Psychology of Crowd Behaviour (C8817)
Psychology of Crowd Behaviour
Module C8817
Module details for 2025/26.
15 credits
FHEQ Level 6
Full Module Description
This module is about crowds and other collective phenomena, including riots, protests, social movements, mass emergency behaviour, and mundane situations of crowding. A fundamental question we address is how large numbers of people are able to act as one, particularly in novel situations. In both psychology and popular accounts, many of the answers given to this question suggested that collective behaviour occurs through a diminution of self or identity. This explained what some (particularly outside observers) understood as the mindlessness and irrationality they observed in crowd events such as riots. The module critically reviews these arguments through drawing on contemporary theory and research on crowds and collective action, according to which collective behaviours and experiences are meaningful, purposive and often positive.
Module Outline
This module is about crowds and other collective phenomena, including music and sports events, religious festivals and pilgrimages, riots, protests, social movements, mass emergencies and disasters, and everyday situations of crowding. A fundamental question we address is how large numbers of people are able to act as one, particularly in novel situations. In early psychology and in popular accounts, many of the answers given to this question suggested that collective behaviour occurs through a diminution of self or identity. This explained what some (particularly outside observers) understood as the mindlessness and irrationality they observed in crowd events. The module critically reviews the evidence through drawing on contemporary theory and research, according to which collective behaviours and experiences are meaningful, purposive and often positive.
Module learning outcomes
Critically evaluate the adequacy of models of collective behaviour using evidence from a variety of different research studies
Provide arguments using evidence of features of crowd events that challenge ‘irrationalist’ theories of the crowd
Analyse the relationship between identity and behaviour in collective phenomena
| Type | Timing | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Essay (1500 words) | Semester 1 Assessment Week 1 Wed 16:00 | 80.00% |
| Coursework | 20.00% | |
| Coursework components. Weighted as shown below. | ||
| Group Presentation | T1 Week 11 (10 minutes) | 100.00% |
Timing
Submission deadlines may vary for different types of assignment/groups of students.
Weighting
Coursework components (if listed) total 100% of the overall coursework weighting value.
| Term | Method | Duration | Week pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn Semester | Seminar | 1 hour | 11111111111 |
| Autumn Semester | Lecture | 1 hour | 12112221111 |
How to read the week pattern
The numbers indicate the weeks of the term and how many events take place each week.
Prof John Drury
Convenor, Assess convenor
/profiles/92858
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