SOC 1502 – Introduction to Sociology

University of the People

Learning Journal Unit 8

 Gustave Le Bon, a French social psychologist, was pivotal in exploring the psychological

attributes of crowds, noting how individual consciousness diminishes within a crowd, giving way

to a collective mindset that often acts emotionally and irrationally (Encyclopedia Britannica,

2020). His seminal work, "The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind," describes crowds as

possessing a unique mental unity that transforms individual behaviors, leading to actions that

individuals would not typically undertake when alone (Le Bon, 1926).

Linking this to the sociological perspectives provided in this week's reading materials on

government and politics, and social movements and social change, there's a clear intersection. Le

Bon’s analysis of crowd behavior illuminates how collective emotions and actions can

significantly impact political movements and societal changes, themes that are also central to the

sociological discussions in the reading materials for this unit. It also explore how power

dynamics, political structures, and social movements shape societal norms and changes, which

can be better understood through Le Bon’s psychological insights into crowd behavior.

For instance, Le Bon’s mention of the crowd’s mental unity and its potential for both heroic

and criminal actions provides a psychological foundation for understanding the collective

behaviors observed in social movements and political changes discussed in this week's readings.

These sociological frameworks, combined with Le Bon’s psychological theories, offer a

comprehensive view of how individual and collective actions interact within the broader context

of society and politics.

In conclusion, the synthesis of Le Bon’s psychological analysis of crowds and the

sociological insights from this week’s course reading material offers a multidimensional

understanding of how collective behaviors shape and are shaped by social and political
structures. This interdisciplinary approach enriches the comprehension of the dynamics at play in

societal and political phenomena.

References:

Encyclopedia Britannica. (2020). Gustave Le Bon, French psychologist. Retrieved from

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Gustave-Le-Bon

Le Bon, G. (1926). The Crowd: A study in popular mind. Retrieved from

https://brocku.ca/MeadProject/Lebon/LeBon_1895/LeBon_1895_02.html

Little, W. (2016). Introduction to Sociology – 2nd Canadian Edition. Retrieved from

https://opentextbc.ca/introductiontosociology2ndedition/