collective behavior
Crowd action patterns
Collective behavior is the actions of groups acting together, especially when spontaneous or unplanned.
Sociologists use the term for phenomena like crowds, riots, panics, fads, and social movements—situations where people influence each other outside normal institutional structures.
The protest started as collective behavior before becoming an organized movement.
Gathering in crowds
- swarmingGathering in large numbers
- schoolingFormal education received
- stampedeFrenzied mass flight
- migrationMovement to new territory
herding · grazing · murmuration · clustering · aggregation · shoaling · synchronization · swarm intelligence
Loss of self-awareness in groups
- crowd psychologyStudy of group influence
- anonymityUnknown identity state
- contagionDisease spread by contact
- suggestibilityReadiness to accept influence
emotional contagion · crowd mentality · impulsivity · social contagion · arousal · crowd dynamics · bystander effect · escalation
Adherence to norms
- unanimityComplete group agreement
- self-censorshipRestraining one's own expression
- overconfidenceUnjustified certainty in oneself
- stereotypingOversimplified group-based judgments
direct pressure · insularity · false consensus · closed-mindedness · rationalization
Violent public disturbance
- protestPublic expression of disapproval
- uprisingOrganized resistance to power
- demonstrationPublic display of opinion
- lootingTheft during disorder
rebellion · insurrection · march · resistance · confrontation · disturbance · agitation · strike
Uncontrollable sudden fear
- contagionDisease spread by contact
- moral panicIrrational collective fear wave
- witch-huntPersecution of supposed subversives
- outbreakSudden eruption of trouble
frenzy · conversion disorder · dancing plague · satanic panic
Joint effort toward shared aim
- collaborationJoint intellectual work
- synergyCombined effect exceeding components
- cohesionTendency to bind together
- communicationExchanging ideas or information
coordination · cooperation · consensus · decision-making · leadership · participation · roles · norms
flocking
Gathering in crowds
migration · herding · grazing · murmuration · clustering · aggregation · shoaling · synchronization · swarm intelligence · follow-the-leader
deindividuation
Loss of self-awareness in groups
- crowd psychologyStudy of group influence
- anonymityUnknown identity state
- contagionDisease spread by contact
suggestibility · emotional contagion · crowd mentality · impulsivity · social contagion · arousal · crowd dynamics · bystander effect · escalation
conformity
Adherence to norms
- unanimityComplete group agreement
- self-censorshipRestraining one's own expression
- overconfidenceUnjustified certainty in oneself
stereotyping · direct pressure · insularity · false consensus · closed-mindedness · rationalization
riot
Violent public disturbance
- protestPublic expression of disapproval
- uprisingOrganized resistance to power
- demonstrationPublic display of opinion
looting · rebellion · insurrection · march · resistance · confrontation · disturbance · agitation · strike · civil disobedience
panic
Uncontrollable sudden fear
- contagionDisease spread by contact
- moral panicIrrational collective fear wave
- witch-huntPersecution of supposed subversives
outbreak · frenzy · conversion disorder · dancing plague · satanic panic
teamwork
Joint effort toward shared aim
- collaborationJoint intellectual work
- synergyCombined effect exceeding components
- cohesionTendency to bind together
communication · coordination · cooperation · consensus · decision-making · leadership · participation · roles · norms · socialization
collective behaviorpersonal choice
collective behaviornonconformity
Rejection of prevailing norms
individualism · dissent · contrarianism · critical thinking · self-determination
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