A protest for the protection of human rights turned into an impulsive and hostile group which went into a frenzy. Identify the type of group being talked about:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Mob
Option (1) Audience — Incorrect. An audience is a collection of people assembled for a special purpose, such as watching a cricket match or a movie, and audiences are generally passive. An audience can turn into a mob, but the frenzied, hostile group in the question is no longer passive.
Option (2) Mob — Correct. In mobs there is a definite sense of purpose, attention is polarised and actions run in a common direction. Mob behaviour is characterised by homogeneity of thought and behaviour as well as impulsivity, and a gathering that goes into a frenzy becomes a mob, as the protest in the question did.
Option (3) Team — Incorrect. A team is a special kind of group whose members have complementary skills, a common goal and mutual accountability, and work with a positive synergy. An impulsive, hostile gathering is nothing like a team.
Option (4) Crowd — Incorrect. A crowd is a collection of people present at a place by chance, such as people who gather after a road accident; it has no structure or feeling of belongingness. The protesters came together for a purpose, and their frenzy had a common direction.
NCERT (2025-26): “Nature and Formation of Groups … Groups can be differentiated from other collections of people. For example, a crowd is also a collection of people who may be present at a place/situation by chance. Suppose you are going on the road and an accident takes place. Soon a large number of people tend to collect. This is an example of a crowd. There is neither any structure nor feeling of belongingness in a crowd. Behaviour of people in crowds is irrational and there is no interdependence among members. Teams are special kinds of groups. Members of teams often have complementary skills and are committed to a common goal or purpose. Members are mutually accountable for their activities. In teams, there is a positive synergy attained through the coordinated efforts of the members.…” “Nature and Formation of Groups … 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.” |