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The mystery of collective behavior: How does it arise spontaneously?
In social sciences, the process of collective behavior and its spontaneity have always been one of the research focuses. From the Los Angeles riots in 1992 to the hula hoop craze in 1958, collective behavior has emerged in various social events, enough to shake social structures and trigger reflection. These behaviors not only reflect a certain social structure, but also show a unique spontaneity. Why do such behaviors occur?
The theory of collective behavior is mainly derived from the early exploration of Franklin Henry Giddings and has been widely used by some well-known sociologists such as Herbert Bloom, Ralph H. Turner and Louis · Further development by Killian et al. These scholars argue that social forces do not exist like physical forces but are driven by human interpretations and responses. They emphasize that individuals are still active in collective behavior, and their behavior is often based on their interpretation of the behavior of others.Collective behavior not only follows existing laws and norms, but also often violates social norms, which makes collective behavior "unbelievable" to some extent.
Collective behavior takes many forms and involves human social interactions, from violent riots to popular fashions, and can be fertile ground for social research.
Forms of collective behavior
Bloom lists four main forms of collective behavior, each with its own unique characteristics and social significance.
Crowd
Scholars have different definitions of crowd, but crowd is a form of collective behavior that almost everyone mentions. The formation of a crowd often implies emotional resonance. According to Gustave Le Bon, the crowd suppresses the rationality of the individual and plunges him into the frenzy of emotion. This emotional resonance makes individual behavior unpredictable and has the potential to turn into more extreme behavior.
When one person decides to destroy an object, others may follow, and an escalation of emotions ensues, forming what is known as a "herd mentality."
Public
Unlike a crowd, the public is a group of people discussing a particular issue. When people gather together to discuss a topic, this collective behavior is called a public. The formation of publics is ever-changing; they can be established or dissolved as topics change.
Volkswagen
Popular perceptions emphasize the influence of the media. Mass behavior mainly influences and consolidates individual thoughts through media communication. For example, newspapers or television programs can quickly trigger public response and change the original social behavior patterns.
Social Movements
A social movement is a collective action that aims to bring about social change or transformation. Social movements tend to be more organized than other forms of collective behavior and may form fixed social structures and institutions over the long term.
Theoretical interpretation of collective behavior
To better understand how collective behavior develops, social scientists have proposed several theories to explain it. These theories provide different perspectives to view and explain the phenomenon of collective behavior.
Contagion theory
According to contagion theory, when people gather together, a "contagious" phenomenon of imitation and emotion will occur. In such situations, individuals tend to abandon their sense of responsibility and perform certain social behaviors driven by emotions.
Convergence Theory
Convergence theory holds that individuals engaging in collective behavior gather spontaneously because they share a common goal, rather than being driven by the group. This behavior is an expression of the individual's inner desires, and thus can better reflect the individual's inner world.
Emerging Normative Theory
This theory holds that new social norms and behavioral patterns often emerge in collective behavior. These behaviors may not necessarily follow the original social norms, but instead appear based on the current situation and the emotional changes of the crowd.
Value Added Theory
The value-added theory holds that collective behavior is the release of accumulated tension in the social system, and collective behavior occurs when the social situation is appropriate.
Challenges of Thinking
As a social phenomenon, collective behavior demonstrates the complexity of social dynamics. It not only reflects the emotional world of human beings, but also challenges our perception of autonomy and rationality. What secrets are hidden behind this spontaneous behavior? How will the relationship between society and emotions affect our future?
