The Madness of Crowds

"The Madness of Crowds" refers to how collective behavior can lead groups of people to adopt irrational or extreme beliefs and actions, often driven by social pressures, emotions, or shared passions. This phenomenon occurs when individuals, influenced by the crowd, prioritize popular opinions over rational judgment, resulting in widespread phenomena like panic, moral panics, or fads. It highlights the power of social dynamics in shaping behavior, sometimes causing society to act against its own best interests or rational understanding, driven more by consensus and emotion than by logical reasoning.