A Term in Psychology: The Chicken Flock Effect

Have You Ever Felt Left Out Because You Excelled?

Have you ever felt excluded because your talents or personality made you different from the crowd?
Maybe in a group setting, you showed a special strength or skill and, instead of appreciation, you faced criticism or even hostility.
This is what psychologists call the Chicken Flock Effect—the tendency for a group lacking in competitiveness to react negatively when someone outshines the rest.

1. The Other Side of “Standing Out from the Crowd”

We all know the phrase “a crane among chickens” to describe an outstanding person in a group.
But psychology shows us there’s another, often painful, side to being outstanding.

American psychologist Abe Silberman, in his book Social Psychology, explains that when an individual’s abilities or performance far exceed a group’s average, it often leads to envy and hostility from the group.
This is rooted in something called relative deprivation:
When people compare themselves to someone else’s success, they feel unfairly deprived of opportunities or resources, which results in negative feelings.

Case Study 1: Kevin's High School Experience

Kevin, a straight-A student from Ohio, always loved his studies and competed successfully in statewide math and science contests.
When Kevin started at a new suburban high school, he regularly landed at the top of every test and won awards at school events.

Much to his surprise, his success did not lead to admiration but instead to teasing and even rumors that he was cheating.
Behind his back, some classmates gossiped, avoided him in group projects, and left him out of after-school plans.
Kevin became confused and discouraged—he wondered why his hard work led to such negativity, and eventually, he stopped raising his hand in class and even let his grades slip just to avoid attention.

This might sound extreme, but research backs it up.
Darrin Stock’s book Group Dynamics shows that group members tend to prefer the status quo and may react negatively when someone threatens their place or the group’s balance.
Anyone who stands out too much can become a lightning rod for resentment and isolation.

Case Study 2: Emily at the Startup

Emily, a young marketing specialist at a Boston startup, quickly dazzled her bosses with her creativity and hustle.
In her first year, she led a team to win a major client, boosted engagement on social media, and created several successful campaigns.

But Emily started noticing that her colleagues were icing her out:
Her ideas were mocked in meetings, group chats were created without her, and her proposals were rejected by management for flimsy reasons.
Eventually, she learned from a coworker that people felt threatened by her success—they worried she was making them look bad or might even take their promotions.

In Scott Fitzgerald’s Psychology in the Workplace, it’s noted that the Chicken Flock Effect is especially clear at work.
When someone’s performance is far above average, they’re often viewed as a threat—not a resource.
This can hinder career growth and cause stress or worse, depression.

2. Understanding the Chicken Flock Effect: The Psychology Explained

Allison Richards, in Principles of Social Psychology, explains the mechanism at work.
She shows that how we act and think within a group is deeply shaped by group rules and group dynamics.
If someone’s skills or personality go far beyond what’s “normal” for the group, this creates cognitive dissonance—a sense that the group’s values or routines are being threatened.

To reduce this discomfort and restore group unity, members will often criticize or shut out the exceptional individual.

Stanley Milgram’s famous research brings another angle.
When people feel threatened within a group, they tend to seek conformity—coping by sticking with the crowd and shunning those who don’t fit.
This not only builds team spirit, but it also makes it even tougher for the “different” person to belong.

3. The Circle You Choose Determines Your Destiny

The Chicken Flock Effect is more than just a theory. It’s a force that shapes real lives and futures.

In Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, Robert Cialdini points out that our environment and social circle deeply influence our behavior and attitude.
A positive, inspiring circle pushes us to keep growing, while a negative one can stunt our progress—even make us shrink back.

Choosing the right circle is critical to personal growth.

Mary Gold, in Psychology and Personal Development, recommends seeking out communities with true support and shared values.
Don’t settle for superficial belonging.
In a healthy, positive group, even if you don’t always outshine others, you’ll be encouraged and recognized for who you are—which multiplies motivation and improvement.

Have you ever been excluded or criticized for your strengths? How did you handle it? Share your story and thoughts!

---

At NaviPsy, we are dedicated to making professional psychological support accessible, affordable, and empowering for everyone. We offer expert-designed assessments across four major categories: Relationship, Personality, Mental Health and Career. Each of our carefully crafted tests is grounded in well-established theoretical foundations, supported by the latest cutting-edge research, and backed by over a decade of our professional experience.