A Crowded World: Scientists Study Collective Psychology

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Capacityexpect of 4:05AM December 06, 2009

Is there any topic that doesn't immediately bring a comment that evangelizes and invites people to become believers and tithers? The comment about subway passengers policing their aisle-buddies makes sense. I suggest the Christian dictum not to judge-- and to forgive-- and to love thine enemy -- has done a lot of harm over the centuries. Imagine loving rapists, incestors, killers and white collar crooks like those who destroyed retirement savings of millions of people. It was easier for Hitler to speak from a balcony to mobs who gathered BELOW because the same mobs gathered below to hear the pope speak from his balcony. Hitler appeared after microphones made possible the amplification of sound. If speaking through a megaphone, Hitler would not have been able to incite so many people to do wrong. The internet is a wonderful advance because it presents so very many points of view.

aura dawn veirs of CA 7:15PM July 13, 2009

The research on Mob Mentality could benefit from the study of individual behavior.
Isn't borderline behavior in an individual have the potential, just as a person or two in a crowd have the potential to turn them into a Mob, for bad behavior?
Watching video depicting an escalation of violent behavior, doesn't it appear as though one or two people at first, will throw a bottle or a brick?
Or in some cases there are always just a few people in front of the surge?
Does it not also appear as if those in the immediate area seem hesitant at first, looking like cows or sheep about to stampede?
Here is the tipping point. Sometimes the closest ones will attack the brick thrower or demagogue, and subdue them until the cops arrive and sometimes, they will surge froward, joining in breaking windows and looting. The latter often occurring very rapidly.
The general situation these people find themselves in seems to have a remarkable influence on their behavior.
Aren't there situations such as a rally, where the anarchy is planned often quite organized and detailed?
In a crowd consisting of regular, mixed and random general purpose citizens, it seems that they don't often turn into a Mob.
But a more narrow group such as like minded sports fans or polarized special interest groups (Political, Religious, Racial, Anti, Pro, etc) are far more capable of mayhem.
The Cops know this, so why not ask them for input? I have personally witnessed a cop or two subdue a group of people who outnumbered them by a large fraction. But everyone has seen battalions of police overwhelmed by numbers.
I believe the police would be a valuable resource. They certainly have a vast store of data/knowledge that concern riots.

DaveH. of NC 7:57AM May 11, 2009

Pilate...said, What accusation bring ye against this man? They answered ...If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee. ...Pilate sid, Take ye him, judge him according to your law. The Jews said , It is not lawful for us to put any man to death: That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die. Pilate entered into the judgment hall again & called Jesus, & said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? Jesus answered, Do you say this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Your own nation & the chief priests have delivered you to me: what have you done? Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, You say that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth hears my voice. Pilate said, What is truth? When he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews? Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber. Pilate therefore took Jesus &scourged him. The soldiers platted a crown of thorns, & put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, And said, Hail, King of the Jews! They smote him with their hands. Pilate said to them, Behold, I bring him to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him.
He came wearing the crown of thorns, & purple robe. Pilate said unto them, Behold the man! When the chief priests therefore & officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate said, Take ye him, & crucify him: for I find no fault in him. The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was more afraid. He went again into the judgment hall, & saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate said, Do you not speak to me? and know not that I have power to crucify you and have power to release you? Jesus answered, You could have no power at all against me, except it were given you from above: therefore he that delivered me to you has the greater sin. From then on Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, you art not Caesar's
friend: whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar. When Pilate heard that, he brought Jesus, and sat down in the judgment seat. He said, Behold your King! They cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him! Pilate said, Shall I crucify your King? John 18-19

wordwon of SC 4:28PM April 28, 2009