The Psychology of Crowd Behaviour: A Review of Freud's Theories in the Light of Contemporary Historical Research

Abstract

SYNOPSIS The original psychoanalytic hypothesis on the behaviour of crowds was formulated by Freud in Group Psychology and the Analysis of the Ego. Freud based his theoretical concepts on the writings of Gustave Le Bon, whose work on crowd behaviour was mainly concerned with the composition and behaviour of the crowds in the French Revolution. Modern historical research has thrown doubt on the objectivity and validity of Le Bon's descriptions. This in turn leads to a questioning of Freud's hypotheses on the psychodynamics of crowd behaviour, in particular the behaviour of socially restless and revolutionary crowds. The author examines the validity of Freud's sources and suggests modifications of his psychodynamic theories in the light of more accurate historical research. A parallel is drawn with Totem and Taboo in which Freud used data that are regarded as inaccurate by modern anthropological researches.

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