Collective Behavior

COLLECTIVE BEHAVIOR
COLLECTIVE BEHAVIOR
Collective behavior is a term sociologists use to refer to a miscellaneous set of behaviors in
which large numbers of people engage. More specifically, collective behavior refers to relatively
spontaneous and relatively unstructured behavior by large numbers of individuals acting with or
being influenced by other individuals. Relatively spontaneous means that the behavior is somewhat
spontaneous but also somewhat planned, while relatively unstructured means that the behavior is
somewhat organized and predictable but also somewhat unorganized and unpredictable. As we
shall see, some forms of collective behavior are more spontaneous and unstructured than others, and
some forms are more likely than others to involve individuals who act together as opposed to merely
being influenced by each other. As a whole, though, collective behavior is regarded as less
spontaneous and less structured than conventional behavior, such as what happens in a classroom, a
workplace, or the other settings for everyday behavior with which we are very familiar.
THEORIES OF BEHAVIOR
• Contagion theory: people get swept up in behaviors of others and act like herds
of cattle—the “herd mentality”
• Convergence theory: crowd unity results when people share/converge on an
interpretation of events
• Emergent norm theory: behavior is guided by culture’s norms, and during collective
behavior a norm will emerge— example, students will insist on nonviolent action
during a protest.
TYPES OF COLLECTIVE BEHAVIOR
CROWD
TEMPORARY GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO INTERACT.
TYPES OF CROWD
• CASUAL CROWD— A collection of people who happen to be in the same place at the same time. The people in this type
of crowd have no real common bond, long-term purpose, or identity.
• CONVENTIONAL CROWD— A collection of people who gather for a specific purpose. They might be attending a movie, a
play, a concert, or a lecture.
• EXPRESSIVE CROWD— A collection of people who gather primarily to be excited and to express one or more emotions.
Examples include a religious revival, a political rally for a candidate, and events
• ACTING CROWD— Goes one important step beyond an expressive crowd by behaving in violent or other destructive
behavior such as looting.
MOB— An intensely emotional crowd that commits or is ready to commit violence

PANIC— A Sudden reaction by a crowd that involves self-destructive behavior
• PROTEST CROWD— A collection of people who gather to protest a political, social, cultural, or economic issue.
RIOTS
RELATIVELY SPONTANEOUS OUTBURST OF VIOLENCE BY A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE
TYPES OF RIOTS
• PURPOSIVE RIOTS Arise from dissatisfaction regarding a particular issue and are intended to achieve a
specific goal regarding that issue. The colonial riots mentioned earlier are examples of purposive riots, as
are many of the riots that have occurred in U.S. Prisons during the past few decades.
• SYMBOLIC RIOTS Express general discontent but do not really aim to achieve a specific goal.
• REVELOUS RIOTS Express joy or delight over an event or outcome
• ISSUELESS RIOTS Have no apparent basis or purpose. An example of an issueless riot is the looting and
general violence that sometimes occurs during a citywide electrical outage.
SOCIAL MOVEMENTS
• A SOCIAL MOVEMENT Is an organized effort by a large number of people to bring about or
impede social, political, economic, or cultural change. We have much more to say about social
movements later in this chapter, but for now simply identify them as an important form of collective
behavior that plays a key role in social change.
DISASTER BEHAVIOR
• A DISASTER Is an accident or natural catastrophe that causes many deaths and much property
destruction. Hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, fires, and floods are the most common natural
disasters, while the sinking of the titanic and the april 2010 BP oil well explosion are among the most
well-known accidents that had disastrous consequences. Some disasters, such as plane crashes and
the titanic sinking, are very “localized” and affect a relatively small number of people, however tragic
the consequences might be for those directly affected. Other disasters, such as hurricanes and
earthquakes, affect a much larger geographical area and number of people and thus have far-
reaching consequences.
RUMORS, MASS HYSTERIA, AND MORAL PANICS
• A RUMOR Is a story based on unreliable sources that is nonetheless passed on from one person to
another person. A rumor may turn out to be true, but it often turns out to be false or at least to be an
exaggeration or distortion of the facts.
• MASS HYSTERIA Refers to widespread, intense fear of and concern for a danger that turns out to be
false or greatly exaggerated. Episodes of mass hysteria are relatively rare.
• A MORAL PANIC Is closely related to mass hysteria and refers to widespread concern over a
perceived threat to the moral order that turns out to be false or greatly exaggerated. Often people
become very concerned about a moral problem involving such behaviors as drug use and sexual
activity. Their concerns may have no basis in reality or may greatly exaggerate the potential and
actual danger posed by the problem. In either case, their strongly held moral views about the situation
heighten their concern, and they often seek legislation or take other actions to try to battle the moral
problem.
FADS AND CRAZES
• A FAD Is a rather insignificant activity or product that is popular for a relatively short time
• CRAZE Is a temporary activity that attracts the obsessive enthusiasm of a relatively small group of
people

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COLLECTIVE BEHAVIOR

MOB— An intensely emotional crowd that commits or is ready to commit violence

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