Conceptualization of Collective Behavior Events in the New York Times

Abstract

A nalysisfinds correlation bet ween presence of control agents, reported violence and attribution of spontaneity.,We hope to accomplish two aims in this paper. We intend to explore the use of collective behavior conceptualizations in the press, focusing on the New York Times. We intend to test the specific hypothesis that there is a direct relationship between the reported presence of a control agency a t a collective behavior event and the attribution of spontaneity, out-of-the-ordinary nature, depersonalization of participants, violence, emotionality, and the use of unit terms of reference. This hypothesis (more accurately, this set of hypotheses) will be tested by using the Spearman rank-order correlation. I We use the term collective behavior as it has generally been used in the field.* In this sense it refers to behavior connected with a specified set of topics, persumably having shared characteristics but certainly having a shared focus (included among such topics have been "crowds, mobs, panics. manias, mass behavior, public opinion, propaganda, fashion, fads, social movements, revolutions and refoms").3 We qualify the term only by referring to events, thus indicating our focus of concern to be those face-to-face encounters likely b Joseph A . Blake is a n assistant professor of sociology, Alan Stump is a graduate student in sociology. and Terrie King has a B.S. i n sociology.