Understanding the behaviour of crowds

Question 1

Crowd behaviour

Answer 1

Crowds can cause prosocial or antisocial behaviour

Question 2

Prosocial behaviour

Answer 2

Behaviour seen as kind, helpful, cooperative and peaceful

Question 3

Antisocial behaviour

Answer 3

Behaviour seen as unhelpful, destructive and aggressive

Question 4

Deindividuation and conformity in crowds

Answer 4

Crowd behaviour, whether peaceful or aggressive, can be understood in terms of deindividuation, as members lose their personal identity among others. Crowds seem to magnify levels of conformity because of the deindividuation of individuals. This explains why ordinary individuals can display pro or antisocial behaviour depending on the crowd.