Collective Behavior: Videos & Practice Problems

Collective behavior involves spontaneous, transitory actions of large groups outside formal social institutions, including various crowd types: casual, conventional, expressive, and acting crowds. Acting crowds pursue a shared goal and can escalate into mobs—goal-oriented, emotional, and often violent groups—or riots, which are disorganized and driven by strong emotions without clear objectives. These phenomena illustrate how social norms can temporarily shift during intense collective behavior, influencing social change and reflecting dynamics of social interaction, social control, and social conflict within society.

Collective Behavior and Crowds

Collective behavior refers to the actions and activities of a large group of people, often occurring outside established social institutions like the criminal justice system, religious organizations, or educational systems. Unlike structured social institutions, collective behavior is typically spontaneous and temporary, encompassing a wide range of human emotions and purposes. This concept is essential for understanding how groups of people interact in various social contexts and how such interactions can lead to social change.

A key aspect of collective behavior is the formation of crowds, which are defined as large numbers of people gathered in a shared location. Sociologists categorize crowds into several types based on their characteristics and the nature of social interaction within them. Casual crowds consist of individuals who happen to be in the same place at the same time, such as people at a park, with minimal or no social interaction. Conventional crowds form around planned, scheduled events like lectures or movies, where attendees share a common purpose but typically do not engage deeply with one another.

Expressive crowds gather around emotionally charged events, which can be either joyous, like weddings and sporting events, or somber, such as funerals. The primary function of expressive crowds is to collectively experience and share the emotions evoked by the event. In contrast, acting crowds are characterized by members who share a specific goal and act collectively to achieve it. These crowds are often intense and purposeful, frequently leading to phenomena such as protests, mobs, or riots. While both expressive and acting crowds involve strong emotions, the critical distinction lies in the unified objective present in acting crowds, where every participant pursues the same goal.

Understanding these types of crowds and the dynamics of collective behavior is crucial for analyzing how social movements emerge and how groups influence societal change. The study of collective behavior reveals the powerful role that spontaneous and organized group actions play in shaping social realities.

Collective Behavior Example 1

Crowds can be categorized based on their purpose and the nature of interaction among individuals. An acting crowd is characterized by members who share a common goal and actively engage in collective behavior, such as students protesting a university's investments in fossil fuels. In contrast, a casual crowd consists of people who happen to be in the same place at the same time but do not interact or share a specific purpose, like eight strangers sitting independently in a coffee shop.

An expressive crowd gathers primarily to express shared emotions or sentiments, often during significant events such as a memorial service for a veteran killed in action. This type of crowd emphasizes emotional connection and collective expression. Meanwhile, a conventional crowd forms around scheduled events with established norms and expectations, such as attendees at a film screening, where behavior is more structured and predictable.

Understanding these distinctions helps in analyzing social dynamics and crowd behavior, highlighting how context and intent shape group interactions.

Which of the following statements about crowds are true?
I. Crowds form for many different reasons. 
II. Individuals in a crowd may lack an identity as part of that crowd.
III. Crowds typically exist outside of social institutions.

• A. I & II.
• B. I & III.
• C. II & III.
• D. I, II, & III.

Answer: (D)

Which of the following situations is most characteristic of a riot?

• A. Twelve people who have never met before are all in the grocery store at the same time.
• B. A group organizes a march to advocate for changes to environmental policy.
• C. After a controversial call is made, a group of angry fans runs across the field of a soccer game, screaming and attacking the players and referees.
• D. A large, angry crowd gathers outside an insurance company to protest high medical costs.

Answer: (A)

Here’s what students ask on this topic:

What is collective behavior in sociology?

Collective behavior in sociology refers to the spontaneous and transitory actions of a large group of people that occur outside of established social institutions like the criminal justice system or education. It involves diverse behaviors that arise in crowds or groups, often driven by shared emotions or goals. Unlike structured social institutions, collective behavior is typically temporary and can include various forms such as casual gatherings, conventional crowds at planned events, expressive crowds centered on emotional experiences, and acting crowds focused on a common goal. This concept helps sociologists understand how people behave in groups during events that are not governed by formal rules or norms.

What are the different types of crowds in collective behavior?

Sociologists identify four main types of crowds in collective behavior: casual, conventional, expressive, and acting crowds. Casual crowds consist of people who happen to be in the same place at the same time with little interaction, like people at a park. Conventional crowds gather for planned events, such as lectures or movies, with minimal social interaction. Expressive crowds form around emotional events like weddings, funerals, or sports games, where sharing emotions is central. Acting crowds are goal-oriented groups where everyone acts with the same purpose, often intense and sometimes leading to protests or riots. Understanding these types helps explain how group dynamics and emotions influence collective actions.

How do mobs and riots differ in collective behavior?

Mobs and riots are both forms of intense collective behavior but differ mainly in organization and goals. A mob is a highly emotional crowd with a clear, focused goal, often involving violent or destructive intent, such as targeting a person or forcing entry into a building. In contrast, a riot is a highly emotional crowd without a clear goal, characterized by disorganized and destructive behavior. Riots often start with a goal but devolve into chaotic actions driven by strong emotions, sometimes in response to long-standing injustices. Both phenomena show how social norms can temporarily shift, allowing behaviors that are normally unacceptable.

What role do emotions play in collective behavior?

Emotions are central to collective behavior, influencing how crowds form and act. Expressive crowds gather primarily to share and experience strong emotions, such as joy at a wedding or grief at a funeral. Acting crowds also involve intense emotions but are united by a shared goal, which can lead to protests or other purposeful actions. In mobs and riots, emotions often escalate, leading to behaviors that deviate from normal social norms, such as violence or destruction. These emotional dynamics help explain why people in groups sometimes act differently than they would individually, highlighting the power of collective emotional experiences in shaping social behavior.

How can collective behavior lead to social change?

Collective behavior can drive social change by bringing attention to issues and challenging existing social norms. Acting crowds, such as protests, often aim to achieve specific goals like policy changes or social justice. During intense events like mobs or riots, temporary new social norms may emerge, allowing behaviors that question or disrupt the status quo. These moments can highlight grievances and mobilize public opinion, sometimes leading to lasting changes in laws, attitudes, or institutions. Thus, collective behavior serves as a catalyst for social transformation by expressing collective emotions and goals outside formal channels.