Author Question: Summarize the key elements of these four explanations of crowd behavior: contagion theory, social ... (Read 41 times)

clmills979

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 551
Summarize the key elements of these four explanations of crowd behavior: contagion theory, social unrest and circular reaction, convergence theory, and emergent norm theory.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

The __________ is also referred to as the militaryindustrial complex, which results in the mutual interdependence of the military establishment and private military contractors.
 
  a. Copper Circle
 b. Platinum Pentagon
 c. Iron Triangle
 d. Titanium Rhombus



Alyson.hiatt@yahoo.com

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 354
Answer to Question 1

French scholar Gustave Le Bon developed the contagion theory, which focuses on the social-psychological aspects of collective behavior; it attempts to explain how moods, attitudes, and behavior are communicated rapidly and why they are accepted by others. People are more likely to engage in antisocial behavior in a crowd because they are anonymous and feel invulnerable. A crowd takes on a life of its own that is larger than the beliefs or actions of any one person. Because of its anonymity, the crowd transforms individuals from rational beings into a single organism with a collective mind. Emotions such as fear and hate are contagious in crowds because people experience a decline in personal responsibility; they will do things as a collectivity that they would never do when acting alone. Sociologist Robert E. Park added the concepts of social unrest and circular reaction to contagion theory. Social unrest is transmitted by a process of circular reactionthe interactive communication between persons such that the discontent of one person is communicated to another, who, in turn, reflects the discontent back to the first person. Convergence theory focuses on the shared emotions, goals, and beliefs that many people may bring to crowd behavior. Because of their individual characteristics, many people have a predisposition to participate in certain types of activities.

Convergence theory has been applied to a wide array of conduct, from lynch mobs to environmental movements. Sociologists Ralph Turner and Lewis Killian developed the emergent norm theory which emphasizes the importance of social norms in shaping crowd behavior. They asserted that crowds develop their own definition of a situation and establish norms for behavior that fit the occasion. Sociologists using the emergent norm approach seek to determine how individuals in a given collectivity develop an understanding of what is going on, how they construe these activities, and what type of norms are involved. Some emergent norms are permissivethat is, they give people a shared conviction that they may disregard ordinary rules, such as waiting in line and taking turns. Emergent norm theory points out that crowds are not irrational. Rather, new norms are developed in a rational way to fit the immediate situation.

Answer to Question 2

c



Related Topics

Need homework help now?

Ask unlimited questions for free

Ask a Question


 

Did you know?

Many supplement containers do not even contain what their labels say. There are many documented reports of products containing much less, or more, that what is listed on their labels. They may also contain undisclosed prescription drugs and even contaminants.

Did you know?

The senior population grows every year. Seniors older than 65 years of age now comprise more than 13% of the total population. However, women outlive men. In the 85-and-over age group, there are only 45 men to every 100 women.

Did you know?

The ratio of hydrogen atoms to oxygen in water (H2O) is 2:1.

Did you know?

There used to be a metric calendar, as well as metric clocks. The metric calendar, or "French Republican Calendar" divided the year into 12 months, but each month was divided into three 10-day weeks. Each day had 10 decimal hours. Each hour had 100 decimal minutes. Due to lack of popularity, the metric clocks and calendars were ended in 1795, three years after they had been first marketed.

Did you know?

Egg cells are about the size of a grain of sand. They are formed inside of a female's ovaries before she is even born.

For a complete list of videos, visit our video library