Wolves, Sheep, and Sheepdogs*

In his book On Combat, Lieutenant Dave Grossman talks about people being in one of three categories on a bell-shaped curve: wolves, sheep, or sheepdogs. Most people fall into the category of being sheep. They don’t want trouble, and they don’t cause trouble. Sheep willingly follow the status quo.

…Wolves are predatory and prey on sheep. Sheepdogs, like wolves, also make up a small percentage of the population. Like wolves, they are aggressive and willing to fight. However, the powerful motivation of sheepdogs is what differentiates them from predators. They are fiercely protective of…