H. 17 Crowds and Collectives

Question 1

Collective

Answer 1

relatively big group; people that are equal in both actions and in outer appearances. They come together because of mutual interests (these are not families and friends, because these groups are too small and too structured). When they come together at a location: crowd, collective movements are spread across a big area as individuals. Often do surprising things (protests, panicking).

Question 2

Mobs

Answer 2

When a crowd shares the same emotion (the happening influences multiple people), like a flash mob: emotional and positive crowd. Aggressive mobs are for example hooligans.

Question 3

Riot

Answer 3

a mob (riot) on a bigger scale, wanton and uninhibited behaviour that violate the civilized laws (violence, destroying possessions).

Question 4

Acquisitive panics

Answer 4

situation of shortage, in which people desire the source, become anxious and no longer possess self-regulation.

Question 5

Smart mob

Answer 5

every group, including social movements, mobs, crowds, that use computer based technologies to organize and initialize activities (internet, telephone).

Question 6

Contagion

Answer 6

spread of behaviour, attitudes, and influences by crowds and other social gatherings (mirror-neurons: for example smiling like how others smile) Diffusion: When a rumour is spread from one individual to another (the speed of this spread depends on the density of the network).

Question 7

Convergence theory

Answer 7

explanation of the collective behaviour, that assumes that individuals with the same needs, values or goals will come together to form a group.

Question 8

Relative deprivation

Answer 8

psychological state that occurs when individuals have the feeling that their outcomes, status, identification etc. are inadequate when they compare them to others. It influences the feeling of happiness, satisfaction and well-being.

Question 9

Egoistic (personal) deprivation

Answer 9

having the feeling that your own outcomes are better than those of others.

Question 10

Fraternal (group) deprivation

Answer 10

when someone has the feeling that his own outcomes are lower than those of others.

Question 11

Emergent norm theory (Killian)

Answer 11

explanation of collective behaviour. Suggests that the uniformity in that behaviour is caused by the conformity to unique normative standards that develop spontaneously in groups. In other words: people will follow the example that others are in a group. Collectives are not without control or norms, but are socially structures by a temporary group-specific norm. Sometime strange behaviour is exhibited as to differentiate yourself from others (people want to be noticed).

Question 12

Baiting crowds

Answer 12

collective of people on a public location. Here members bully, torment or provoke others. In bigger groups this happens more often.