All In The Mind Do people really behave differently in a crowd?
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May 24, 2025 Milad Haghani, Associate Professor in Urban Resilience & Mobility at the University of Melbourne, delves into the complexities of crowd behavior. He debunks myths surrounding panicky crowd instincts, revealing instances of compassion during crises. The discussion touches on effective strategies for crowd management, especially during large events like the Hajj and New Year’s Eve celebrations. Milad shares insights on improving evacuation efficiency through simple behavioral modifications and emphasizes the importance of shared identity in preventing disasters.
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Debunking Old Crowd Psychology
- Historical crowd psychology by Gustave Le Bon viewed crowds as irrational and impulsive.
- Modern research debunks this and shows crowd behavior is more nuanced and connected to social identity.
Social Identity Shapes Crowd Behavior
- Social identity theory explains crowd behavior through shared identity and in-group/out-group dynamics.
- Physical crowds in emergencies often become social crowds with a shared identity, promoting cooperative behavior.
London Bombings Show Crowd Cooperation
- During the 2005 London bombings, survivors helped each other instead of panicking.
- This contrasted the idea that people lose their minds in emergencies, showing crowd cooperation.
