PsychologySocial Influence and Group Processes

Which of the following describes the attention and the actions of per…

Which of the following describes the attention and the actions of persons in a mob?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 1

The correct answer is Option (3) → There is polarisation in attention and actions are in a common direction

Option	Reason
Option (1): Attention is passive and actions follow the event being watched. Incorrect.	This is how an audience behaves: people assemble to watch a match or a movie and generally stay passive.
Option (2): Attention is divided and actions follow the roles assigned to members. Incorrect.	This belongs to a group with a settled structure, where tasks and responsibilities are shared out among members by role.
Option (3): There is polarisation in attention and actions are in a common direction. Correct.	A mob carries a definite sense of purpose, so the notice of every member falls on one point and the acts of all run one way, with homogeneity of thought and impulsivity.
Option (4): Attention shifts among members and actions weaken as the gathering grows. Incorrect.	This is social loafing, where each person puts in less effort as the size of the group rises.

NCERT (2026-27): “Introduction …
An audience is also a collection of people who have assembled for a special purpose, may be to watch a cricket match or a movie. Audiences are generally passive but sometimes they go into a frenzy and become mobs. In mobs, there is a definite sense of purpose. There is polarisation in attention, and actions of persons are in a common direction. Mob behaviour is characterised by homogeneity of thought and behaviour as well as impulsivity.”