Bottom Line Up Front:
College-educated conservatives started as excellent sheep in higher education, learning conformity and herd mentality, then became MAGA sheep applying those same behaviors to politics. From campus groupthink to political conformity, education trained them to follow rather than think independently.
America’s college MAGA supporters represent a fascinating case study in learned conformity. These individuals mastered the excellent sheep behavior described by William Deresiewicz – following prescribed academic paths, chasing prestige, and conforming to institutional expectations. After graduation, they simply transferred this herd mentality from campus to politics, becoming MAGA sheep who follow conservative talking points with the same blind conformity they once applied to college admissions.
The Excellent Sheep Training Ground
Higher education created the perfect breeding ground for political conformity. College-bound students learned to follow checklists, chase rankings, and suppress independent thinking in favor of approved outcomes. The system rewarded those who could:
- Navigate admissions requirements without questioning their purpose
- Pursue prestigious majors based on external validation rather than genuine interest
- Follow academic trends and faculty expectations over personal curiosity
- Prioritize credentials and networking over actual learning
- Accept debt and delayed gratification for promised future rewards
This excellent sheep training taught students that success comes from identifying the “right” answers and conforming to institutional expectations. While critical thinking was officially encouraged, the grading system rewarded those who could identify and reproduce faculty-approved viewpoints. Students learned to read social cues, follow academic trends, and avoid positions that might jeopardize their grades or recommendations.
From Campus Conformity to MAGA Sheep Behavior
The transition from college to politics required no new skills for these conformists. College MAGA supporters simply applied their learned sheep behavior to conservative politics, following talking points with the same dedication they once brought to academic requirements. The pattern remains identical:
- Following authoritative sources without independent verification
- Adopting group positions to maintain social standing within conservative circles
- Repeating approved narratives from MAGA influencers and media
- Avoiding dissent that might damage relationships or credibility
- Prioritizing group loyalty over individual analysis
These college-educated conservatives demonstrate their herd mentality through consistent parroting of MAGA talking points, whether discussing economics, foreign policy, or social issues. They exhibit the same sheep behavior that made them successful students – identifying what the group wants to hear and delivering it reliably.
Trump’s Role in Activating Sheep Behavior
Donald Trump didn’t create these conformist tendencies – he simply provided a new authority figure for college-educated conservatives to follow. His populist messaging gave these former excellent sheep a sense of rebellion while maintaining their comfort with hierarchical thinking. Trump became their new professor, and MAGA talking points replaced academic orthodoxy as the approved curriculum.
The irony runs deep: these individuals believe they’re thinking independently while following Trump’s lead as faithfully as they once followed campus trends. Their college training prepared them perfectly for political conformity – they just needed the right charismatic leader to activate those dormant sheep instincts.
The Hypocrisy of “Informed” Voters
College-educated conservatives exhibit remarkable cognitive dissonance about their own conformity. They regularly claim to be the truly “informed” voters while dismissing others as misinformed sheep. Conservative blogs like The New Neo feature posts and educated commenters who confidently assert that leftists are uninformed, completely oblivious to their own herd behavior.
This elitist attitude reflects their college training – they learned to view themselves as intellectually superior while conforming to group expectations. The same mindset that made them successful students now makes them confident political followers. They possess the credentials to feel smart while lacking the independence to think critically about their own positions.
Progressive Sheep: The Obvious Comparison
The progressive sheep phenomenon has been apparent for over a decade. Liberal college graduates exhibit identical conformity patterns, from coordinated messaging campaigns like suddenly calling Trump “weird” to following academic orthodoxy on social issues. Their herd behavior is well-documented and predictable.
But college-educated conservatives represent a more interesting case study because they claim to reject elite conformity while exhibiting it perfectly. They criticize progressive groupthink while demonstrating identical sheep behavior in conservative contexts. In reality, both sides function as two peas in the same pod – different herds following different shepherds, but exhibiting the same fundamental conformity patterns learned in higher education.
Outro
Higher education succeeded in creating conformists, not independent thinkers. The excellent sheep who once chased college rankings now chase political approval with identical dedication. Whether progressive or conservative, college graduates demonstrate that education failed to break their herd mentality – it simply gave them credentials to feel superior while following the crowd.
The transition from campus sheep to political sheep reveals the fundamental flaw in American higher education. Students learned to conform rather than think, to follow rather than lead, and to seek approval rather than truth. Trump didn’t create sheep behavior among college conservatives – he simply became their new shepherd.
Additional Resources
Herd Mentality Research:
Excellent Sheep Analysis:
- Book Review: Excellent Sheep
- Are College Students Excellent Sheep?
- We Aren’t Raising Adults – The Free Press
Political Herd Behavior: