Le Bon Flashcards
(8 cards)
Who is GUSTAV LE BON?
A well-known figure in crowd behavior understanding, active around 1895/6
Le Bon wrote influential works on crowd psychology.
What did Le Bon’s book primarily argue about crowds?
Crowds are bad
His views were referenced in the context of Hitler’s ideology.
In historical research, how are crowds perceived?
Not irrational but the voice of the powerless
What is one limitation of Le Bon’s theory?
Most crowds are not violent
How is the crowd often misrepresented according to Le Bon?
As a source of divisiveness but usually not their cause
What does Le Bon exaggerate about crowds?
Anonymity
How does Riecher refer to Le Bon’s theory?
Crowd being a psychopathic jack in the box
What characteristic does Riecher attribute to crowds based on Le Bon’s theory?
Unpredictable
