The Psychology of the Crowd

Ryan Diaz5 said:Before I dive into the whole "mob psychology" thing, I should probably get an answer to my question first: what’s your actual take on democracy and the democratic process of decision-making?

William Nelson7 said:The mosh pit is where a person can finally let loose their deepest, most suppressed complexes and primal rage... It’s essentially a box full of explosives of varying magnitudes, just waiting for a single spark to set them off... That energy can trigger anyone... I don't know how many of you have been to a heavy rock concert, but once the crowd starts surging, it's intense... Your logic tells you to back away, but that surge of testosterone pushes you right into the thick of it to shake off all that pent-up aggression.

amberbadger8 said:Look, here’s how I see it. You can view mass psychology as a direct result—a manifestation of energy—that represents what we might call a certain kind of (un)realized potential. This energy
starts at the strongest links and radiates outward until it hits a saturation point, yet ultimately remains anchored to someone's individual potential. It functions like a peak surrounded by its own surrounding landscape.
..all coalescing into a singular, majority-driven unity that spans the entire planet...

wearyowl29 said:It’s an imperfect system, really. It wears this human mask, if you want to call it that.
And honestly? It’s the only thing keeping us fed on a little bit of hope.

Are you actually mixing up the feeling of a mob with democratic or political principles?🤷

Ryan Diaz5 said:I'm trying to wrap my head around what actually qualifies as a "mob" in your definition. Does an electorate count as a mob, or is that something else entirely?

amberbadger8 said:😍 Good grief, amberbadger8, what kind of Robert Frost is this?

wearyowl29 said:Look, here is how I see it: when a group fails to recognize its individual members—not by their names, their jobs, or even their lifestyles—and there is zero intention to do so, that is when you move from a simple gathering into a true mass.
The big question for me is whether "mass" is just a different way of saying "crowd" in American English, or if there's a deeper distinction there.🤷

Is "mass" just an American way of saying "crowd"?🤷

Ryan Diaz5;16602510 said:

You’re just throwing out examples of what groups of people do, but you haven't actually broken any of them down. You haven't shown how those actions connect back to your earlier points at all.

Look, if you want a deep dive, save that for a PhD defense! For now, just be happy with a passing grade on your term paper;

A crowd possesses this massive amount of raw energy directed toward a specific goal, and that direction is driven by their frustrations and whatever external circumstances are swirling around them. Dissatisfaction and anger are the usual triggers—though, honestly, it can even be pure fun! Sometimes all it takes is a single match to spark it, and that flame can turn into a full-blown emergency. From a psychological standpoint, a crowd can act in a sudden moment of panic, vent aggression, throw out ultimate demands, or just become incredibly expressive.
The thing about a crowd is that it has zero patience. It doesn't sit there and deliberate; it acts impulsively, right here and right now.
(Think about looting during a major blackout, or the frustration of a specific social class, or even just a wild crowd at a Mardi Gras parade).

Crowds lack self-criticism. Once you introduce any kind of control, they lose that elemental nature that makes them a "mob"—that faceless collection of bodies. A crowd operates on its own internal logic, fueled by a buildup of repressed emotions that suddenly burst forth. As a pack, they are ready to do things an individual standing alone would never dream of doing.
Because they are so emotionally charged, they are incredibly easy to manipulate through suggestion. (Like a lynching).

Crowds are gullible, but they need focus; they need a clear objective. If the goals get scattered, the momentum dies. Within a crowd, there's this sense of merging, creating a homogeneity that, even if it's just brief, gives the individual a feeling of immense strength and unity.
In those moments, the crowd's energy blends perfectly with feelings of belonging, roots, heritage, and the land. In that instant, the individual feeds off the tribe's energy,
gets purified, and merges into a single, unified voice.
(Think of massive concerts, political rallies, or huge sporting events).

Gary James88 said:You’ve got stuff here from before 1930. Got anything a bit more recent? 😁

electrictiger70 said:I must have developed some sort of psychic intuition on this forum, because I knew exactly when Gary James88 would ask this question. 😁 One needs to master the fundamentals first; everything else follows naturally from there. I am certain that even at an Ivy League university, you wouldn't start your studies by jumping straight into a textbook from 2007. 😉

bluemaker52 said:Dr. Gustav Le bon really hit the nail on the head with his observations—I actually have a vintage edition from 1920 sitting right here on my shelf!
Do you all truly believe that people ever change? Honestly, it’s a fascinating question to ponder...

And one quick correction on my part... a whole bunch, not just bunches!