Psychology PS-100 Roll number:305-230027 Crowd behavior

Department of Telecommunications
Subject:
Psychology PS-100
Topic :
Crowd behavior

Submitted to :
Miss Nida
Submitted By :
Babar khan
Roll number:
305-230027

Due date: 8th January 2024

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Psychology PS-100 Roll number:305-230027 Crowd behavior

Assignment: Crowd Behavior

Introduction to Crowd behavior:
It's the collective actions and emotions displayed by a large group of people gathered in a shared
space. These groups can be temporary, forming around events like concerts or protests, or more enduring,
like religious congregations or political rallies. Their behavior, however, isn't simply the sum of individual
actions; it's a complex interplay of social and psychological forces.

Definitions of crowd behaviors:

 Contagious Emotions and Shared Norms:

This definition focuses on the psychological and social dynamics within crowds. It suggests
that emotions spread rapidly within crowds, creating a "psychological contagion" that influences
the overall mood and behavior of the group. Additionally, social norms can emerge within crowds,
guiding individual actions and fostering a sense of collective identity.

 Context-Dependent Collective Response:

This definition emphasizes the role of external factors in shaping crowd behavior. It views
crowds as dynamic systems that react and adapt to the specific context they are situated in. The
type of event, the physical environment, and the surrounding social and cultural conditions all play
a role in influencing how a crowd behaves.

Theories associated with crowd behaviors:

 Contagion theory:

It developed by French scholar Gustave Le Bon

(1841–1931) in his influential 1895 book, The Crowd: A
Study of the Popular Mind (Le Bon, 1895/1960). Like
many other intellectuals of his time, Le Bon was
concerned about the breakdown of social order that was
said to have begun with the French Revolution a century
earlier and to have continued throughout the 19th
century. Mob violence by the poor was common in the
century in cities in Europe and the United States. Intellectuals, who tended to live in relatively wealthy
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Psychology PS-100 Roll number:305-230027 Crowd behavior
circumstances, were very disturbed by this violence. They viewed it as irrational behavior, and they
thought that the people taking part in it were being unduly swayed by strong emotions and the influence
of other people in the mobs.

Le Bon’s book and its contagion theory reflected these intellectuals’ beliefs. When individuals are by
themselves, he wrote, they act rationally, but when they are in a crowd, they come under its almost
hypnotic influence and act irrationally and emotionally. They no longer can control their unconscious
instincts and become violent and even savage. In short, contagion theory argues that collective behavior is
irrational and results from the contagious influence of the crowds in which individuals find themselves.
 Value added Theory
One of the most popular and influential explanations of
social movements and other forms of collective behavior is Neil
Smelser’s (1963) value-added theory (also called structural-strain
theory). Smelser wrote that social movements and other
collective behavior occur if and only if several conditions are
present. One of these conditions is structural strain, which refers
to problems in society that cause people to be angry and
frustrated. Without such structural strain, people would not have
any reason to protest, and social movements do not arise. Another condition is generalized beliefs, which
are people’s reasons for why conditions are so bad and their solutions to improve them. If people decide
that the conditions they dislike are their own fault, they will decide not to protest. Similarly, if they decide
that protest will not improve these conditions, they again will not protest. A third condition is the existence
of precipitating factors, or sudden events that ignite collective behavior. In the 1960s, for example, several
urban riots started when police were rumored to have unjustly arrested or beaten someone. Although
conditions in inner cities were widely perceived as unfair and even oppressive, it took this type of police
behavior to ignite people to riot. A fourth condition is lack of social control; collective behavior is more
likely if potential participants do not expect to be arrested or otherwise hurt or punished.

Smelser’s theory became very popular because it pointed to several factors that must hold true before
social movements and other forms of collective behavior occur. However, collective behavior does not
always occur when Smelser’s factors do hold true. The theory has also been criticized for being a bit vague;
for example, it does not say how much strain a society must have for collective behavior to take place
(Rule, 1988).

Real world Examples of Crowd behavior:

We know that in the real world there are positive and negative behavior of crowds. Following are the real
life negative and positive examples of crowd behavior

 Positive:
1. Crowd singing at a concert: The shared emotion and rhythm create a unifying experience.
2. Flash mobs performing in public spaces: Surprising onlookers with coordinated dance or
music brings joy and community.

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Psychology PS-100 Roll number:305-230027 Crowd behavior
3. Sports fans cheering their team: Collective enthusiasm and support boost team morale and
create a vibrant atmosphere.
4. Protests demanding social change: Crowds gather to raise awareness and advocate for causes
they believe in.
5. Emergency response teams cooperating in a crisis: Coordinated action brings effectiveness
and hope in difficult situations.

 Negative:

1. Panic buying during a perceived shortage: Fear and misinformation lead to irrational shopping
sprees, depleting resources.
2. Riots over injustice or grievances: Anger and frustration boil over into destructive behavior.
3. Mob mentality influencing harmful actions: Individuals lose personal responsibility within a group,
leading to aggression or discrimination.
4. Fads and trends leading to unsafe or unhealthy practices: Peer pressure and social influence can
outweigh individual judgment.
5. Crowd stampedes at large events: Tightly packed crowds combined with panic can lead to injuries
and fatalities.
Remember, crowd behavior is complex and varies based on context, emotions, and social
dynamics. These are just a few examples to illustrate its diverse nature.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, crowd behavior is a multifaceted phenomenon shaped by psychological, social, and
external factors. Definitions such as contagious emotions and shared norms highlight the internal
dynamics, while the context-dependent collective response underscores the impact of external elements.
Theories like the contagion theory and value-added theory offer insights into the understanding of crowd
behavior, acknowledging the intricate interplay of emotions, societal strains, beliefs, and precipitating
events.

Real-world examples further emphasize the dual nature of crowd behavior, showcasing both positive and
negative manifestations. Whether it be the euphoria of a concert crowd or the destructive outcomes of
riots, the collective actions of a group are complex and context-dependent. Recognizing this complexity is
essential for comprehending the diverse nature of crowd behavior and its implications on society.

Ultimately, studying crowd behavior provides valuable insights into the dynamics of human interaction,
shedding light on the mechanisms that drive collective actions, be they uplifting or potentially detrimental.
As society evolves, understanding and navigating crowd behavior remains crucial for fostering harmony,
addressing grievances, and promoting positive collective engagement.

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Psychology PS-100 Roll number:305-230027 Crowd behavior
References:
Le Bon, G. (1895). The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind. Dover Publications.

Smelser, N. J. (1963). Theory of collective behavior. New York, NY: Free Press. Blumer, H. (1946)

Collective Behavior. In New Outline of the Social Sciences (pp. 218-275). Harcourt, Brace and Company.

Brown, R. H. (2003). The Psychology of Social Movements. Springer.

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