Collective Behaviour Sociology C. McMurray. Collective Behaviour Collective behaviour describes how people behave when they are united by a single short-term.

Collective Behaviour

Sociology

C. McMurray

Collective Behaviour

Collective behaviour describes how people behave when they are united by a single short-term goal.

Examples of collective behaviours: rumors fads fashions mass hysteria panics

Terms:

Collective Behaviour – the spontaneous behaviour of a group of people responding to similar stimuli

Rumor – a widely circulating piece of information that is not verified as being true or false

Urban legend – a moralistic tale which focuses on current concerns and fears of the city or suburb dweller

One of the most famous e-mail legends, the Neiman Marcus cookie recipe, combines a great story with an appeal to fight injustice. The e-mail is a personal account of a mother and her daughter eating at a Neiman Marcus store. After their meal, they order a couple of Neiman Marcus chocolate cookies, which they enjoy immensely. The mother asks the waitress for the recipe, and is told that she can buy it for "two-fifty." Later, when she sees the Neiman Marcus charge on her credit card, she realizes that she has been charged $250, rather than $2.50. The customer-service representative refuses to refund her money, because the company's recipe is so valuable that it cannot be distributed cheaply. In order to exact revenge on the company, the mother claims in the e-mail, she has decided to distribute the recipe freely over the Internet, and she encourages you to send it to everyone you know.

Source:http://people.howstuffworks.com/urban-legend5.htm

The recipe in the message does make delicious cookies, but they are not the sort sold at Neiman Marcus, and there is no $250 Neiman Marcus cookie recipe. In fact, when the message was first circulated, Neiman Marcus didn't even make such a chocolate chip cookie. Amazingly, this story has been around in various forms since the 1940s. In the 1980s, the overcharging company was Mrs. Fields. Years before that, it was the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York, and the recipe was for a "Red Velvet Cake."

These sorts of e-mail stories demonstrate just how deep-rooted urban legends are. No matter how much "information technology" we develop, human beings will always be drawn in by the unsubstantiated rumor. In fact, information technology actually accelerates the spread of tall tales. By definition, urban legends seem to have a life of their own, creeping through a society one person at a time. And like a real life form, they adapt to changing conditions. It will always be human nature to tell bizarre stories, and there will always be an audience waiting to believe them. The urban legend is part of our makeup.

Terms:

Fad – an unusual behaviors pattern that spreads rapidly and disappears quickly

Fashion – a widely accepted behavior pattern that changes periodically

High School MusicalYouTube mini skirts with leggingsskinny jeans iPodsAmerican IdolEmo Music & Emo Style Suped Up Cars (like on Pimp My Ride)Flare JeansBloggingThe phrase, "That's Hot" (made famous by Paris Hilton)Napolean DynamiteWilliam HungWide skate shoes with fat lacesMentos and CokeHigh School MusicalDance Dance RevolutionWikisRobotic Pets

Source: http://www.crazyfads.com/00s.htm

Fads of 2000

The Big Mouth Billy Bass MetrosexualityReality TV ShowsAtkins / Low Carb DietsSnoop Dogg speakNuma Numa Web VideoEnergy Drinks (Red Bull, Full Throttle, Monster Energy, etc.).Razor ScootersDragonball Z (2000 - 2002?)[7]Texas hold 'em PokerWebkinz Tivo / DVRFantasy LeaguesSpeed DatingFlash MobsThongsText messagingUggs (boots)Vanilla CokeHannah MontanaOversized sunglasses

Ring TonesGel pensHybrid carsTV/DVD screens in carsUsing Online Slang In Speech (OMG, BRB, etc.)Crocs (shoes)Pocket BikesThe Million Dollar Homepage and pixel advertising BluetoothWorld of WarcraftJared the Subway GuyP2P File Sharing (Napster, Kaaza, etc.)LiveSTRONG yellow wristbands (to support the fight against cancer)The Da Vinci CodeLow Rise JeansGeocaching US flags on carsWireless Camera PhonesBratz DollsCraigslistLonelygirl15BotoxSocial Networks (MySpace.com/Facebook.com)Vlogs (bideo blogs)Sudoku puzzles

Fads of the 80’s - http://www.crazyfads.com/80s.htm

Terms:

Mass hysteria – collective anxiety created by the acceptance of one or more false beliefs

Panic – reaction to a real threat in fearful, anxious and often self-damaging ways

Panics usually occur in response to such

unexpected events e.g. fire

CrowdsCrowd – a temporary collection of people who share an

immediate common interest

1. Casual crowd is the least organized, least emotional(A crowd gathers to observe the aftermath of an

accident)

2. Conventional crowd has a specific purpose and follows accepted norms for appropriate behaviour

(People watching a ball game)

3. Expressive crowds have no significant or long-term purpose beyond unleashing emotion.(Hysterical fans at a rock concert)

4. Acting crowd takes some action toward a target.(Protestors, mobs and/or crowds engaging in riots)

Casual Crowd

Conventional Crowd

Expressive Crowd

Acting CrowdsMob – emotional crowd ready to use violence

for a specific purpose

Acting CrowdsRiot – episode of largely random destruction

and violence carried out by a crowd

Theories of Crowd Behavior

Contagion Theory

Theory stating that members of crowds stimulate each other to higher and higher levels of emotion and irrational behaviour

Emergent norm Theory

Theory stating that norms develop to guide crowd behaviour

Convergence theory

Theory that states that crowds are formed by people who deliberately congregate with like-minded others

Exit Slip #10 Crowd Behavior

Describe an occasion when you acted as part of a crowd. How did this feel? How and why did the presence of the crowd enhance or detract from the event?

25 marks Matching, multiple choice, short answer

Collective behaviourRumorUrban legendFadFashionMass hysteriaPanicMobRiot

Types of crowds:casual crowdconventional crowdexpressive crowdsacting crowd

Theories of Crowd behaviour:Contagion TheoryEmergent TheoryConvergence Theory

Final Reflection

When you are finished exit slip #11, turn to the rubric on the first page and fill out #3. (eg Please read # ___ this is my best one. Then turn to the last page “Final Reflection” and write down why you want me to read this chosen exit slip)

Sociology Exit Slips

1. Sociological Imagination2. Manners3. Culture Shock4. Zimbardo Experiment5. Role strain Role conflict6. Life boat activity7. Conformity8. Cliques9. Race and Ethnicity10. Candy Activity11. Crowd Behaviour