The Group Mind

by William McDougall

Overview

Explore the foundations of social psychology with William McDougall's influential work, "The Group Mind." Delve into the fascinating concepts of group behavior, collective consciousness, and the elusive "social mind." This meticulously reproduced edition offers a vital exploration of national characteristics and their impact on societal structures. McDougall, a pioneer in the field, examines the psychological forces that shape national character, offering insights into the dynamics of group interaction. A cornerstone of sociological thought, "The Group Mind" remains relevant for anyone interested in understanding the complex interplay between individuals and the societies they form. Discover the origins of social psychology through this historical text, a key work in understanding the social forces that continue to shape our world. A thought-provoking exploration of philosophy, psychology, and the enduring power of collective thought.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781023183567
Publisher:	Anson Street Press
Publication date:	03/28/2025
Pages:	310
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.65(d)

Read an Excerpt

CHAPTER III The Highly Organised Group THE peculiarities of simple crowds tend to appear in all group life; but they are modified in proportion as the group is removed in character from a simple crowd, a fortuitous congregation of men of more or less similar tendencies and sentiments. Many crowds are not fortuitous gatherings, but are brought together by the common interest of their members in some object or topic. These may differ from the simple fortuitous crowd only in being more homogeneous as regards the sentiments and interests of their members; their greater homogeneity does not in itself raise them above the mental level of the fortuitous crowd; it merely intensifies the peculiarities of group life, especially as regards the intensity of the collective emotion. There is, however, one condition that may raise the behaviour of a temporary and unorganised crowd to a higher plane, namely the presence of a clearly defined common purpose in the minds of all its members. Such a crowd, for example a crowd of white men in one of the Southern States of North America setting out to lynch a negro who is supposed to have committed some flagrant crime, will display most of the characteristics of the common crowd, the violence and brutality of emotion and impulse, the lack of restraint, the diminished sense of responsibility, the increased suggestibility and incapacity for arriving at correct conclusions by deliberation and theweighing of evidence. But it will not exhibit the fickleness of a common crowd, the easy yielding to distracting impressions and to suggestions that are opposed to the common purpose Such a crowd may seize and execute its victim with inflexible determination,perhaps with a brutality and a ruthless disregard of all deterrent considerations of which no one of...