I'd say it's deeper seated than that
pack mentality from an evolutionary point of view is why we have schools, hospitals, etc. because why should everyone teach their children to count when one person can teach a hundred and the other 99 can do something else useful? It also plays to the strengths and weaknesses of a population - you're good a fighting? defend the village. You're good at counting? work out a bartering system so we can trade all the grain we have for meat which the next village has... etc etc.

pack mentality is arguably the most important single thing in humans reaching the position they are in now, good or bad.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Wed 22 Sep 2010, 10:33, 1 reply, 15 years ago)

I think you're right
Because without a pack mentality, there's no incentive to form any sort of society. And even packs of wild animals form a 'society' of sorts - even if it looks more like just a hierarchy, it does give a lot of credence to your argument.
(LongJohnBaldry, Wed 22 Sep 2010, 10:39, Reply)

it does

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 22 Sep 2010, 10:39, Reply)

I think Vipros has a good point
that "mentality" might not be the right word. Pack mentality has negative connotations, especially amongst the UK press. behaviour, maybe.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Wed 22 Sep 2010, 10:41, Reply)

It does
From a purely technical point of view, I think is the right word, but there a lot of undesirable connotations you have to dissociate it from.
(LongJohnBaldry, Wed 22 Sep 2010, 10:45, Reply)

I'm not so sure
to me it implies that it is more of a conscious thing
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 22 Sep 2010, 10:46, Reply)