CROWD BEHAVIOR is heavily influenced by the loss of responsibility of the individual and the impression of universality of behaviour - both of which increase with the size of the crowd. “An individual in a crowd is a grain of sand amid other grains of sand, which the wind stirs up at will.” - Gustave Le Bon --------- A French social psychologist, Le Bon, suggests that: 1) Due to the ANONYMITY of the crowd, the individuals in the crowd lose their sense of individual self and personal responsibility. “I knew what I’m doing is illegal, but I’m not responsible for this mess. Therere tens of thousands of us here, are they going to arrest us all?” 2) CONTAGION: People in a crowd are prone to unquestioningly follow the predominant ideas and emotions of the crowd. An emotion is capable of spreading between crowd members like “a disease”. “If we go home now, Hong Kong will be doomed! We’ll be stripped of our freedom! The SAR government has all the blames! We wouldn’t have started occupation if they had listened to us in the past... And those anti-Occupy folks are all selfish, short-sighted and ignorant. If only they knew we’re fighting for their future!!” 3) As the crowd converges to a singular mind, SUGGESTIONS made by strong voices in the crowd guide the crowd’s behaviors. “Right, we should set up tents here! Unless the government accepts our demand(s), we will keep occupying the streets! We are not leaving!” ------ I see grains of sand being stirred up by the wind. Are we losing touch with our individual sense and sensibilities?
Posted on: Mon, 13 Oct 2014 06:00:39 +0000
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