Collective Behaviours

Question 1

What are the types of collective behaviours?

Answer 1

Crowds and mobs

Question 2

What are the subtypes of a crowd?

Answer 2

Conventional crowd, expressive crowd, acting crowd

Question 3

Define crowd, and give an example

Answer 3

A group of individuals who are in the same place at the same time and yet they may have little to nothing in common. Ex. Riding the bus

Question 4

Define conventional crowd and give an example

Answer 4

A crowd that gathers for a typical event that is more routine in nature. Ex Super Bowl Game

Question 5

Define an expressive crowd and give an example

Answer 5

A crowd gathered to express an emotion Ex. breast cancer fun run

Question 6

Define acting crowd and give an example

Answer 6

A crowd that has a focused activity and goals attempts to cause change and can become dangerous

Question 7

Define mob

Answer 7

Usually formed by and acting crowd display aggressive and antisocial behavior

Question 8

Define flash mob

Answer 8

A large group of people who gather together in a spontaneous activity that lasts a limited amount of time before returning to the regular routines
-Often dependent on technology, and are captured on video and shared on the Internet.

Question 9

What are the subtypes of mobs?

Answer 9

Flash mobs and riots

Question 10

Define riots and give an example

Answer 10

Unorganized and aggressive crowd or mobs, many crowds or mobs acting independently. Ex. Ferguson riots

Question 11

What are the four actions of a crowd?

Answer 11

Collective vocalization, collective verbalization, collective gesticulation, collective manipulation.

Question 12

Define collective vocalization and give an example

Answer 12

Sounds or noises made collectively Ex. screaming on a roller coaster

Question 13

Define collective verbalization and give an example

Answer 13

Collective and simultaneous participation in the speech or a song Ex. singing oh Canada

Question 14

Define collective gesticulation

Answer 14

Body parts forming symbols

Question 15

Define collective manipulation and give an example

Answer 15

Objects collectively moved around the Ex. Holding signs at a protest rally

Question 16

What are the three sociological theories of collective behaviors?

Answer 16

1. Contagion Theory- Le Bon
2. Emergent Norm Theory- Turner and Killian
3. The Convergence Theory- Allport

Question 17

Describe the contagion theory by Le Bon

Answer 17

• people get caught up in the collective mind of the crowd
• crowd exerts hypnotic influence through collective suggestibility
• individuals sacrifice personal interest for crowds interest, and individuals believe personal responsibility is evaded. Ex. Looters

Question 18

Describe the emergent Norm theory by Turner and Killian

Answer 18

• new norms are created within a crowd as events happen, through communication and cues from crowd
• communication is guided by leaders that emerge as events progress

Question 19

Describe the convergence Theory by Allport

Answer 19

Motivations are not born in the crowd but already exist in the individual who come to the crowd crowd may provide outlet for showing opinions of frustration
-if they were by themselves, frustration would be difficult to act out
-in a group it’s easier to express themselves with other like minded people
Ex. Klu Klux Klan

Question 20

Define collective behaviours

Answer 20

The unusual or non-routine behaviours that large numbers of people participate in