The Myth of the Madding Crowd (Social Institutions and Social Change-An Aldine De Gruyter Series of Texts and Monographs)

Crowd behavior is one of the most colorful but least understood forms of human social behavior. This volume presents McPhail's critical assessment of the major theories of crowd behavior, establishing that, whatever their particular limitations and strengths, all lack prior examination of the behaviors to be explained. Drawing on a wide range of empirical studies - including his own field work - the author offers a new characterization of temporary gatherings, and a new explanation for various ways in which purposive actors construct collective behavior.

Winner of the Outstanding Book Award, Collective Behavior and Social Movements Section of the ASA.