Collective Behavior Chapter 17, section 1

Introduction In general, social behavior is patterned and predictable. Collective Behavior: when social behavior is not patterned and predictable people make up new norms as they go along in unclear situations short lived, spontaneous, and emotional

Characteristics of Collectives Limited Interaction: short or non-existent Unclear Norms: no set rules Limited Unity: seldom share a group identity

There are many different types of collectives.

Crowd Definition: a temporary gathering of people Casual Crowd: least organized, most temporary Example: lines to buy movie tickets Conventional Crowd: more structured, gather for a common reason Example: funeral, ball game Expressive Crowd: no apparent goal or purpose; common behavior includes cheering, dancing, and/or shouting Example: concert Acting Crowd: violent; intense emotions which are usually hostile, destructive, and focused on one target Examples follow

Mob The most violent form of an acting crowd United by a violent goal Usually has a leader or leaders Generally unstable and limited Example: lynch mobs

More Acting Crowds Riots: erupt into generalized destructive behavior; less unified and focused than mobs; participants lack power Example: LA riots after the Rodney King beatings Panics: triggered by fear Example: Chicago Fire of 1903 Moral Panics: people become fearful, without reason, about behavior that appears to threaten society’s core values Example: Gay Marriage concerns

Mass Hysteria: an unfounded anxiety shared by people scattered over a wide geographic area; involves irrational beliefs and behaviors spread by the population and fueled by the media; short lived Example: swine flu Fashions: enthusiastic attachments among large numbers of people for particular styles of appearance or behavior; subject to change Example: grunge look

Fads: an unconventional object, action, or idea that a large number of people are attached to for a very short time Example: mood rings; pet rocks Rumors: an unverified piece of information that is spread rapidly from one person to another; changes from person to person Example: news about a classmate Urban Legends: stories that teach a lesson and seem realistic, but are untrue Example: bring one in for homework!

Public Opinion: the collection of differing attitudes that members of a group of geographically scattered people have about a particular issue; often influenced by propaganda Example: views on equality

Explaining Collective Behavior Contagion Theory: crowds are so hypnotic, people give up their individuality Emergent-Norm Theory: traditional norms don’t apply in this crowd, so people have to act quickly Value-Added Theory: the pre-conditions for collective behavior build on one another—see next slide 

Pre-Conditions Structural Conduciveness Structural Strain Growth and Spread of a Generalized Belief Precipitating Factors Mobilization for Action Social Control