Is That a Hive Mind, or are You Just Happy to See Me...

Hive mentality, also known as groupthink, is when people have a strong tendency to conform to group decision-making. This mentality can lead to feelings of invulnerability and moral superiority within the group, potentially causing individuals to lose their free will and become controlled by external influences. But is the concept of a Hive Mind merely fictional?

This phenomenon has been explored in various cultural contexts, most famously for me in the classic sci-fi film The Invasion of the Body Snatchers. The film features alien plant spores that duplicate and replace humans, creating a collective consciousness and capturing the fear surrounding the loss of individual identity.

Do you ever feel like you might be part of a hive mind mentality? Maybe that feeling comes from subconscious influences that we’re not always aware of.

Let me give you an example from my own life. Recently, I’ve been focusing more on my health and wellbeing, which includes not drinking alcohol. Having worked in restaurants for most of my life until a few years ago, I’ve noticed a shift in the industry. Mocktail menus and non-alcoholic (NA) options are now more prevalent than ever. Sure, there were always a few token options like O’Douls, but now there’s a real variety available.

This shift got me thinking: Is this change driven by a genuine increase in health consciousness, or is it another example of hive mentality? In this case, it feels like the hive mentality is for the better. There’s a wave of ideas focused on making life better through alternative choices.

Or maybe this is the THC talking… I have been partaking a little during my no-drinking era. In 2023, Minnesota legalized recreational marijuana for adults.

We often think of hive mentality as something negative, a loss of individuality. But sometimes it can propel us toward collective improvements that might be harder to achieve alone. It’s an interesting balance between individual choice and group influence, and it’s worth pondering as we navigate our personal and social lives.