Collective Behaviour

HSP3M

Scenario

June 1992, Paul Semple, a 22 year old photography student, was watching a movie with his two roommates in their Toronto apartment. They heard screams, and looked out the window to see a couple and their 11-year old daughter being violently attacked by four men. Semple and his roommates rushed down into the street to help. They were joined by a neighbour armed with a baseball bat, and together they chased the attackers. However, Semple became separated and was cornerned by the attackers. He was stabbed and beaten, and died of his injuries.

Scenario

Were Semple and his roommates right to get involved?

Do you think Semple would have acted differently if he had been alone?

Why do people sometimes try not to get involved in these types of incidents?

Collective Behaviour

The way people act in crowds, social movements, or across an entire culture or society

Usually spontaneous, may be unpredictable Can be localized (crowd of people) or

dispersed (gossip, fashion, etc.)

Collective behaviour over the holidays?

List three of the social situations you found yourself in over the holidays

Categorize each as– Family, friends, social organization (school,

church), or crowd (mall, sports event, concert)

Describe the activities you engaged in, and indicate whether the group influenced your behaviour, and if so, how?

Recall…

Kitty Genovese

Reginald Denny

South-Central Los Angeles, 6:45 PM on April 29, 1992, within hours after the acquittal of four Los Angeles policemen an charges of beating Rodney King.  It was then and there that outrage at the verdict had erupted into a riot.

Denny was driving an 18 wheel truck when he stopped at the intersection.  The window of his truck was smashed by a brick, and several black men pulled him from the truck. He was knocked to the pavement, kicked and smashed in the head to near unconsciousness.

Media helicopters that hovered over the riot torn streets broadcast the beating live on TV

Reginald Denny

Bobby Green, a black truck driver whose home was not far from the intersection, was watching television when he saw Denny being pulled from the truck.

Not saying a word to his family, he left the safety of his home and rushed to the melee.  With the help of other black rescuers, another man and two women, he managed to push Denny back into the cab.

Green drove the truck to the hospital emergency room, saving Denny's life. He then returned the truck to the company lot and quietly made his way home.

Reginald Denny

How did Reginald Denny’s situation differ from that of Kitty Genovese?

Are you surprised at the response?

Crowds

Conventional: gathered for a specific event– Assembly– Movie– Wedding

Conform to norms appropriate to situation

Crowds

Expressive: participants cheer, shout, etc.– Concert– Sporting event– Political rally

Usually directed by a centre of influence

Crowds

Acting: Usually has a political purpose May behave aggressively

– When they become violent/destructive, they become a mob

– If there is no particular goal or purpose, it is a riot

Homework

P. 208 #3,5