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Collective Psychological Empowerment as a Model of Social Change: Researching Crowds and Power
| Citations: | 8 - 1 self |
BibTeX
@MISC{Drury_collectivepsychological,
author = {John Drury and Steve Reicher},
title = {Collective Psychological Empowerment as a Model of Social Change: Researching Crowds and Power},
year = {}
}
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Abstract
The issue of psychological empowerment in crowd events has important implica-tions for both theory and practice. Theoretically, the issue throws light on both intergroup conflict and the nature and functions of social identity. Practically, empowerment in collective events can feed into societal change. The study of em-powerment therefore tells us something about how the forces pressing for such change might succeed or fail. The present article first outlines some limitations in the conceptualization of both identity and empowerment in previous research on crowd events, before delineating the elaborated social identity model of crowds and power. We then describe recent empirical contributions to the field. These divide into two areas of research: (1) empowerment variables and (2) the dynam-ics of such empowerment. We finally suggest how psychological empowerment and social change are connected through crowd action. We conclude with some recommendations for practice following from the research described. Conceptualizing Crowds and Power The reference in this article’s title to Canetti’s (1962) Crowds and Power is an acknowledgement of his astute linkage of these two concepts. Historically, crowds are formed by those without institutional power. Crowds resisting the institutional order are all expressions of the powerless (Rudé, 1981; Thompson, 1971). Elements of the ruling class tend not to band together in crowds because they simply do not need to! Crowd psychology emerged as a science in 19th century Europe precisely to combat the newly emergent working-class crowds (Nye, 1975). While the power of the reactionary crowd (Reicher, 1996c; Reicher & Haslam, 2006a,b) and the necessity for a discourse adequate to both liberatory ∗Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to John Drury, School of Psychology,
Keyphrases
social change collective psychological empowerment crowd event psychological empowerment intergroup conflict collective event em-powerment therefore tell present article previous research reicher haslam social identity model crowd psychology institutional order liberatory correspondence recent empirical contribution john drury astute linkage important implica-tions social identity emergent working-class crowd reactionary crowd empowerment variable crowd action discourse adequate century europe institutional power ruling class societal change
