Crowds and Power 👥⚡: More on Essence, Pivotal Lifecycle Events and Domestication
CaP NDC-01-03: Exploring "Crowds and Power" by Elias Canetti through examples and simulations. NDC : Nature and Dynamics of a Crowd is part 1/3 of this series.
Crowds often form around central figures or ideas, forming a unified presence that exerts considerable influence over the subject matter. A suitable example of this idea would be The Tortured Poets Department, the latest album release by Taylor Swift. This album has got Swifties flocking towards it.
This (Crowds as a Ring) is one of the more qualitative aspects of crowds and also the first we will discuss below. We have discussed different attributes of crowds in the last post namely, Openness, Equality, Density and Rhythm. We were able to simulate these attributes and demonstrate the existing postulates. This was possible because these attributes are sufficiently mechanical in nature. We can slap a number on these bad boys and interpret them as systems driven by ratios, binary switches and percentages. These attributes are simulateable. If you would like to catch up on these concepts follow the link below.
Crowds and Power 👥⚡: The Essence and Formation of Crowds
The following analysis is done to understand and simulate different concepts presented in the book Crowds and Power by Elias Canetti.
This post discusses the more qualitative attributes of crowds and delves into pivotal events in the life of a crowd.
Qualitative Attributes of a Crowd
Updated hierarchy of topics in the book
In this section we are going to look at the Qualitative Attributes of a Crowd. The book doesn’t provide distinct subsections for these so I have taken the liberty to restructure some of these ideas for ease of consumption and update the hierarchy we had created before based on our learnings.
As you can see we have now divided the attributes between mechanical and qualitative attributes. We have isolated the interplay effects and have distinguised them as effects of the attributes. As we know these interplay effects occur during the interplay between specific attributes which we have talked about in the previous post.
Moving forward we will delve into the qualitative attributes, different pivotal events that can occur over the lifetime of a crowd and domestication of crowds.
A Crowd as a Ring
Psychological unity
Analysis of crowds is deeply rooted in their psychological and symbolic aspects. We see how individuals in a crowd relate emotionally and symbolically to the central figures or events around which they gather. The notion of a ring-forming crowd reflects it’s psychological unity and focus of attention toward a central point, showcasing collective emotional engagement.
This qualitative aspect emphasizes the symbolic enclosure and protection of what lies at the center. This could be a leader, a sacred object, or any focus of common interest. The ring symbolizes unity and inclusion, separating the inside (the crowd and its focus) from the outside, and thus creating a distinct boundary that defines the crowd itself.
Discharge from Crowds
Discharge as an additive to openness
Discharge is predominantly a qualitative aspect of crowd behavior. It has mechanical aspects as well. Discharge can be represented as a mechanical attribute which exerts influence and increases the crowd. It becomes an additive or can be a multiplicative attribute to Openness. In the p5.js sketch below we try to demonstrate how it can be an additive property.
Sketch 3: Discharge as an additive to openness
The above sketch uses the mechanical aspect of this attribute for the simulation, let’s talk about how the qualitative aspect of the same influences the crowd as well.
A Closed Crowd
In the above sketch we are starting a simulation of a crowd which is coming together mainly due to the openness of the crowd. In the initial example of the crowd we see that as the crowd is fairly closed. The Openness of the crowd is 0.01. Individuals do not flock to this iteration of the crowd as easily.
Discharge from Closed Crowds
When we increase the discharge of the crowd using the parameter we can see that people come faster to the crowd. That’s because even if the crowd is not that open, the increased number of people who are flocking to the crowd allows even the most closed off crowds as attractive.
How discharge affects an individual
There is a transformative experience which occurs when individual members of a crowd release their personal inhibitions and merge into a collective entity. This moment of discharge is described as a crucial turning point. This is where the fear of being touched, which Canetti argues is a fundamental fear of individuals, dissipates among the crowd members.
Discharge brings the crowd to together
The discharge involves a cathartic release of emotions, leading to unity and empowerment among the crowd. It is less about the physical dynamics of the crowd and more about psychological liberation and the shared emotional state. These two factors define crowd collective behavior. This focus on the emotional and psychological transformation, rather than the mechanical or physical aspects of crowd movement, places “discharge” firmly in the qualitative realm of Canetti's crowd analysis.
Destructiveness
Crowd Destructiveness
Here we explore inherent potential for violence and destructiveness within crowds, focusing on the psychological and social factors that drive such behavior. This aspect of crowd behavior is deeply rooted in the emotions, motivations, and the collective psyche of the crowd. There is another aspect of destruction that goes beyond physical or mechanical actions.
Destructiveness as an expression of the crowd
Destructiveness is an expression of the crowd's desire to grow, conquer, and assimilate everything external into itself. It is a manifestation of the crowd's need to assert power, often violently or disruptively. This behavior is linked to the crowd's emotions, such as anger and aggression, which are amplified within the collective.
Destructiveness as a direct product of the dissatisfaction of the heightened emotional state of the crowd
Destructiveness occurs due to the crowd's emotional state and existential orientation at that particular time when the crowd is volatile. This is rather than a direct consideration of destruction's physical mechanics. Psychological forces within the crowd lead to individual restraint breakdown and promote collective acts of violence. This aspect of crowd behavior is defined by human behaviors and impulses.
Introduction to Sketch 4: Destructiveness of a double crowd
Let’s explore what this destruction might look like during a war where two crowds fight. We shall talk about Double Crowds in a later edition of this blogpost but all we need to know right now is that th edestructive tendencies of the two crowds in question is brought out in this situation where each crowd is trying to destroy the other.
Sketch 4: Destructiveness of a Double Crowd (two crowds at war)
Behavior and Interaction
Particles or individuals above move based on their aggression levels. They repel each other when too close, with the strength of repulsion increasing with their aggression.
Aggression
Each individual's aggression gradually increases, causing more forceful interactions and faster movements as the simulation progresses. Aggression is visually indicated by the redness of the figures. As figures become more aggressive, they turn brighter red. Aggression levels increase over time, affecting the behavior. Individuals bounce off edges, simulating a confined space which can further increase aggression due to limited space.
Two Crowds
There are two separate crowds (Crowd A and Crowd B), each with distinct colors (red and blue) and different initial positions. They move towards each other due to differing aggression modifiers. When members of different crowds collide, they "explode" by increasing in size and changing alpha levels to a more vivid display, representing a destruction event.
Pivotal Lifecycle Events
Introduction
Eruption, Persecution and Panic each play a critical role in crowd formation, transformation, and dissolution. These events highlight the volatile and often unpredictable nature of crowds, reflecting both psychological and social dimensions.
Panic
Dissolution
Panic is an intense and abrupt reaction that can lead to crowd dissolution. Unlike other phases of a crowd's lifecycle, which might involve the gathering and unification of individuals, panic represents a critical and chaotic breakdown in coherence.
What causes a crowd to panic ?
Panic in a crowd is typically triggered by a sudden threat or fear, real or perceived, that disrupts the crowd’s collective behavior. This disruption can lead individuals to act solely in their own self-interest, which is a stark contrast to the previously shared emotions or goals that unified them. The rapid shift from collective identity to individual survival instincts marks a dramatic and often destructive turn in the crowd lifecycle.
Panic as a pivotal event
Panic is not only a response but a transformative event that fundamentally alters the crowd's nature and behavior, usually leading to its rapid dispersal. Canetti views such moments as essential to understanding the full dynamics and lifecycle of crowds, highlighting how quickly collective power can disintegrate under fear.
Sketch 5: Panic
Simulating Panic
The crowd starts in a calm state then an arbitrary event triggers the onset of panic after which we can see the green particles slowing catching onto the panic and then spreading it to their neighbors. The panic spreads contagiously among nearby individuals.
Individual and crowd reaction
Individuals react both independently and as part of the crowd, with behaviors such as increased movement speed, erratic movements, or clustering for safety.
Eruption
Eruption of a crowd
Eruption is a sudden and often explosive expansion of the crowd. This can occur when the crowd's built-up pressure reaches a critical threshold. This event is characterized by rapid and sometimes violent outward movement, where the crowd breaks its boundaries and spreads, often uncontrollably.
Eruption as a phase in the life of a crowd
Eruption represents a critical phase in the crowd's lifecycle, where dynamics shift from potential energy to kinetic expression. It is a moment of release after the build-up of tension, emotions, and density, which Canetti explores as an inevitable and natural progression of the crowd's existence. The eruption is both a literal and metaphorical expression of the crowd's power and need for growth and movement.
Sketch 6: Basic Eruption
The above sketch shows off a simple simulation of eruption of a crowd. Here we are creating small eruptions which quickly change the size of the crowd. We are basically simulating multiple eruptions and showing how the crowd goes from basically nothing to a dense mass of individuals.
Persecution
A dark aspect of crowd behavior
Persecution is a critical and often dark aspect of crowd behavior. A crowd can unite against a perceived enemy or outsider during this event. This dynamic can be a defining moment in crowd evolution and behavior. It illustrates a powerful shift from internal dynamics to external actions.
The event of persecution
Persecution serves as a mechanism through which the crowd affirms its unity and strength by identifying and acting against an external or internal threat. This often results in the marginalization or destruction of the identified target, which can be an individual, a group, or even a concept. Canetti argues that this act of persecution can solidify the crowd’s identity, reinforce its boundaries, and demonstrate its power.
A pivotal event
This event is pivotal because it not only affects the cohesion and direction of the crowd but also impacts its relationship with the broader society. It marks a phase where a crowd's internal consensus turns into an active, aggressive interaction with the world outside its immediate boundaries. Persecution can thus be seen as a lifecycle event that may not only sustain the crowd’s existence but can also lead to its escalation or, conversely, its condemnation and eventual dissolution, depending on the societal response.
Sketch 7: Persecution
Nodes and Edges, People and Relationships
Each node represents an individual within the crowd, and edges represent social connections or interactions between them. We'll use graph theory to model this network.
Network Stress Level
The stress level of the network will increase over time due to various factors such as external threats, internal conflicts, or environmental factors. As the stress level increases, nodes become more susceptible to persecution.
Persecution Event
When the stress level surpasses a certain threshold, a persecution event is triggered. This event can be triggered with pressing the persecute button. This event leads to the expulsion or deletion of certain nodes from the network, simulating the persecution of individuals within the crowd.
Domestication of Crowds in World Religions
Domestication of Crowds in World Religions refers to how organized religions have historically managed and controlled large groups of people. This concept is significant because it illustrates how religions can influence their followers' collective actions and mindsets through specific teachings, rituals, and practices.
Doctrines and Beliefs
Religions provide a set of beliefs and a worldview that guide followers on how to behave, what to value, and how to interact with others. These doctrines help align individuals' behavior within a crowd, fostering a sense of shared purpose and identity.
Rituals and Ceremonies:
Regular rituals and ceremonies reinforce religion teachings and maintain crowd unity. These activities provide structured and repeated experiences that remind followers of their beliefs but also physically and emotionally bind them together as a community.
Moral and Ethical Codes
By setting moral standards and ethical codes, religions establish norms that dictate acceptable behavior within the community. This controls and predicts crowd behavior, reducing unpredictability and chaos.
Leadership and Hierarchy
Religious leadership plays a crucial role in guiding and controlling the crowd. Leaders such as priests, rabbis, imams, or monks interpret religious texts, set examples for others, and act as mediators between the individual and the divine. Religions organize the crowd, providing a clear structure of authority and responsibility.
Domestication Effects
Domestication channels crowd energy into more predictable and socially constructive directions. It helps to maintain social order and cohesion, preventing erratic or destructive behaviors that can emerge in uncontrolled large groups.
In summary, crowd domestication in world religions is about shaping followers' collective behavior to conform to religious teachings. This serves both to strengthen religion and maintain harmony within society.