Ever wondered why we get so used to the high strung life and its stresses until something undesirable happens? Often times, it is because everyone else is also doing it (crowd behaviour): same routines, same excuses, same food, similar mannerism and so forth. Being in it with others provide a perception of safety net, security of thought and a sense of invulnerability. But we all know how fragile that sense of security and invincibility is once something untoward happens.
Rats are known to exhibit some interesting behaviour: when they are running in a group, they don’t feel that stressed out as compared to a rat running alone. It tells us a couple of things: social support numbs the impact of stress and distress is more perceptible to rats running alone.
How about humans? How does it affect individuals running the rat race? It is notable that workplace culture, sometimes in an attempt to keep up with others, have been known to cause cardiovascular issues such as irregular heartbeat.
Does it mean that herd participation (rat race) make us more vulnerable to burnout and other problems since we are numb to distress of punishing schedules and work regimens so common in corporate culture & gig economy? Let’s explore this question through the following conversation.
