The Crowd

The Crowd

By Gustave Le Bon.

Table of Contents

1. Titlepage
2. Imprint
3. Preface
4. Introduction
5. The Crowd
   1. Book I: The Mind of Crowds
      1. I: General Characteristics of Crowds—Psychological Law of Their Mental Unity
      2. II: The Sentiments and Morality of Crowds
         1. 1: Impulsiveness, Mobility, and Irritability of Crowds
         2. 2: The Suggestibility and Credulity of Crowds
         3. 3: The Exaggeration and Ingenuousness of the Sentiments of Crowds
         4. 4: The Intolerance, Dictatorialness and Conservatism of Crowds
         5. 5: The Morality of Crowds
      3. III: The Ideas, Reasoning Power, and Imagination of Crowds
         1. 1: The Ideas of Crowds
         2. 2: The Reasoning Power of Crowds
         3. 3: The Imagination of Crowds
      4. IV: A Religious Shape Assumed by All the Convictions of Crowds
   2. Book II: The Opinions and Beliefs of Crowds
      1. I: Remote Factors of the Opinions and Beliefs of Crowds
         1. 1: Race
         2. 2: Traditions
         3. 3: Time
         4. 4: Political and Social Institutions
         5. 5: Instruction and Education
      2. II: The Immediate Factors of the Opinions of Crowds
         1. 1: Images, Words, and Formulas
         2. 2: Illusions
         3. 3: Experience
         4. 4: Reason
      3. III: The Leaders of Crowds and Their Means of Persuasion
         1. 1: The Leaders of Crowds
         2. 2: The Means of Action of the Leaders: Affirmation, Repetition, Contagion
         3. 3: Prestige
      4. IV: Limitations of the Variability of the Beliefs and Opinions of Crowds
         1. 1: Fixed Beliefs
         2. 2: The Changeable Opinions of Crowds
   3. Book III: The Classification and Description of the Different Kinds of Crowds
      1. I: The Classification of Crowds
         1. 1: Heterogeneous Crowds
         2. 2: Homogeneous Crowds
      2. II: Crowds Termed Criminal Crowds
      3. III: Criminal Juries
      4. IV: Electoral Crowds
      5. V: Parliamentary Assemblies
6. Endnotes
7. Colophon
8. Uncopyright

Imprint

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Preface

The following work is devoted to an account of the characteristics of crowds.

The whole of the common characteristics with which heredity endows the individuals of a race constitute the genius of the race. When, however, a certain number of these individuals are gathered together in a crowd for purposes of action, observation proves that, from the mere fact of their being assembled, there result certain new psychological characteristics, which are added to the racial characteristics and differ from them at times to a very considerable degree.

Organised crowds have always played an important part in the life of peoples, but this part has never been of such moment as at present. The substitution of the unconscious action of crowds for the conscious activity of individuals is one of the principal characteristics of the present age.

I have endeavoured to examine the difficult problem presented by crowds in a purely scientific manner⁠—that is, by making an effort to proceed with method, and without being influenced by opinions, theories, and doctrines. This, I believe, is the only mode of arriving at the discovery of some few particles of truth, especially when dealing, as is the case here, with a question that is the subject of impassioned controversy. A man of science bent on verifying a phenomenon is not called upon to concern himself with the interests his verifications may hurt. In a recent publication an eminent thinker, M. Goblet d’Alviela, made the remark that, belonging to none of the contemporary schools, I am occasionally found in opposition of sundry of the conclusions of all of them. I hope this new work will merit a similar observation. To belong to a school is necessarily to espouse its prejudices and preconceived opinions.

Still I should explain to the reader why he will find me draw conclusions from my investigations which it might be thought at first sight they do not bear; why, for instance, after noting the extreme mental inferiority of crowds, picked assemblies included, I yet affirm it would be dangerous to meddle with their organisation, notwithstanding this inferiority.

The reason is, that the most attentive observation of the facts of history has invariably demonstrated to me that social organisms being every whit as complicated as those of all beings, it is in no wise in our power to force them to undergo on a sudden far-reaching transformations. Nature has recourse at times to radical measures, but never after our fashion, which explains how it is that nothing is more fatal to a people than the mania for great reforms, however excellent these reforms may appear theoretically. They would only be useful were it possible to change instantaneously the genius of nations. This power, however, is only possessed by time. Men are ruled by ideas, sentiments, and customs⁠—matters which are of the essence of ourselves. Institutions and laws are the outward manifestation of our character, the expression of its needs. Being its outcome, institutions and laws cannot change this character.

The study of social phenomena cannot be separated from that of the peoples among whom they have come into existence. From the philosophic