6.04 Collective Behaviors

• Introduction
• Learn
• Try It
• Task

Introduction

All of us have experienced the energy of a crowd. Think about crowds that you have been involved with, whether at a sporting event, a mall, a religious service, a concert, a pep rally or any other event where large numbers of people are gathered. Did you ever get so caught up in the energy of the crowd that you behaved in ways that you normally do not? Did you ever feel drawn to yell, dance, or even cry because the people around you were engaged in such activities? What made you behave that way? Do you feel that you could have gone against the crowd?

These are the types of questions sociologists answer when they study collective behavior, which can range from simple crowds like those at a sporting event to violent crowds like mobs and riots. In this lesson, you will discover why people often develop a whole new way of behaving when they participate in a crowd.