Explanations of Crowd Behaviour

A. Contagion TheoryB. Convergence Theory

C. Emergent-Norm Theory

A. CONTAGION THEORY Focuses on the social-psychological

aspects of collective behaviour; it attempts to explain how moods, attitudes, and behaviour are communicated rapidly and why they are accepted by others.

This theory asserts that… People engage in anti-social behavior

because they are anonymous and feel invulnerable

Individuals with rational minds turn into a “single organism” with a collective mind

Because fear and hate are contagious in crowds, people do things collectively that they would never do as individuals

B. CONVERGENCE THEORY Focuses on the shared emotions, goals

and beliefs that many people bring to crowd behavior.

This theory asserts… People have individual characteristics in

common that bring them together in crowds to express a collective emotion.

These crowds SHARE a common belief or emotion before they gather

C. EMERGENT-NORM THEORY People develop their own set of norms for

behaviors to fit the situation.

This view represents the use of symbolic-interaction paradigm.

Crowd behavior is neither as irrational as contagion theory suggests, nor as deliberate as convergence theory implies.

Crowd behavior reflects the desires of participants but is also guided by norms that emerge as the situation unfolds.

Example… Cheering vs. Booing in a crowd

People will applaud independantly, but will wait to coordinate their booing with other people so that they don’t boo alone.

Mass Behaviour

A. Rumours and GossipB. Mass Hysteria and Panic

C. Fads and Fashions

MASS BEHAVIOUR A collective behaviour that takes place

when people respond to the same event in much the same way.

Rumours Are unsubstantiated reports on and issue or a

subject. May contain a “kernel” of truth Spread Serve the interest of those spreading them Often spread when little information is available on an issue

of great concern Usually don’t stop until information proves them wrong With technology can spread very easily and quickly

Gossip Refers to the personal lives of people

Not necessarily about people we actually know personally

Mass Hysteria and Panic A form of dispersed collective behaviour

that occurs when a large number of people react with strong emotions and self-destructive behavior or a real or perceived threat

EXAMPLES??

Fads and Fashions A fad is a temporary but widely copied

activity enthusiastically followed by a large number of people

Media can bring these fads to large audiences around the world

Fashion: may be defined as a currently valued style of behavior, thinking or appearance.

Child rearing, sports, clothing, music and art Most sociological research has focused on

clothing, particularly on women’s apparel