Collective Behavior
Events in which the ordinary rules of society no longer apply.
- how people act and organize when conventional institutions fail
- Robert Park once defined sociology as "the science of collective behavior
Forms of Collective Behavior
- Riots, revolutions, fads, fashions, rumors, public opinion, social problems, protests, disasters, crowds, mobs
Three defining elements of CB
- Degree of institutionalization
- Units of Actors
- Dominant Emotion
There is not a consistent definition of collective behavior
Degree of Institutionalization
A continuum of institutional/non-institutional behavior
Units of Actors
The social organization of those involved in the CB event.
- individuals
- groups
- networks
- formal organizations
Dominant Emotion
The general emotion displayed by participants in the CB event
- Joy
- Hostility
- Fear
Gabrielle Tarde and Gustav LeBon
The french perspective - contagion/collective mind perspective
Perspectives on CB events
- Contagion Theory
- Convergence Theory
- Emergent Norm Theory
Contagion Theory
The crowd itself is contagious. It has its own mind that causes others to psychologically join or act on behalf of the crowd
Convergence Theory
The crowd is formed out of people who share the same interests.
- They converge on a central issue
Emergent Norm Theory
Participants develop new norms that challenge the institutional arrangements of a society