Gustav Le Bon

Gustav Le Bon was a French social psychologist and sociologist, best known for his work on crowd psychology. He explored how individuals in groups often lose their sense of individuality and rationality, leading to collective behavior that can be destructive. His influential book, 'The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind,' published in 1895, argued that crowds have their own distinct psychology, which can lead to irrational and sometimes violent actions. Le Bon's theories laid the groundwork for understanding mass movements and social dynamics in the context of group behavior.