Do people really behave differently in a crowd?

from All In The Mind · host Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Panicky. Irrational. Impulsive. These are the traits that have long been associated with crowd behaviour.But modern crowd science suggests that’s an incomplete, if not inaccurate picture.From crowd crushes to terrorist attacks, we take a closer look at how people really behave in crowds, and what you can do to keep yourself safe in one.Want to listen to more All in the Mind? Check out our episode, Can music inspire mania?Guest:Associate Professor Milad HaghaniPrincipal Fellow in Urban Resilience & MobilityUniversity of MelbourneCredits: Presenter/producer: Sana QadarSenior producer: James BullenProducer: Rose KerrSound engineer: Roi HubermanMore info:How simple behavioural modifications can influence evacuation efficiency of crowds: Part 1. Decision making of individualsHow simple behavioural modifications can influence evacuation efficiency of crowds: Part 2. Physical movement of individualsHow behavioural changes in social groups affect evacuation efficiency of crowdsContemporary understanding of riots: Classical crowd psychology, ideology and the social identity approachThe role of social identity processes in mass emergency behaviour: An integrative reviewEnglish riots 2011: new research shows why crowd behaviour isn't contagiousHow to stay safe in a New Year's Eve crowd

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published May 24, 2025

What this episode covers

Panicky. Irrational. Impulsive. These are the traits that have long been associated with crowd behaviour. But modern crowd science suggests that’s an incomplete, if not inaccurate picture. From crowd crushes to terrorist attacks, we take a closer look at how people really behave in crowds, and what you can do to keep yourself safe in one. Want to listen to more All in the Mind? Check out our episode, Can music inspire mania? Guest: Associate Professor Milad Haghani Principal Fellow in Urban Resilience & Mobility University of Melbourne Credits: Presenter/producer: Sana Qadar Senior producer: James Bullen Producer: Rose Kerr Sound engineer: Roi Huberman More info: How simple behavioural modifications can influence evacuation efficiency of crowds: Part 1. Decision making of individuals How simple behavioural modifications can influence evacuation efficiency of crowds: Part 2. Physical movement of individuals How behavioural changes in social groups affect evacuation efficiency of crowds Contemporary understanding of riots: Classical crowd psychology, ideology and the social identity approach The role of social identity processes in mass emergency behaviour: An integrative review English riots 2011: new research shows why crowd behaviour isn't contagious How to stay safe in a New Year's Eve crowd

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