Forgive me if this is a dumb question, I have only had a basic psychology course in college, so you would know way better than I.
I am curious as to whether the herd mentality is a by product of the socialization skills,( ie to follow the social norms of our own society), we learn in childhood?

And is this also why people at the scene of an accident will unfortunately freeze up, especially in larger crowds, until someone "leads" them into action?