Question

No single theory can explain the behaviour of all crowds. Discuss.

Answer 1

Crowd Psychology is a very important area of social psychology which tried to assess and study the behaviour and personality characteristics of the individuals in a crowd, the effect of the crowd on these individuals and these individual's joint effect on the function and state of the crowd.

There are various theorists who have given their unique theories to explain the behaviour of crowds. It can be said after reading through most of the theories that it is not possible for a single theory to explain the behaviour patterns of every kinds of crowds.

Some theories takes into account those crowds in which the individuals join the crowd to deindividuate themselves and get submerged with the suggestion of the crowd leader because by doing that they can get rid of responsibilities and can act without the risk of getting into a solo trouble. Thus, these theories opines that the person's behaviour inside a crowd is different than his actual behaviour. On the other hand, some theories opines that people inside the crowd behave according to their own personality and interest and they show their true self inside a crowd because that self is dark enough to be shown at times when they can be held responsible. Thus, this theories says something else as they are saying that an individual's behaviour inside a crowd is same is his actual behaviour. Some other Psychoanalytical theories opines that crowds acts as a displacement for superego and individuals inside a crowd listens to the crowd leader as they listen to their inner superego.

The studies done by these theories have taken into account different kinds of crowds and thus, all these theories are right in respect to their choosen crowd and may be wrong with respect to other crowds. Most theories have mutually supported the fact that crowd behaviour takes into account two factors which are getting rid of responsibility and anonymity but still there are certain crowds by belonging to which some individuals wants to get famous and known to all and thus, doesn't wants to stay anonymous. Thus, it will be safer to say that the behaviour of crowds can't be explained through a single theory and incorporation of multiple theoritical premises will be needed to come to an accurate inference and conclusion.