Crowd Psychology
Crowd psychology examines the unique behaviors and thought processes of individuals within a crowd compared to their behavior when alone. Deindividuation and the illusion of universality increase as crowds grow larger.
Types of Crowds
Crowds can be classified based on their purpose (casual, conventional, expressive, aggressive) or emotional intensity (casual, conventional, expressive, active). Active crowds, like mobs, can be violent or engage in damaging behaviors.
Theoretical Perspectives
Le Bon's Theory
Le Bon's model suggests that crowds progress through submergence (loss of individual identity), contagion (spread of ideas and emotions), and suggestion (influence from a charismatic leader). He viewed crowds as destructive forces.
Freudian Theory
Freud proposed that crowd membership allows individuals to regress to primal instincts and emotions, led by a charismatic leader.
Deindividuation Theory
This theory suggests that anonymity and situational factors weaken personal controls, leading to reduced self-awareness and increased aggression.
Convergence Theory
Convergence theory holds that crowd behavior is a reflection of the shared beliefs and attitudes of the individual members, rather than a product of the crowd itself.
Emergent Norm Theory
This theory posits that norms develop within the crowd through key members suggesting appropriate actions, which others imitate, creating a collective identity and a sense of universality.
Social Identity Theory
This theory suggests that crowd behavior is influenced by the social groups individuals belong to, with the group's values and norms guiding their actions. Crowds provide a context for individuals to assume a new or amplified social identity.