Collective Behaviour Crowds and Mobs by Mariya Anna

Collective Behaviour, Crowds, and Mobs by Mariya, Anna, Selena and Annie

Collective Behaviour 1. Convergence Theory 2. Rational Decision Theory 3. Prosocial Behaviour

Collective Behaviour ◎ Social behaviour of a large group that is not a reflection of societal norms ◎ Forms its own societal dynamic ◎ Does not establish close relationships with members ◎ Occurs when established norms are unclear ◉ E. g. panic - irrational response to dangerous stimulus

Convergence Theory ◎When large groups of people come together, it is very likely that they will behave irrationally as a group ◎Individuals behave according to own beliefs ◎Protection of being one of a crowd strength in numbers ◎Combines with frustration aggression prejudice theory to explain riots + racial violence

Rational Decision Theory ◎ People can rationally decide whether or not to participate in collective behaviour ◎ Each person has a threshold - how many people must participate before they will ◎ Tend to favour large + organized groups ◎ Many people = lack of consequences ◎ Groups start with low threshold individuals

Symbolic Interactionism ◎ An individual's social values and roles are formed by their interpretation ◎ Creates a sense of self by the reaction of others around them ◎ We change the way we behave based on the meaning we give social interactions ◎ Conformity: when one’s attitudes, beliefs, & values are influenced by others ◎ Compliance: when an individual behaves a certain way to avoid punishment ◎ Obedience: submitting to authority ◎ Groups establish expectations for how we are to behave

Conflict Theory ◎ Conflict theory studies the competition between different groups for power ◎ Society is structured in ways to benefit a few at the expense of the majority ◎ Factors such as race, sex, class, and age are linked to social inequality ◎ Social order is maintained by domination

Prosocial Behaviour ◎ Based on altruism ◉ Caring for welfare of others without personal gain ◎ Shows benefits of collective behaviour, explains kindness + generosity ◎ Contributes to social cohesion ◎ Sense of unity E. g. collective solidarity, mass public grief

Evidence of Prosocial Behaviour ◎ January 2010: Haiti earthquake relief effort ◉ Provided supplies, money and volunteering ◎ 9/11: citizens of Gander, Newfoundland helped passengers of a diverted American airplane ◉ Provided food, shelter, access to Internet

Examples: ● Deaths of celebrities or public figures ● Response to impact of war (ie. Remembrance Day)

Crowds 1. Mobs 2. Fear and Collective Behaviour 3. Smart Mobs

Crowds Gatherings of people ◎ Conventional crowd ◉ ◉ Clear purpose, expected behaviour E. g. town meeting ◎ Casual crowd ◉ ◉ No clear purpose, all in one place E. g. mall ◎ Expressive crowd ◉ ◉ At an event, emotion, excitement E. g. concert ◎ Acting crowd ◉ ◉ ◉ Single purpose Could turn into disorder, mob E. g. protest

Mobs ◎ law enforcement thinks any group can become dangerous ◎ people in numbers lack individual thought ◎ can evolve into riots ◉ civil disorders resulting from social grievances ◎ aggression is more likely in a crowd ◉ often starts with splinter group

Evidence of Mobs ◎ 2010: G 20 Summit in Toronto ◎ Peaceful protest turned riot ◎ Protesters - set police cars on fire and damaged property ◎ Police - arrested 1100 people (700 of which were not charged)

Fear and Collective Behaviour ◎ motivated by frightening/harmful events ◎ results in panic/mass hysteria ◉ ◉ widespread irrational reaction to perceived danger e. g. pandemics

Smart Mobs ◎ uses technology, recent appearance ◎ large group of strangers connected by electronic media ◎ arrange + stage surprise public gatherings with a specific behaviour ◉ e. g. flash mobs

Convergence Theory Conclusion ◎ when large groups of people come together, it is very likely that they will behave irrationally as a group ◎ combines with frustration aggression prejudice theory to explain riots and racial violence

Rational Decision Theory ◎ many people = lack of consequences ◎ people with lower thresholds are more inclined to partake in group activities

Prosocial Behaviour ◎Prosocial Behaviour (the caring for welfare of others without personal gain) demonstrates the kindness and generosity of the human species ◎proves humans are innately good

Fear and Collective Behaviour ◎Fear and Collective Behaviour is motivated by frightening/harmful events and results in panic/mass hysteria ◎is an emergency response ◎does more harm than good

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