Gustave LeBon's Crowd Behavior Theories

Crowd Behavior and Self-Consciousness

• Increased excitement among individuals in a crowd leads to a loss of self-consciousness and critical thinking.
• Crowds can enter a frenzy state, where any idea or action proposed is likely to receive unanimous support.
• Groups diminish to the lowest behavioral standards, according to Gustave LeBon.

Gustave LeBon and Collective Behavior

• Published The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind in 1895 during a period of significant social change in France.
• His analysis focused on general crowd behavior rather than specific episodes, making theories broadly applicable across cultures.
• Emphasized the social and psychological factors that allow normal individuals to partake in extreme behaviors.
• LeBon downplayed the role of political conditions, presenting a wider theoretical framework.

Historical Context of LeBon's Work

• France experienced violent upheavals leading up to 1895, including the French Revolution, which shaped his observations on crowd behavior.
• The social chaos contributed to uniform behavior among citizens who rallied around shared objects of focus.

Contagion Theory

• Focuses on factors leading individuals to act violently in groups despite norms against such behavior.
• Seen as a breakdown of rational thought during collective events, as noted by LeBon, Park, and Blumer.
• Circular reaction: Introduced by Park, it describes how crowd dynamics create influences that circulate among members, leading to collective behavior.
• Blumer expanded this concept, proposing that the psychological states of crowd and mass members vary, with unique stresses influencing their actions.

Core Assumptions of Contagion Theorists

• Collective behavior arises from the mental state of participants, leading to irrational actions and a loss of self-control.
• Members can be swayed by the ideas and actions of others, akin to a contagion.
• Situational variables interact with members' pre-existing attitudes but are secondary to the crowd mentality formed in the moment.

Crowd Dynamics

• Members are driven by emotions rather than critical thinking and may overlook evidence contradicting their beliefs.
• Actions perceived as honorable within crowds can include criminal behaviors, as individuals justify their conduct through group approval.

Critique of LeBon's Theories

• LeBon's approach blends historical philosophy over empirical research, leading to outdated concepts and terminology.
• Criticism includes his biased views on gender and race, reflecting the sociopolitical context of his time.
• Despite critiques, his work laid foundational theories for understanding crowd behavior that persisted until the mid-20th century.

Robert Park's Contributions

• Park published The Crowd and the Public in 1904, building on LeBon’s ideas yet providing vague definitions of collective behavior.
• Highlighted that crowd members imitate each other's behavior, leading to a loss of individuality and rationality.
• Discussed the continuous nature of leadership within crowds, as roles can shift rapidly among members based on decisiveness.

Distinctions Between Crowds and Masses

• Crowds display acute collective excitement while masses reflect a detached response to stimuli, operating with less cohesiveness.
• Example of mass influence can be seen in consumer behavior, where small shifts in preference (like fat-free cookies) can impact larger market trends significantly.

Summary of Blumer's Theory

• Blumer integrated various aspects of contagion theory, suggesting that collective behaviors in crowds eliminate independent thought.
• Crowds engage in bizarre actions that individuals would typically avoid when alone, whereas masses act based on shared focus, albeit with personal motives.