Definition:
1. Ian Robertson. "Collective behaviour refers to relatively spontaneous and unstructured ways of thinking, jeeling and acting on the part of a large number of people".2. N.J. Smelser.
Collective behaviour could also be outlined as "The comparatively unorganised patterns of social interaction in human groups".
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| Collective Behaviour-definition, characteristics and social movements |
An Illustrative Example for ‘Collective Behaviour
As it is mentioned above, most social behaviour follows a regular, patterned and predictable course. Most of the people play their roles obliging the norms that are woven around the roles. This is true of a normal class-room situation in a college. Students arrive more of less on time, they seat themselves in an orderly way, they listen to lectures, take notes, ask question at appropriate points, and finally they leave the classroom when the lecture is over and the lecturer goes out. There is a good ideal of other things that a group of students would do in a room, but in practice everyone behaves But suppose a fire suddenly breaks out in the classroom. Confusion prevails everywhere normal pattern of behaviour gets immediately disrupted. The norms that prevailed a few moments before, are suspended, and social behaviour becomes unstructured' and 'unpredictable" virtuality there are no norms to govern this unanticipated situation. It is possible, though not inevitable that panic will result if panic pervades, cooperative behaviour will also break down. There will be disorderly n sh to the exits, even though this will actually reduce people's chances of escape. Students may sb sut, cry, and move hither and thither in a panic.It is also possible that there will be little panic, particularly if leaders emerge who take charge of the situation, supervise an orderly exit and attempt to put off the fire. But whether the student crowd becomes panicky or not, its behaviour is no longer guided by everyday norms.
Sociologists use the term "collective behaviour" to talk to such a kind of behaviour.
Characteristics of Collective Behaviour
1. Collective behaviour unremarkably centres around a development that is actually temporary in nature.Further, it is entirely an unplanned one.
2. This type of behaviour is not regulated by any set of rules or procedures; 3. Since this behaviour is not bound by any defined norms, it becomes unpredictable also.
4. People who are attracted by an accident, rot, street fight, fire casualty or any such event gather at the spot without any prior planning they do not even know one another. This anonymity encourages them to behave in an irresponsible manner.
5. The event that cause the people to gather in a spot is not an usual event. It is generally unusual.
Communal riots, street fighting, fire accidents etc. are not normal or routine events.
6. Rumours and info unremarkably run rampant throughout the course of collective behaviour.
Nobody knows exactly the cause of such a behaviour and everybody reacts in his own way contributing to the confusion or the diorderliness that is already there in behaviour.
7. This kind of behaviour is triggered not only by rumours but also guided by beliefs, hopes, fears, enmity and hatreds.
8. Combined behavior may, in certain cases, be closely linked to the broader cultural pattern of the community.
For example, Muslims may react more sharply to the issues when the religious matters are involved in them, than to the business or political matters. Similarly, Hindus may respond much quickly when the caste matters are involved, and so on.
Collective Behaviour and Social Movements
‘Social movement' represents another form of social behaviour that has similarities to the kind of collective action which we have discussed above."A movement consists of an oversized variety of individuals WHO have joined along to create or resist social or cultural change".--(lan Robertson).
Example, Women's liberation movement, the Ayodhya movement, Naxalite movement, "Save the environment" movement, Trade union movement, student movement, tribal movement, etc.
According to some sociologists social movements also constitute one form of collective behaviour but according to some others, they represent a separate, though related phenomenon. Sometimes it becomes difficult to point out the differences between the two in precise terms. some, such as the "hippie" countercultures of sixties, seem to fit the definition of collective behaviour. Such movements are very 'unstructured' and not organised. On the other hand, we have movements, such as "human rights" movement, "Right to life" movements the Ayodhya movement, etc. which are highly organised. Some movements such as those of environmental preservation, seem fall between these two extremes.
A sociologist is interested in the study of both collective behaviour and social movements not just because such a study is highly fascinating. Their significance lies in the fact they constitute an important element in social change. "They can serve as the source of new values a
3. The third downside of the study is that the idea of "Collective behaviour" features a terribly wide selection of that means.
It includes in itself - fashions, feuds, riots, mass hysteria, mob, and many such things between which we find lot of variance. Each such a thing or component will have to be understood in its own way. In spite of these limitations, however, sociologists have made some inroads into the study of this complex phenomenon of collective behaviour.
It includes in itself - fashions, feuds, riots, mass hysteria, mob, and many such things between which we find lot of variance. Each such a thing or component will have to be understood in its own way. In spite of these limitations, however, sociologists have made some inroads into the study of this complex phenomenon of collective behaviour.
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