When a person is surrounded by a large number of people, he may begin to feel discomfort, anxiety and even panic. This can occur in a large store, at a concert, a mass event held on the street. In all cases, the person is influenced by all the people around him. A person falls under the influence of a crowd, which is not always easy to cope with.
People who become addicted to the emotions of the crowd begin to do things in the same way as everyone else. They are in a kind of hypnotic trance and are unable to think and act independently. The crowd is an element that completely captures a person, paralyzes and does not allow him to think or do something on his own.
If you look at the crowd as a separate living organism, you will notice that its behavior is very similar to that of a mentally ill person.
About the crowd effect
One of the characteristic signs of the influence of the crowd on a person is the lack of logical thinking and the performance of actions under the influence of emotions formed within the crowd. People begin to do things that they have never done before, while not thinking at all about what they can lead to.
Words that can be heard in a crowd and which in ordinary life a person may not pay attention to, acquire a completely different meaning, are often a guide to action. If a person is among a large number of people holding, for example, a rally, where the intensity of passions reaches its peak, then general aggression or panic can be transmitted with lightning speed to him, and indeed to anyone who is surrounded by the crowd. Any slogans calling for instant action are carried out by people under the influence of the general mood of the crowd, and no one even thinks about the consequences of these actions.
If someone in the crowd shouts, for example, the word "fire", then the reaction will be immediate. There is a phenomenon of universal emotional infection, when people do not even try to analyze the situation or think logically. The higher the anxiety in the mass of people, the faster it spreads to everyone around.
Experts say that panic or emotional contamination is very similar to hypnosis and the desire to imitate others, which is inherent in human nature.
If a person is in a crowd, he loses personal space or distance at which he feels safe. The amygdala (amygdala) is responsible for our safety in the body. If the situation poses an immediate danger, then it is this that begins to signal the person about the threat that has arisen and provokes emotions. It is impossible to control these signals because they are instinctive.
How to behave in a crowd
- Think about anything that helps you identify as a person. Your name, place of work, profession or something that will allow you to understand that you are you.
- When in a crowd, never go against it. Otherwise, you can provoke aggression directed at you.
- If you need to get out of the crowd, walk diagonally without looking people in the eye, lower your head a little and turn on your peripheral vision.
- Avoid pressing against house walls, trees, billboards, or any surface that could threaten your life. Do not try to crawl into narrow openings.
- Remove loose clothing that you can get caught on, as well as kerchiefs, scarves, or jewelry on your neck that can cause suffocation. Bend your arms and protect your chest.
- If there is a child next to you, take him in your arms, press his head to your chest. Do not try to take the child out of the crowd by the hand, you may not be able to hold him, which will create an additional threat to his life.
