Introduction to Sociology/Collective behavior/Jeong-Ho Moon

1. Summary

The Collective behavior refers to social processes and events which emerge in a spontaneous way.

Collective behavior differs from group behavior in three ways:

1. collective behavior involves limited and short-lived social interaction while groups tend to remain together longer
2. collective behavior has no clear social boundaries; anyone can be a member of the collective while group membership is usually more discriminating
3. collective behavior generates weak and unconventional norms while groups tend to have stronger and more conventional norms

the motivation for studying collective behavior is in order to actually change elements of society.

Four types of crowds:

• casual
• conventional
• expressive
• acting

 

Theroies of crowds
Contagion Theory
 as the name implies, the frenzy of the crowd is somehow contagious, like a disease, and the contagion feeds upon itself, growing with time.
However it has some problems.
1. It presents members of crowds as irrational
2. The influence of the individual should not be overlooked.

 

Convergence Theory
 Convergence theory argues that the behavior of a crowd is a result of like-minded individuals coming together.

 

Emergent-Norm Theory
It argues that people come together with specific expectations and norms, and it also argues  the interactions that follow the development of the crowd, new expectations and norms can emerge.

 

Crowds as 'Gatherings'

 

Panic is a sudden terror which dominates thinking and often affects groups of people

 

Moral Panic
A moral panic is a mass movement based on the perception that some individual or group, frequently a minority group or a subculture, poses a menace to society

 

Mass Hysteria
Hysteria is a diagnostic label applied to a state of mind, one of unmanageable fear or emotional excesses. Hysterical people often lose self-control due to the overwhelming fear.

 

 When big or mysterical problems emerged suddenly, it cause mass hysteria

 

Fads
A fad refers to a fashion that becomes popular in a culture  relatively quickly, remains popular, often for a rather brief period, then loses popularity quickly.

 

 Rumors
It generally involve some kind of a statement the veracity of which is not quickly or ever confirmed.

 

Three basic characteristics of rumors

1.they're transmitted by word of mouth

2.they provide "information" about a person, happening, or condition

3.they express and gratify the emotional needs of the community

 

Various types of rumors

1.Pipe dream rumors, which reflect public desires and wished-for outcomes

2.Bogie or fear rumors that reflect feared outcomes

3.Wedge-driving rumors that intend to undermine group loyalty or interpersonal relations3

 

As rumors travel they grow shorter, more concise, and more easily grasped. About 70% of details in a message are lost in the first 5 to 6 transmissions. Negative rumors are more likely to be disseminated than positive rumors.

 

 

 

2. Interests.

'Negative rumors are more likely to be disseminated than positive rumors.'
Why?

 

 I think the phnomenon occurs because  people are more sensitive to the damage than the profit.
So people are more sensitive to negative than positive, negative rumors spread well than positive rumors.

 

 

3. discuss

Which of the peaceful or violent rallies is more effective?
Should peaceful rallies continue even if there are many sacrifices due to repression?


I want to hear other's thoughts.