University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.
Br J Soc Psychol. 2024 Jan;63(1):362-377. doi: 10.1111/bjso.12682. Epub 2023 Sep 4.
In crowds, to the degree one identifies with other crowd members one likely experiences a sense of common purpose, social connection and mutual support. Such is the psychological significance of these correlates of a shared identity that even others' close physical proximity can be pleasurable. However, such pleasure in others' proximity cannot be assumed: physical crowding can bring practical challenges and so potentially disturb the positive experience of crowd membership. In the research reported here, we explore crowd members' reports of such challenges and the ways in which these were interpreted and managed through reference to the beliefs and values associated with crowd members' shared identity. Our data arise from semi-structured interviews (N = 33) with British Muslims after participating in the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. Exploring these data sheds light on the ways in which identity-related beliefs and values can contribute to the maintenance of order and harmony even in situations where crowding could undermine the positive experience of others' proximity. Accordingly, our analysis advances our understanding of the self-organization and self-policing of crowds.
在人群中，人们与其他群体成员认同的程度越高，就越有可能体验到共同目标感、社会联系和相互支持。这些共同身份的相关因素具有如此重要的心理意义，以至于即使是他人的近距离接近也可能是令人愉快的。然而，不能假设他人的亲近会带来愉悦：人群的拥挤会带来实际的挑战，因此可能会破坏对群体成员身份的积极体验。在本研究报告中，我们探讨了群体成员对这些挑战的报告，以及通过参考与群体成员共同身份相关的信仰和价值观来解释和管理这些挑战的方式。我们的数据来自于对英国穆斯林在沙特阿拉伯参加朝觐后进行的半结构化访谈（N=33）。对这些数据的探索揭示了身份相关的信仰和价值观如何有助于维持秩序和和谐，即使在拥挤可能破坏他人亲近的积极体验的情况下也是如此。因此，我们的分析增进了我们对人群的自我组织和自我管理的理解。
