First, what is a crowd? The Google definition of a crowd is a large number of people gathered together in close proximity, sharing a common purpose, interest or space. The crowd can be disorderly. The group is more important than any particular member of the group. The collection of participants may share some type of emotional experience which may be religious, political, etc. People may behave and do things in a crowd that they would never do if alone. Some people may get their courage from a bottle, while some get their courage from the permission and encouragement that they get when in the atmosphere and cover of a crowd. The members of the crowd or protest (for example) will encourage behavior in another person that they would not do themselves. Therefore, damage can be done, but the people encouraging it are innocent and have not done anything wrong. Only the person sacrificed has consequences to pay.

Each of us has a unique personality. Researchers have found that a crowd also can have something like a personality while it exists. There is such a thing as crowd psychology that is based on a concept called social identity. This allows a group to act as one. An identity is a unique collection of characteristics that gives someone a sense of self, our self-concept. The identity can be shaped by membership in a social group. The common social groups are things like religion, nationality, gender, race, etc.

Psychologists have learned that we have our own personal identity, but that being a member in different groups can result in a number of different social identities. Each group will have an influence on a member’s thinking, feelings, and how they behave. We may then categorize other people who are in different groups, as well putting him- or herself in a category as well. Once people put themselves into a category with other people (group), that can make the group or crowd behavior possible. If all the members conform to the expectations, rules, and norms of a group the individuals can act like a coherent group.

Each group’s rules, and expectations will influence what is normal behavior as a member of that group. Each member maintains their sense of who they are as an individual. What happens is that they will transfer that identity into the identity of the group or crowd. The group norms can take over personal norms, and will become the basis for what is understood as appropriate behavior. The behavior of people in a different group may be viewed as negative, criticized, and inferior.

How does the thinking go as the group member transitions from personal to group identity? It can start with the person looking at and being attracted to a particular group’s values, norms, and the things the group does. They begin to adopt what they see into their own views, and adopt those things into their own way of thinking. Then, as the person interacts comfortably with members of the group and is accepted by them, they can feel that they are actually a part of the group. The quality of the relationships is a key to the transformation. What psychologists call a shared social identity then develops.

The positive feelings, being accepted, the shared goals, and support reward joining the group. If the new group conflicts with another group that the new member does not like, that can make joining the group even sweeter.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend. This is a saying that is often heard and spoken. It is also something that makes joining a certain group more attractive. Once in the group you will be expected to participate in activities when your group clashes with other groups. That can lead to

unanticipated consequences that you may regret. Protests and riots, conflicts with law enforcement, bad behavior toward different churches, conflict between different nationalities, fighting with players on different teams can be the result. It is helpful to really look at who are the default leaders of a group. The leaders are the driving force in the group. Most other members may just be comfortably going with the flow and like the camaraderie .

Choose your group affiliations wisely. There is a thing called guilt by association. If you realize that joining a group or crowd is not what you thought it was going to be, trust your intuition and leave. The real mistake is not joining the group. It is staying in the group or crowd after you realize that something is not right.