The Selfish Herd: False assumptions and narratives associated with resilience, risk management and protection
Ridley Tony
Experienced Leader in Risk, Security, Resilience, Safety, and Management Sciences | PhD Candidate, Researcher and Scholar
Individual or specific risk is routinely concealed in narratives of herd or community resilience.
That is, collectively, 'the herd' will survive if we all endure the risk together, as 'we are all in it together'.
However, in reality, threats, hazards, danger and peril are not equally or universally consistent across the herd or community.
Moreover, different 'victims' are exposed to threats at different times and in different ways but also may feel the full brunt of the risk on behalf of the group.
In sum, a 'selfish herd' will protect the group by exposing 'lesser' individuals, industries, organisations or communities at the fringe of the threat, in order to protect the inner, higher value herd members, corporates or people.
Despite this phenomenon first being observed in animal groups when exposed to a predator, this selfish herd concept can be routinely seen when it comes to systemic, network and existential threats, harm and risk.
For example, essential information about a threat may not be shared between organisations within an industry or geographical precinct.
This may appear to be a competitive advantage or the nature of business, but the fact remains that lives can be placed at risk.
Violent crimes, terrorism, cyber threats and espionage are just a few examples where this is prevalent.
Those not informed or aware of 'predators', are at greater risk than the herd, by design.
Economics, climate change, pandemics and healthcare are other examples of these disproportional harm for those at the outer/fringe.
"The?selfish herd theory?states that individuals within a population attempt to reduce their?predation?risk?by putting other conspecifics between themselves and predators.?A key element in the theory is the?domain of danger, the area of ground in which every point is nearer to a particular individual than to any other individual.' Source
Individuals, organisations, governments and industry groups can make this herd choice.
That is, sacrifice the 'weaker' or first line of those affected and exposed to the harm, threat and peril.
As a result, where any one individual or group is located within the herd determines the degree of risk but also provides false, inaccurate perspectives as to the true nature of the threat.
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This can be even more obfuscated through statistics or numerical summation of the threat which translates to seemingly low numbers of 'victims', which in fact are most represented by those around the perimeter of the threat, while the highly resourced and guard nuclei remain unscathed and protected.
In sum, threat, harm and risk within any sizable group, community, organisation or industry conceals the layers of those most at risk and those far removed from harm, threats and peril.
As a result, herd immunity, resilience and protection may in fact be the product of a selfish herd, whereby weaker, more vulnerable elements of the herd, community or industry are sacrificed for the greater good of the herd, leaving VIPs, the wealthy/powerful, elite and privileged members of the cohort well protected by not being exposed to the inherent or artificial risk.
Presenting the appearance that only minimal numbers of the herd are affected.
Whereas in fact, harm and risk have been concentrated for those at the fringe, perimeter and closest to the threat, predator, harm or hazard.
Tony Ridley, MSc CSyP MSyI M.ISRM
Security, Risk & Management Sciences
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