Gustave Le Bon's "The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind" examines the psychology of crowds and their impact on society. Published in 1895, the book explores how individuals in a crowd lose their personal identity and become part of a collective mind, often resulting in irrational and emotional behavior. Le Bon identifies key characteristics of crowd behavior, such as anonymity, contagion, and suggestibility, and discusses how leaders can influence crowds through simple ideas and strong imagery. This work has significantly influenced social psychology, offering insights into the dynamics of group behavior and its effect on political and cultural movements.
