Peer effects and groupthink

We can explain lefty politics and much feminism using this example:

Five foul-mouthed parrots have been separated after learning to swear at a Lincolnshire zoo.

The parrots – named Billy, Eric, Tyson, Jade, and Elsie – joined Lincolnshire Wildlife Centre’s colony of 200 grey parrots in August, however soon started encouraging each other to swear.

“We saw it very quickly; we are quite used to parrots swearing but we’ve never had five at the same time,” Steve Nichols, CEO of the wildlife park, told the PA news agency.

“Most parrots clam up outside, but for some reason these five relish it.”

The parrots have since been distributed to different areas of the park so they do not “set each other off”.

Birds of little brain see one gain a reaction from the audience through certain behaviour. So, more do it. And to continue to gain the reaction the action must become ever more extreme. Add in the effects of groupthink on never bothering to refer, even occasionally, to the reality outside the window and there we are, all is explained.