Collective behavior and its theories brief explanation

1. {
Collective Behavior
and theories of
collective behavior
Presented by :
Chetan Sharma
Department of Social work
Kurukshetra university Kurukshetra

2. Collective Behavior :
• The term collective behavior refers to the group
behavior that is apparently not guided by the usual
norms of conduct.
• Definition by N.J. Smeler :
Collective behavior may be
defined as “ the relatively unorganized patterns of social
interaction in human groups.”

3. Characteristics of Collective Behavior :
• Temporary in nature and entirely an unplanned one.
• Not regulated by any set of rules or procedure.
• Since this behavior is not bound by any defined norms , it
becomes unpredictable.
• Anonymity encourages to behave in an irresponsible manner.
• It is an unusual event.
• Rumors and misinformation runs.
• Triggered not only by rumors but also guided by beliefs ,
hopes, fears etc.

4. Forms of Collective Behavior :
1. Crowd :-
• “ A relatively large number of people in close proximity
to each other (localized collectivities)”
• Reacts at once to common focus or concern.
• Do not define how to behave or share clear expectations
on what will happen.
• Often feel something must be done right way to
address their common concern.
• Attitudes and ideas about the common concern spread
very quickly among crowd members.

5. 2) Mob :-
• When an acting crowd starts to engage in destructive
and sometimes violent behavior.
• A mob is a crowd that is easily persuaded to take
aggressive or violent action in order to gain attention or
solve their problem.
• Eg, mob lynching etc.
3) Riots :
• A form of civil disorder commonly characterized by a
group lashing out in a violent public disturbances
against authority ,property or people.
• Eg., riots related to social injustice.

6. Theories of Collective behavior -:
1) Contagion theory :-
In short, contagion theory
argues that collective behavior is irrational and results
from the contagious influence of the crowds in which
individuals find themselves. Contagion theory assumes
that people in a crowd act emotionally and irrationally
because they come under the influence of the crowd’s
impulses.
If a people interested in country music goes
to a rock concert along with friends and the friends are
enjoying very much , the person will start to enjoy too
due to group feeling and mass contagion. The person
forgets his/her own likes and dislikes to follow the
group behavior.

7. 2) Convergence theory :-
In studying the economies
of developing countries to see if they go through the
same stages as previously developed nations did,
sociologists have observed a pattern they call
convergence . This describes the theory that societies
move toward similarity over time as their economies
develop.
Some examples of convergence theory include
Russia and Vietnam, formerly purely communist
countries that have eased away from strict communist
doctrines as the economies in other countries, such as the
United states have burgeoned.

8. 3) Emergent norm theory :-
This theory
hypothesizes that non-traditional behavior ( such as that
associated with collective action ) develops in crowds as a
result of the emergence of new behavioral norms in
response to a precipitating crisis. The norms that develop
within crowds are not strict rules for behavior.
Emergent
norm theory explains that collective behavior has a long
history of turning violent , such as in the cases of mobs
and riots . However, collective behavior also applies to
fads that can cause some good. The ice bucket challenge is
an example of collective behavior that raised money
towards medical research.