Crowd Behaviour II Flashcards
Cognitive transformation
(or ‘self-stereotyping’) -> shift from seeing myself in terms of my personal identity to seeing myself in terms of my social identity -> I am a student, I am an Arsenal fan, I am a Catholic, I am a member of the St Pauls community.
Individuals no longer think and act on the basis of personal (and idiosyncratic) beliefs and values. Instead, they think and act on their understanding of the category/ group’s norms, values, beliefs, and interests. Collective behaviour in the St Paul’s riot was limited and patterned in line with the social identity (‘we as St Paul’s residents’) shared by participants: Police were targets, Banks, chain store; not local shops or houses.
Relational transformation
Relational transformation -> This is where…If you also have the same social identity as me…Instead of seeing you as ‘other’, I see you as part of ‘we’, ‘us’, i.e. We share social identity.
Shared identity can result in a sense of connection and intimacy – even with strangers. More acceptance/enjoyment of others’ close physical presence (Novelli et al., 2010) Reduced disgust at others’ bodily odours (Reicher et al., 2016) Trust, feeling safe. Giving and expecting social support. Trust each other more and feel safe.
Affective transformation
Social identity as the prism through which people appraise physical stimuli and experience relational intimacy. In addition: -> Being supported by others feels good -> Support from others for desired goals is empowering which also feels good -> Validation of emotions by others in the group – makes them more intense.
Mass gatherings
an occasion, either organized or spontaneous where the “number of people attending is sufficient to strain the planning and response resources of the community, city, or nation hosting the event “(World Health Organisation, 2008) -> olympics, world cup, hajj.
Hajj -> one of the 5 pillars of islam -> 2-3 million people at a time -> global gathering -> six days of ritual in and around mecca.
Problems of mass gatherings -> infectious diseases, crowd crushes.
Crowd crushes
‘stampedes’ -> Most things called ‘stampedes’ in the media do not involve running, Deaths often caused by crowd collapse in extreme density -> Deaths often caused by crowd collapse in extreme density.
‘Panic’? -> Fear is a consequence rather than a cause of crushes
Despite extreme levels of density every year, crushing accidents are extremely rare at Hajj.
wellbeing from attending mass gathering
Magh Mela -> Hindu festival takes place in India for a month every year. 20 million people in a ‘tent city’. Densely populated. Sanitary conditions and facilities are extremely poor. Constant loud noise.
Tewari et al. (2012) – longitudinal survey -> 416 pilgrims who attended for the whole month, and 127 controls who did not -> Pilgrims reported a longitudinal increase in well-being relative to the matched sample who did not participate.
wellbeing associated with music
How do music activities affect health and well-being? Dingle et al. 2021 -> scoping review of 63 studies examining psychosocial mechanisms, Some mechanisms -> memory and attention, mood and emotion regulation, social bonding and connection. Diverse music activities were considered: receptive and intentional music listening; sharing music; instrument playing; group singing; lyrics and rapping; movement and dance; and songwriting, composition, and improvisation.
Features of relational and affective transformation in mass gatherings that might contribute to health and well-being. Expecting/ receiving support -> Positive emotions, Validation, Sense of empowerment.
Relational transformations at mela
Hopkins et al. (2019) -> Semi-structured interviews at the 2010 Mela -> 37 Kalpwasis (pilgrims): 24 men, 13 women, age range 40–83 years, M age = 63. -> 29 were high caste and 8 low caste - correspond to the caste distribution at the event -> In Hindi or local dialects -> 30-80 minutes -> Thematic analysis
Researchers asked how the Mela crowd compared to that experienced in India’s busy railway stations. Typically, a clear contrast was drawn. Recognition of others are recognized as fellow pilgrims and as holding the same identity-related beliefs and values as oneself. In turn, there is a sense that others’ behaviour is intelligible and the basis for social interaction: Rather than ignoring each other, people interact in meaningful ways (“everyone lives cooperatively, talks to each other”). Also repair. others’ participation confirms and validates “the thing in which I have faith”. In turn, this sense of validation mitigates any difficulties associated with a large crowd. Interpret in a more positive and forgiving way and try to repair. Support is given and expected – and when it doesn’t occur people feel disappointed.
Solidarity at london bombings
4 bombs (3 three trains, one bus) -> rush hour, 56 people died -> 700+ injuries. Emergency services didn’t reach all the survivors immediately – the crowd was left in the dark for up to 20 minutes or more. Interviewees references to ‘we-ness’.
Support (versus personal selfishness) ->
