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Going back to the MVH theory, I have been reading I Am Legend by Richard Matheson, and I couldn't help but see the similarities between the character Robert Neville's theory on the nature of vampirism vs. our own concerning the modern zombie. In the book, the state of vampirism is composed of two parts:
1) Bacterial infection that has highjacked the body, causing the host to take measures to ensure proper living conditions for it. This includes avoiding sunlight and providing a fresh blood supply.
2) Mental illness as a secondary side effect of the bacteria. The infected, already mentally impared by the infection's affect on the brain, become high susceptable to sensationalistic news reports, susperstitions, and religious teachings. In effect, they act like vampires because they have been taught that they are vampires.
Applying this to the Mobile Virus Hive theory, we can conclude that some, but not all, characteristics of the zombie are a result of the virus. While the virus does compel the host to create conditions more suitable to its survival, namely by seeking out fresh meat, many of the zombie's characteristics can be boiled down to severe mental impairment. Simply put, the brain, having been rewired by the virus and deprived of its optimal nutriants and proper oxygen supply, can simply no longer guide the host effectively.
Perhaps at least in part zombies act as they do because what is left of the mind has been taught by popular media that that is how they should behave.
"I am zombie. Shuffle shuffle bite."
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