and before you even smell smoke or hear a bang, your feet are moving. It's gut instinct. It’s also exactly what the ABC News article "Why Do People Follow the Crowd?" explores on the CommonLit platform. If you're looking for Why Do People Follow the Crowd CommonLit answers, you’re probably trying to wrap your head around why humans act like literal sheep sometimes. Honestly, it’s not just about being "weak-willed." It’s biology.
We like to think we’re independent thinkers. We aren't. Not really.
Dr. Gregory Berns, a psychiatrist at Emory University, actually hooked people up to fMRI scanners to see what happens when we go against the grain. It turns out, social isolation feels physically painful to the brain. When the "Why Do People Follow the Crowd?" text talks about the Asch experiment, it’s highlighting a terrifying truth: people will look at a line that is clearly shorter and call it longer just because five other people said so first.
Understanding the CommonLit Assessment Focus
When you're digging into the Why Do People Follow the Crowd CommonLit answers, the questions usually target the central idea of the text. The core argument is that "herd mentality" is an evolutionary survival tactic that has become a bit of a liability in the modern world.
Think about the "Asch Experiment" mentioned in the text. Solomon Asch found that 75% of participants gave at least one wrong answer just to fit in with the group. That’s a massive number. If you're answering questions about the author's purpose, remember that the text aims to show how the desire for social acceptance overrides our perception of reality.
CommonLit often asks about the relationship between "the herd" and "the individual." In this specific article, the relationship is tense. The individual often sacrifices their own sensory input—literally what their eyes are seeing—to maintain group harmony.
The Fear of Standing Out
Why does it hurt to be different?
When Berns conducted his brain scans, he noticed something wild. When people disagreed with the group, the part of their brain called the amygdala lit up. That’s the "fear center." Standing out from the crowd feels like a threat to your survival. Basically, your brain treats a social disagreement the same way it treats a tiger jumping out of the bushes.
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This explains why kids in school dress the same or why stock market bubbles happen. If everyone is buying crypto or a specific tech stock, your brain screams that you’re "missing out" or, worse, being "left behind" by the tribe.
Breaking Down the Key Questions
If you are stuck on the Why Do People Follow the Crowd CommonLit answers regarding the Dr. Berns study, focus on the results of the fMRI. The study proved that those who followed the group didn't just pretend to agree; their brains actually changed how they perceived the images. They weren't lying to fit in. They actually started seeing what the group saw.
That is a deep level of psychological conditioning.
The Bystander Effect and Social Loafing
The article doesn't just stop at optical illusions. It touches on the darker side of following the crowd: the bystander effect. You've probably heard of Kitty Genovese. In 1964, she was attacked in New York, and while the "38 witnesses who did nothing" story has been debunked as a bit of an exaggeration by historians since then, the underlying psychology remains true.
When we are in a group, we feel less responsible.
Psychologists call this "diffusion of responsibility." If you're alone and see someone fall, you help. If 50 people are watching, you think, "Someone else will grab them." This is a frequent point of inquiry in the CommonLit curriculum. The "crowd" doesn't just influence us to act; it influences us to stay still.
How to Get the Best Results on the CommonLit Quiz
To nail the assessment, you need to be able to identify the difference between "informational influence" and "normative influence."
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- Informational influence is when you follow the crowd because you think they know something you don't. (Example: Everyone is running out of a building, so you assume there's a fire.)
- Normative influence is when you follow the crowd just because you don't want to look like a weirdo. (Example: You hate a popular movie but tell your friends you liked it so they don't argue with you.)
The CommonLit text leans heavily into the idea that we are biologically wired for both, but the Dr. Berns study specifically highlights the "normative" side—the fear of being the "odd man out."
Real-World Consequences of Herd Behavior
It’s not all just academic. We see this in "flash mobs" (remember those?) and, more seriously, in riots or political movements. When people are in a crowd, they lose their sense of self. It’s called "deindividuation." You stop being "you" and start being a cell in a larger organism.
Look at the way fashion trends work. Or even how certain phrases become popular overnight on TikTok. You start saying "lowkey" or "bet" because everyone else is. It’s a social lubricant. But the text warns us that this same instinct can lead to "groupthink," where a group makes a disastrous decision because nobody wants to be the one to speak up and ruin the "vibe" of the meeting.
Is Following the Crowd Always Bad?
Actually, no.
The text hints at this, and it’s a good point for the "short answer" sections of the assignment. Following the crowd keeps us safe. If a thousand people are avoiding a certain street at night, there’s probably a reason. If everyone is eating at one restaurant and the one next door is empty, the food is likely better at the busy one.
Evolution kept this trait in our DNA because the "loners" usually got eaten. The problem is that in 2026, the "crowd" is often digital and global, which magnifies the errors.
Actionable Tips for Thinking Individually
If the Why Do People Follow the Crowd CommonLit answers have taught us anything, it’s that resisting the group takes physical and mental effort. You can't just "decide" to be a rebel. You have to train for it.
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1. Delay Your Response
When you’re in a group setting and a decision is being made, don’t speak first. Give yourself ten seconds of silence. This disconnects the "fear" response in the amygdala and allows the prefrontal cortex—the logical part of your brain—to take over.
2. Seek a "Devils Advocate"
If you’re leading a group, specifically assign someone the job of disagreeing. If it’s their "job" to point out flaws, it removes the social stigma of being the dissenter. This kills groupthink before it starts.
3. Recognize the Physical Sensation
Next time you feel that "itch" to agree with something you know is wrong, notice how your body feels. Is your heart racing? Is your stomach tight? That’s the Berns effect in action. Just acknowledging that it’s a biological trick can help you override it.
4. Diversify Your "Crowds"
If you only hang out with one group of people, you’re in an echo chamber. By moving between different social circles, you see that "the crowd" doesn't actually agree on everything. This makes it easier to realize that there isn't one "correct" way to think.
Following the crowd is a natural human default. It’s the "easy mode" of life. But as the CommonLit text explores, the people who change the world are usually the ones who are willing to feel that sting of social isolation and stand their ground anyway. Whether you’re analyzing the text for a grade or just trying to figure out why you just bought those ugly shoes everyone else is wearing, understanding herd mentality is the first step toward actually owning your own mind.
To wrap this up, focus on the evidence in the text. Look for the names—Asch, Berns, and the specific data from the fMRI scans. These are the anchors for any high-scoring response. Understand that the crowd isn't just a group of people; it's a powerful psychological force that reshapes our very reality.
Next Steps for Mastery
To truly master this topic, compare the "Why Do People Follow the Crowd?" article with other CommonLit texts like "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson or "The Perils of Indifference" by Elie Wiesel. You’ll see a recurring theme: the crowd can be a shield, but it can also be a weapon.
Start by re-reading the section on the Dr. Berns experiment. Try to summarize his findings in just two sentences. If you can explain the "fear center" connection to a friend, you've got a much better handle on the material than if you just tried to memorize the multiple-choice key.