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THE BEHAVIOR OF CROWDS: A PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDY
Everett Dean Martin presented in this book what he saw as the dilemma of the modern age: a technological information revolution that made it possible, in the absence of an adequate educational system, to influence ignorant men and women with propaganda and half-truths.
Everett Dean Martin was an American minister, writer, journalist, instructor, lecturer, social psychologist, social philosopher, and an advocate of adult education.
Everett Dean Martin was an American minister, writer, journalist, instructor, lecturer, social psychologist, social philosopher, and an advocate of adult education.
259 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1920
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 20, 2019
Good read for crowds today
In reading this I can make so many observations of crowd behaviour in relation to today's political climate. I can see where our society is being manipulated on both sides no matter what our affiliation with said parties tends to be. Think for yourself and always question.
In reading this I can make so many observations of crowd behaviour in relation to today's political climate. I can see where our society is being manipulated on both sides no matter what our affiliation with said parties tends to be. Think for yourself and always question.
January 25, 2020
Exceptional Read
The student of politics in the 21st Century would do well to read this 100 year old timeless classic. Human nature hasn't changed, nor has the seemingly hyperbolic extestential threat to society. Martin captures the essence of the crowd and the tyrrany of the majority in this exceptional book. A must read.
The student of politics in the 21st Century would do well to read this 100 year old timeless classic. Human nature hasn't changed, nor has the seemingly hyperbolic extestential threat to society. Martin captures the essence of the crowd and the tyrrany of the majority in this exceptional book. A must read.
August 15, 2019
Brilliant
This book is just as relevant today as it was when it was written about a hundred years ago. Maybe even more so. The only downside is in one chapter where Martin leans heavily on ideas from Freud which were popular in his day, but aren't taken that seriously today.
This book is just as relevant today as it was when it was written about a hundred years ago. Maybe even more so. The only downside is in one chapter where Martin leans heavily on ideas from Freud which were popular in his day, but aren't taken that seriously today.
October 29, 2023
🖋️ Interesting points are made in this book about those dreaded crowds. The author writes, “Life is everywhere reaction; it is nowhere a mere product or a passive registering of impersonal forces. It is the organisms [sic] behavior in the presence of what we call environment.”
📙Published in 1920.
🟢The e-book version can be found at Project Gutenberg.
🟣 Kindle.
🔲 Excerpts of note:
●▬●🔷●🔷●▬●
📙Published in 1920.
🟢The e-book version can be found at Project Gutenberg.
🟣 Kindle.
🔲 Excerpts of note:
🔹Our society is becoming a veritable babel of gibbering crowds. Not only are mob outbreaks and riots increasing in number, but every interest, patriotic, religious, ethical, political, economic, easily degenerates into a confusion of propagandist tongues, into extravagant partisanship, and intemperance.
🔸. . . first, that the crowd is essentially a psychological phenomenon, people behaving differently in a crowd from the way they behave when isolated; and second, that the unconscious has something to do with crowd-thinking and acting.
●▬●🔷●🔷●▬●
December 13, 2024
Everett Dean Martin’s The Behavior of Crowds: A Psychological Study, originally published in 1920, is a critical examination of crowd psychology and its implications for individual autonomy and democratic governance. Martin’s work builds on the foundational theories of Gustave Le Bon, Gabriel Tarde, and William McDougall while challenging some of their more deterministic conclusions. The book offers a sophisticated analysis of how crowd dynamics influence human behavior, emphasizing the tension between individual rationality and collective emotion. Written in the context of post-World War I disillusionment, Martin’s study remains relevant for understanding contemporary phenomena such as mass movements, political populism, and the influence of media on collective behavior.
At its core, Martin argues that crowd behavior is not merely a phenomenon of numbers but a psychological condition in which individuals lose their capacity for critical thought and are swept up by shared emotions and simplistic ideas. He defines the crowd not as a physical aggregation of people but as a state of mind characterized by suggestibility, emotional intensity, and a diminished sense of personal responsibility. This psychological crowd, Martin contends, can manifest in a variety of contexts, from political rallies to religious revivals and even in abstract forms, such as audiences consuming mass media.
One of the book’s key strengths is its critique of the romanticization of crowds, a tendency Martin identifies in both popular culture and political ideology. He rejects the idea that crowds represent a higher collective wisdom or an organic expression of the “will of the people.” Instead, he views crowd behavior as a regression to a more primitive and irrational state, where individuals are guided by emotion rather than reason. This perspective aligns Martin with thinkers such as Le Bon, but he departs from them by emphasizing the role of education and critical thinking as antidotes to the perils of crowd mentality.
Martin’s exploration of the relationship between crowds and democracy is particularly compelling. He warns that the rise of mass movements and the manipulation of public opinion pose significant threats to individual freedom and the democratic process. His analysis foreshadows later critiques of mass society by figures such as Theodor Adorno and Hannah Arendt, particularly in his concern about the erosion of individuality in the face of collective pressures. At the same time, Martin is not entirely pessimistic; he argues that fostering intellectual independence and ethical responsibility can counteract the dangers of crowd psychology.
The book’s interdisciplinary approach, combining psychology, sociology, and philosophy, enhances its analytical depth. Martin draws on a wide range of sources, from classical philosophy to contemporary social science, to build his argument. His prose is eloquent and accessible, making complex psychological concepts understandable without sacrificing rigor. This accessibility has contributed to the book’s enduring appeal beyond academic circles.
However, The Behavior of Crowds is not without its limitations. Some of Martin’s arguments, particularly his emphasis on the pathological nature of crowds, risk oversimplifying the diversity of collective behavior. While he acknowledges that not all crowd activity is destructive, his analysis often fails to account for the positive aspects of collective action, such as solidarity, creativity, and social change. Additionally, the book’s historical context shapes its focus on certain types of crowds—such as wartime nationalism and labor movements—leaving other forms, such as virtual or digital crowds, unexplored.
Another critique lies in Martin’s reliance on an implicitly elitist framework. His emphasis on the superiority of rational, educated individuals over the emotional masses reflects the intellectual biases of his time. While he advocates for the cultivation of critical thinking as a democratic ideal, his rhetoric occasionally veers into a dismissal of popular movements as inherently irrational or dangerous, which may alienate readers sympathetic to the emancipatory potential of collective action.
Despite these shortcomings, The Behavior of Crowds remains a foundational text in the study of crowd psychology and collective behavior. Martin’s insights into the psychological dynamics of crowds and their implications for individual autonomy continue to resonate in an age of social media, political polarization, and global mass movements. His call for intellectual independence and ethical responsibility remains as urgent today as it was a century ago.
In conclusion, Everett Dean Martin’s The Behavior of Crowds is a thought-provoking and prescient exploration of the psychological and social dimensions of collective behavior. Its combination of theoretical rigor and practical relevance makes it an essential text for scholars of psychology, sociology, political science, and philosophy. While its limitations reflect the context of its time, the book’s core insights into the interplay between individuality and collectivity remain profoundly relevant for understanding the dynamics of crowds in the modern world.
GPT
At its core, Martin argues that crowd behavior is not merely a phenomenon of numbers but a psychological condition in which individuals lose their capacity for critical thought and are swept up by shared emotions and simplistic ideas. He defines the crowd not as a physical aggregation of people but as a state of mind characterized by suggestibility, emotional intensity, and a diminished sense of personal responsibility. This psychological crowd, Martin contends, can manifest in a variety of contexts, from political rallies to religious revivals and even in abstract forms, such as audiences consuming mass media.
One of the book’s key strengths is its critique of the romanticization of crowds, a tendency Martin identifies in both popular culture and political ideology. He rejects the idea that crowds represent a higher collective wisdom or an organic expression of the “will of the people.” Instead, he views crowd behavior as a regression to a more primitive and irrational state, where individuals are guided by emotion rather than reason. This perspective aligns Martin with thinkers such as Le Bon, but he departs from them by emphasizing the role of education and critical thinking as antidotes to the perils of crowd mentality.
Martin’s exploration of the relationship between crowds and democracy is particularly compelling. He warns that the rise of mass movements and the manipulation of public opinion pose significant threats to individual freedom and the democratic process. His analysis foreshadows later critiques of mass society by figures such as Theodor Adorno and Hannah Arendt, particularly in his concern about the erosion of individuality in the face of collective pressures. At the same time, Martin is not entirely pessimistic; he argues that fostering intellectual independence and ethical responsibility can counteract the dangers of crowd psychology.
The book’s interdisciplinary approach, combining psychology, sociology, and philosophy, enhances its analytical depth. Martin draws on a wide range of sources, from classical philosophy to contemporary social science, to build his argument. His prose is eloquent and accessible, making complex psychological concepts understandable without sacrificing rigor. This accessibility has contributed to the book’s enduring appeal beyond academic circles.
However, The Behavior of Crowds is not without its limitations. Some of Martin’s arguments, particularly his emphasis on the pathological nature of crowds, risk oversimplifying the diversity of collective behavior. While he acknowledges that not all crowd activity is destructive, his analysis often fails to account for the positive aspects of collective action, such as solidarity, creativity, and social change. Additionally, the book’s historical context shapes its focus on certain types of crowds—such as wartime nationalism and labor movements—leaving other forms, such as virtual or digital crowds, unexplored.
Another critique lies in Martin’s reliance on an implicitly elitist framework. His emphasis on the superiority of rational, educated individuals over the emotional masses reflects the intellectual biases of his time. While he advocates for the cultivation of critical thinking as a democratic ideal, his rhetoric occasionally veers into a dismissal of popular movements as inherently irrational or dangerous, which may alienate readers sympathetic to the emancipatory potential of collective action.
Despite these shortcomings, The Behavior of Crowds remains a foundational text in the study of crowd psychology and collective behavior. Martin’s insights into the psychological dynamics of crowds and their implications for individual autonomy continue to resonate in an age of social media, political polarization, and global mass movements. His call for intellectual independence and ethical responsibility remains as urgent today as it was a century ago.
In conclusion, Everett Dean Martin’s The Behavior of Crowds is a thought-provoking and prescient exploration of the psychological and social dimensions of collective behavior. Its combination of theoretical rigor and practical relevance makes it an essential text for scholars of psychology, sociology, political science, and philosophy. While its limitations reflect the context of its time, the book’s core insights into the interplay between individuality and collectivity remain profoundly relevant for understanding the dynamics of crowds in the modern world.
GPT
October 11, 2024
Resist the crowd or be consumed by it. You were given an individual mind for individual purpose.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews