DR. WALLACE: I'm thinking of changing my major at college due to inflation. Prices are up on everything these days and it makes me worry that my first choice for a career path might not provide me enough financial security in this day and age.

This makes me want to potentially change to a major that traditionally provides a path to a higher income, even if I know that it's a field I could work in but likely not feel too passionate about.

My question is, do you think this era of inflation will last for decades or will it pass sometime soon, like in a year or two? I may change my career path due to my worries in this regard. — Concerned about Prices, via email

CONCERNED ABOUT PRICES: I don't think I can accurately predict the future of inflation 10 or 20 years out, and I don't think any economic experts can either at this point. Financial markets and prices do rise and fall in cycles, but they are usually only revealed in hindsight.

My advice would be to follow your passion when considering your chosen field of employment and initially plan to work some extra hours or a second part-time job if prices remain very high during the early part of your career.

You'll be gaining important and valuable experience in your field as you go and at some point, prices will likely ease and hopefully your hours allocated to work can ease accordingly as well.

WHY ARE GROUPS USUALLY MUCH BOLDER THAN INDIVIDUALS?

DR. WALLACE: Without getting into specifics, I'd like to ask why you think people act out more — or at least act out more vocally — when they are part of a group or clique of people rather than just making their voice or position heard on their own?

I've noticed this phenomenon occurs across several topics in various ways recently just as I live my daily life. It does make me pause to think, even if I don't have an easy answer to reconcile why this is. — I Find This Interesting, via email

I FIND THIS INTERESTING: The short answer is that groups of various kinds usually provide the "safety in numbers" effect. An individual standing alone is less likely to be as vocal as they might otherwise be within a group of similarly-minded individuals.

In the area or sports fan bases, particularly college football and basketball, this phenomenon flourishes regularly. Groups absolutely are much more vocal than individuals are, and their nonverbal behavior usually backs this up as well.

There are certainly exceptions to this rule, but in general it's that simple. There are also many social, environmental, cultural, political and issues that tend to enhance this effect also.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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