The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind

Author: Gustave Le Bon

---

summary

The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind" challenges conventional wisdom about groups, dissecting the characteristics of crowds with striking clarity—first surprising, then impressing its readers. The author methodically analyzes and progressively demonstrates that once an individual becomes part of a group, their personal identity is submerged, and the collective mind assumes absolute dominance. Simultaneously, the behavior of the crowd exhibits traits such as rejecting dissent, extremism, emotional instability, and intellectual decline, which can have destructive impacts on society. "The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind" stands as the most influential work in the field of social psychology. Anyone deeply contemplating collective behavior and aspiring to make a difference should read this book.