Crowd psychology - Emergent-norm theory

Ordinary people typically can gain direct power by acting collectively. Historically, because large groups of people have been able to effect dramatic and sudden social change, in a manner that bypasses established due process, they have also provoked controversy. The collective action that some people condemn, others support. Social scientists have developed several different theories for explaining crowd psychology, and the ways in which the psychology of the crowd differs significantly from the psychology of those individuals within it.Including:

• Crowd psychology - Contagion theory
• Crowd psychology - Convergence theory
• Crowd psychology - Emergent-norm theory
• Crowd psychology - Bibliography
• Crowd psychology - Notes

Read more here: » Crowd psychology: Encyclopedia - Crowd psychology

Ralph Turner and Lewis Killian developed the emergent-norm theory of crowd dynamics. These researchers concede that social behavior is never entirely predictable, but neither are crowds as irrational. If similar interests may draw people together, distinctive patterns of behavior may emerge in the crowd itself. Crowds begin as collectivities, acting, and protest crowds – norms may be vague and changing as when, say, one person at a rock concert holds up a lit cigarette lighter to signal praise for the performers, and other follow suit. In short ...

See also:

Crowd psychology, Crowd psychology - Contagion theory, Crowd psychology - Convergence theory, Crowd psychology - Emergent-norm theory, Crowd psychology - Bibliography, Crowd psychology - Notes

Read more here: » Crowd psychology: Encyclopedia II - Crowd psychology - Emergent-norm theory

An early explanation of collective behavior was formulated by French sociologist Gustave Le Bon. According to Le Bon’s contagion theory, crowds exert a hypnotic influence over their members. Shielded by the anonymity of a crowd, people abandon personal responsibility and surrender to the contagious emotions of the crowd. A crowd thus assumes a life of its own, stirring up emotions and driving people toward irrational, perhaps violent, action. Le Bon’s idea that crowds foster anonymity and sometimes generate emotion is surely true. ...

See also:

Crowd psychology, Crowd psychology - Contagion theory, Crowd psychology - Convergence theory, Crowd psychology - Emergent-norm theory, Crowd psychology - Bibliography, Crowd psychology - Notes

Read more here: » Crowd psychology: Encyclopedia II - Crowd psychology - Contagion theory

Convergence theory holds that crowd behavior is not a product of the crowd itself, but is carried into the crowd by particular individuals. Thus, crowds amount to a convergence of like-minded individuals. In other words, while contagion theory states that crowds cause people to act in a certain way, convergence theory says the opposite: that people who wish to act in a certain way come together to form crowds. An example of convergence theory is the practice sometimes observed when an immigrant population becomes common in a previousl ...

See also:

Crowd psychology, Crowd psychology - Contagion theory, Crowd psychology - Convergence theory, Crowd psychology - Emergent-norm theory, Crowd psychology - Bibliography, Crowd psychology - Notes

Read more here: » Crowd psychology: Encyclopedia II - Crowd psychology - Convergence theory