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the crowd-第4章

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the case of hundreds of men gathered together by accident。  On the other hand; an entire nation; though there may be no visible agglomeration; may become a crowd under the action of certain influences。

A psychological crowd once constituted; it acquires certain provisional but determinable general characteristics。  To these general characteristics there are adjoined particular characteristics which vary according to the elements of which the crowd is composed; and may modify its mental constitution。 Psychological crowds; then; are susceptible of classification; and when we come to occupy ourselves with this matter; we shall see that a heterogeneous crowdthat is; a crowd composed of dissimilar elementspresents certain characteristics in common with homogeneous crowdsthat is; with crowds composed of elements more or less akin (sects; castes; and classes)and side by side with these common characteristics particularities which permit of the two kinds of crowds being differentiated。

But before occupying ourselves with the different categories of crowds; we must first of all examine the characteristics common to them all。  We shall set to work like the naturalist; who begins by describing the general characteristics common to all the members of a family before concerning himself with the particular characteristics which allow the differentiation of the genera and species that the family includes。

It is not easy to describe the mind of crowds with exactness; because its organisation varies not only according to race and composition; but also according to the nature and intensity of the exciting causes to which crowds are subjected。  The same difficulty; however; presents itself in the psychological study of an individual。  It is only in novels that individuals are found to traverse their whole life with an unvarying character。 It is only the uniformity of the environment that creates the apparent uniformity of characters。  I have shown elsewhere that all mental constitutions contain possibilities of character which may be manifested in consequence of a sudden change of environment。  This explains how it was that among the most savage members of the French Convention were to be found inoffensive citizens who; under ordinary circumstances; would have been peaceable notaries or virtuous magistrates。  The storm past; they resumed their normal character of quiet; law…abiding citizens。 Napoleon found amongst them his most docile servants。

It being impossible to study here all the successive degrees of organisation of crowds; we shall concern ourselves more especially with such crowds as have attained to the phase of complete organisation。  In this way we shall see what crowds may become; but not what they invariably are。  It is only in this advanced phase of organisation that certain new and special characteristics are superposed on the unvarying and dominant character of the race; then takes place that turning already alluded to of all the feelings and thoughts of the collectivity in an identical direction。  It is only under such circumstances; too; that what I have called above the PSYCHOLOGICAL LAW OF THE MENTAL UNITY OF CROWDS comes into play。

Among the psychological characteristics of crowds there are some that they may present in common with isolated individuals; and others; on the contrary; which are absolutely peculiar to them and are only to be met with in collectivities。  It is these special characteristics that we shall study; first of all; in order to show their importance。

The most striking peculiarity presented by a psychological crowd is the following: Whoever be the individuals that compose it; however like or unlike be their mode of life; their occupations; their character; or their intelligence; the fact that they have been transformed into a crowd puts them in possession of a sort of collective mind which makes them feel; think; and act in a manner quite different from that in which each individual of them would feel; think; and act were he in a state of isolation。 There are certain ideas and feelings which do not come into being; or do not transform themselves into acts except in the case of individuals forming a crowd。  The psychological crowd is a provisional being formed of heterogeneous elements; which for a moment are combined; exactly as the cells which constitute a living body form by their reunion a new being which displays characteristics very different from those possessed by each of the cells singly。

Contrary to an opinion which one is astonished to find coming from the pen of so acute a philosopher as Herbert Spencer; in the aggregate which constitutes a crowd there is in no sort a summing…up of or an average struck between its elements。  What really takes place is a combination followed by the creation of new characteristics; just as in chemistry certain elements; when brought into contactbases and acids; for examplecombine to form a new body possessing properties quite different from those of the bodies that have served to form it。

It is easy to prove how much the individual forming part of a crowd differs from the isolated individual; but it is less easy to discover the causes of this difference。

To obtain at any rate a glimpse of them it is necessary in the first place to call to mind the truth established by modern psychology; that unconscious phenomena play an altogether preponderating part not only in organic life; but also in the operations of the intelligence。  The conscious life of the mind is of small importance in comparison with its unconscious life。 The most subtle analyst; the most acute observer; is scarcely successful in discovering more than a very small number of the unconscious motives that determine his conduct。  Our conscious acts are the outcome of an unconscious substratum created in the mind in the main by hereditary influences。  This substratum consists of the innumerable common characteristics handed down from generation to generation; which constitute the genius of a race。  Behind the avowed causes of our acts there undoubtedly lie secret causes that we do not avow; but behind these secret causes there are many others more secret still which we ourselves ignore。  The greater part of our daily actions are the result of hidden motives which escape our observation。

It is more especially with respect to those unconscious elements which constitute the genius of a race that all the individuals belonging to it resemble each other; while it is principally in respect to the conscious elements of their characterthe fruit of education; and yet more of exceptional hereditary conditionsthat they differ from each other。  Men the most unlike in the matter of their intelligence possess instincts; passions; and feelings that are very similar。  In the case of every thing that belongs to the realm of sentimentreligion; politics; morality; the affections and antipathies; &c。the most eminent men seldom surpass the standard of the most ordinary individuals。  From the intellectual point of view an abyss may exist between a great mathematician and his boot maker; but from the point of view of character the difference is most often slight or non…existent。

It is precisely these general qualities of character; governed by forces of which we are unconscious; and possessed by the majority of the normal individuals of a race in much the same degreeit is precisely these qualities; I say; that in crowds become common property。  In the collective mind the intellectual aptitudes of the individuals; and in consequence their individuality; are weakened。  The heterogeneous is swamped by the homogeneous; and the unconscious qualities obtain the upper hand。

This very fact that crowds possess in common ordinary qualities explains why they can never accomplish acts demanding a high degree of intelligence。  The decisions affecting matters of general interest come to by an assembly of men of distinction; but specialists in different walks of life; are not sensibly superior to the decisions that would be adopted by a gathering of imbeciles。  The truth is; they can only bring to bear in common on the work in hand those mediocre qualities which are the birthright of every average individual。  In crowds it is stupidity and not mother…wit that is accumulated。  It is not all the world; as is so often repeated; that has more wit than Voltaire; but assuredly Voltaire that has more wit than all the world; if by 〃all the world〃 crowds are to be understood。

If the individuals of a crowd confined themselves to putting in common the ordinary qualities of which each of them has his share; there would merely result the striking of an average; and not; as we have said is actually the case; the creation of new characteristics。  How is it that these new characteristics are created?  This is what we are now to investigate。

Different causes determine the appearance of these characteristics peculiar to crowds; and not possessed by isolated individuals。  The first is that the individual forming part of a crowd acquires; solely from numerical considerations; a sentiment of invincible power which allows him to yield to instincts which; had he been alone; he would perforce have kept under restraint。 He will be the les
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