What Is the Psychology of Crowds?

Recent experiences have given me a lot to think about, especially the concerts I’ve had the pleasure of attending. Psychology is a vast field, and trying to explore it all would be overwhelming. So, I’ve learned to focus on the psychological phenomena that truly captivate me, rather than just the interesting ones.

After diving into the psychology of lying, genetic influences on personality, mental disorders like those in DSM-10, and cognitive distortions such as attribution errors, I found myself intrigued by the psychology of crowds. This topic, my fifth area of interest, caught my attention even more than the music on stage.

What Was the Przystanek Woodstock Experience Like?

Not long ago, I spontaneously attended Przystanek Woodstock. A lively annual gathering where young people trek to Szczecin to revel in rock and punk-rock music. Surrounded by dust, sweat, and the scent of beer, they lose themselves in the music.

According to Postmes and Spears (1998), losing oneself in a crowd does not reliably trigger antinormative or unruly behavior. Instead, people tend to follow whatever norms are salient in that specific situation.

More recently, I had the chance to attend Madonna’s first (and possibly last) concert in Poland. Whether these performances were exceptional is another debate.

For me, everything I saw was perfect in its own way, though there will always be some critics. The audience reaction varied regardless.

Back to my point, my focus shifted to the people around me. Interestingly, the crowds at both events were more gender-balanced than I expected.

I had assumed an 80% male turnout for the rock festival and a similar percentage of females for Madonna’s concert. I thought societal perceptions might make a dance star’s concert seem unmasculine and a punk rock concert seem unfeminine.

Yet, I encountered more gender diversity than anticipated. This might suggest something positive about the average Pole: attending a concert is more about personal choice and means than conforming to gender norms.

Were the Two Crowds Really So Different?

Moreover, the crowd composition wasn’t as different as one might expect. Despite Woodstock’s demands for flexibility and tolerance of makeshift conditions. And Madonna concerts requiring financial resources, the crowds were surprisingly similar.

Other than the typical Woodstock-goers with their unique outfits, like beer can hats and face paint, both crowds mostly consisted of teenagers and young adults in jeans and T-shirts. Neither group seemed like hardcore enthusiasts or part of an elite class.

Perhaps jeans and T-shirts have become the standard concert attire—I’m not sure.

Either way, my assessment would likely be the same for both groups: they were mainly carefree young people out to have fun. However, their behavior differed.

I wonder if paying for a concert creates a sense of luxury that changes one’s attitude. It’s possible.

At Madonna’s concert, I noticed many people feeling stifled, standing rigidly and staring at the stage with little emotion. Such behavior would be unthinkable at Woodstock. No one would jostle for space, and anyone who did would seem out of place.

What Explains the Difference in Crowd Behavior?

This contrast in behavior intrigued me. Perhaps the sense of community at Woodstock and the hours spent together in the crowd expand the boundaries of personal tolerance. No one minds if sweaty, beer-drenched bodies brush against them while they jump in the crowd for hours.

Woodstock concerts also seem to foster stronger social engagement, influencing people to adopt the ideals of mutual tolerance and unity they hear from the stage. According to Reicher, Spears, and Postmes (1995), a shared sense of social identity in crowd settings shifts people from personal self-definition toward group norms, which can produce more prosocial, tolerant behavior when those norms favor unity. This was evident not just near the stage, but throughout the festival grounds, where a unique code of conduct emerged.

Sharing a beer or helping someone reach an itchy spot on their back became the norm. According to Tarr, Launay, and Dunbar (2014), shared musical experiences promote social bonding partly through “self-other merging,” a blurring of the boundary between one’s own identity and that of the group.

What’s Next for My Concert-Going and Thesis Work?

I’ll continue to ponder this. But it might be wise to choose a spot at a concert where you don’t have to worry about accidentally stepping on someone while jumping.

Additionally, I’m sharing the opening chapter of my master’s thesis in mathematics. The work revolves around relationships, some more toxic than others.

It’s said to be an engaging read, whether you’re into math or not. It turns out that being fickle and capricious might be more advantageous than previously thought—now, isn’t that something?