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Read this article to learn about the meaning of collective behaviour in social science!
In a general sense, all social interaction is collective behaviour. When two or more persons behave in the same way, it may be termed collective behaviour. The prayers at a religious congregation, celebration of ‘Holi’ may be called collective behaviour.
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In sociology, however, the term ‘collective behaviour’ is used in a restricted way.
Its use is limited to social behaviour which:
(i) Takes place in occasional episodes rather than regularly or routinely,
(ii) Is not regulated by any set rules or procedures,
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(iii) Is unpredictable, and
(iv) Is guided by unreasoning beliefs, hopes, fears or hatreds.
Social life is a system of well-structured and stable relationship. A society must have harmony and order in order to survive. But there is another aspect of social life which is characterized by change rather than stability, uncertainty rather than predictability, disorganization rather than equilibrium. This aspect of social life has come to be called in sociology collective behaviour.
Collective behaviour entails a “crisis” or a break in regular routines. It brings people into contact with others in situations where conventional guidelines and formal authority fail to afford direction and supply channels for action.
Its determinants are:
(i) Structural Conduciveness. An urban society is more prone to collective behaviour than a traditional society. An industrialized society is overtaken by financial panics giving birth to collective behaviour.
(ii) Structural Strain. Rising prices, lower wages, favouritism, nepotism, deprivation of privileges, injustice, red-tapism, oppression all provide fertile ground for collective behaviour.
(iii) Growth and Spread of a Generalized Belief. Before there can be collective action, the actors must share a belief which identifies the source of the threat, the way to escape and the method of fulfillment.
(iv) Precipitating factors. There is always some factor which sets the stage for collective action. It may be a press report or “police brutality,”
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(v) Mobilization for Action. Collective action takes place when one mobilizes a group to action.
(vi) Operation of Social Control Collective action can be interrupted at any of the above points by leadership, police power, government policy and other social controls.
Social unrest may be both the cause and effect of collective behaviour. It may sometimes lead to the emergence of new norms and generally accepted policies. The agitated crowds can develop into disciplined associations. Collective behaviour has a great potential. It may act as an agent of flexibility and as a forerunner of social change.
Collective behaviour includes such topics as crowds, mobs, public, social movements and revolutions.