Collective behavior

(noun)

The expression collective behavior was first used by Robert E. Park, and employed definitively by Herbert Blumer, to refer to social processes and events which do not reflect existing social structure (laws, conventions, and institutions), but which emerge in a "spontaneous" way.

Related Terms

Examples of Collective behavior in the following topics:

  • Introduction

    • Collective behavior, a third form of action, takes place when norms are absent or unclear, or when they contradict each other.
    • Scholars have devoted far less attention to collective behavior than they have to either conformity or deviance.
    • These diverse actions fall within the area sociologists call collective behavior.
    • 1) collective behavior involves limited and short-lived social interaction while groups tend to remain together longer
    • 2) collective behavior has no clear social boundaries; anyone can be a member of the collective while group membership is usually more discriminating

  • Social Change

    • Collective behavior can result in social change through the formation of cohesive social movements.
    • These diverse actions fall within the area sociologists call collective behavior.
    • Collective behavior has no clear social boundaries; anyone can be a member of the collective, while group membership is usually more discriminating.
    • Collective behavior can actually change elements of society.
    • This is the component of collective behavior known as "social movements. "

  • Influenced by Overall Culture

    • Organizational culture is the collective behavior of humans, formed by the values, visions, norms, working language, systems, and beliefs.
    • Organizational culture is the collective behavior of humans who are part of an organization and the meanings that people attach to their actions.
    • It is also the pattern of collective behaviors and assumptions that are taught to new members as ways of perceiving, thinking, and feeling.
    • Ravasi and Schultz have described organizational culture as the set of shared mental assumptions that guide interpretation and action in organizations by defining appropriate behavior for various situations.

  • Crowds

    • casual - loose collection of people with no real interaction (e.g, people at the mall)
    • Collective behavior can also refer to behavior that is diffused or dispersed over large distances.
    • Not all collective behavior has to occur in the immediate vicinity of others (compact crowds).
    • Thus, while some crowds may result from like-minded individuals coming together to act collectively (e.g., political rally), some crowds actually spur individuals into behavior that they would otherwise not engage in.
    • More recent research into collective behavior has begun to change sociological thinking on crowds.

  • Knowledge Management and Behavior Modification

    • The company's information technology department can make this happen by electronically collecting specific components of an employee's knowledge expertise, creating an online learning module, and redistributing it to the company.
    • Behavior modification was first introduced in psychology as a collection of behavioral change techniques to increase or decrease the frequency of behaviors.
    • Behavioral modification includes altering an individual's behavior through positive and negative reinforcement.
    • The process of behavioral modification in the workplace focuses on identifying the frequency of certain performance-related behavior, as well as determining what started or triggered that specific behavior.
    • His theories are still used in behavior modification today.

  • Social Behavior of Consumers

    • Research has shown that consumer behavior is difficult to predict, even for experts in marketing communications.
    • Societal buying behavior incorporates identification and suggestion to prompt a specific buyer behavior.
    • To implement a viable integrated marketing communications strategy that incorporates these data, companies employ techniques such as behavioral targeting for understanding, collecting and analyzing online and offline consumer information.
    • Brands commonly use behavioral targeting techniques to market to consumers based on their online behavior.
    • Describe how social media aids the study and measurement of consumer behavior

  • Online Consumer Behavior

    • When consumers visit a web site, data is gathered about their online behavior.
    • The site collects information about the visitor that includes the following:
    • The sites collect the data, along with other factors, and create a profile that links to that visitor's web browser.
    • The European Commission has also raised a number of concerns related to online data collection (of personal data), profiling, and behavioral targeting, and is looking to enforce existing regulations.
    • Explain the relationship between behavioral targeting and online consumer behavior, and how behavioral marketing influences online advertising

  • Behavioral Economics: Irrational Actions

    • Behavioral economics focuses on the bounds of rationality of economic agents.
    • Behavioral economics has specific characteristics based on what is studied.
    • Behavioral game theory: analyzes interactive strategic decisions and behavior using the methods of game theory, experimental economics, and experimental psychology.
    • Framing: using a collection of anecdotes and stereotypes that make up the mental and emotional filters that individuals rely on the understand and respond to events.
    • Behavioral economics was born out of the combination of economics and psychology.

  • Four Theories of Leadership

    • Theories of effective leadership include the trait, contingency, behavioral, and full-range theories.
    • Behavioral theory also incorporates B.F.
    • Skinner's theory of behavior modification, which takes into account the effect of reward and punishment on changing behavior.
    • The full-range theory of leadership is a component of transformational leadership, which enhances motivation and morale by connecting the employee's sense of identity to a project and the collective identity of the organization.
    • The father of behavioral theory showed the connection between behaviors and reward and punishment.

  • Effects of Group Size on Attitude and Behavior

    • Size (number of people involved) is an important characteristic of groups, organizations and communities in which social behavior occurs.
    • In the social sciences a social group is defined as two or more humans who interact with one another, share similar characteristics and collectively have a sense of unity.
    • Individual behavior deviates substantially in a group setting; therefore, it is difficult to determine group behavior by looking solely at the individuals that comprise the group.
    • Individual behavior has been shown to be influenced by the presence of others.
    • Large groups introduce diversity of attitudes and behaviors.