Crowd: rules of conduct in a crowd. Rules for safe behavior in crowds

A number of researchers believe that the crowd is a special biological organism. It operates according to its own laws and does not always take into account the interests of individual components, including their safety.

Very often, a crowd becomes more dangerous than the natural disaster or accident that created it. However, she does not look for alternative solutions and does not see the consequences of her decision, sometimes the main ones, as in a typical case of fires: jumping from a doomedly high height. A crowd can form in many cases, including when committing terrorist actions.
A crowd can be stopped by categorical commands, an ardent conviction that there is no danger, and even the threat of shooting alarmists, as well as a strong emotional brake or a miracle. It is among miracles that we should include cases when a strong-willed person, enjoying the trust of those gathered, managed to prevent the dramatic development of events.
Many special instructions strongly recommend physical suppression of the instigator of panic. Because it is immeasurably easier to stop the beginning psychological fire than to stop the crowd that has started to move.
The leader immediately needs to find assistants who must “cut through the crowd,” sometimes literally - holding hands and chanting.
The basic psychological picture of the crowd looks like this:
Decreased intellectual level and increased emotional level.
A sharp increase in suggestibility and a decrease in the ability to think individually.
The crowd requires a leader or an object of hatred. She will gladly obey or destroy.
The crowd is capable of both terrible cruelty and self-sacrifice, including towards the leader himself.
The crowd quickly runs out of steam after achieving something. People divided into groups quickly come to their senses and change their behavior and assessment of what is happening.
In the life of a street (especially political-social) crowd, such elements as the first stone in a shop window and first blood are very important. These steps can take the crowd to a fundamentally different level of danger, where collective irresponsibility turns every member of the crowd into a criminal. You need to leave such a crowd immediately.
How to survive in a crowd? The best rule is to go far around it!!! If this is not possible, do not go against the crowd under any circumstances. If you get carried away by the crowd, try to avoid both the center and the edge. Avoid anything stationary on the way, otherwise you might just get crushed. Do not cling to anything with your hands, they may break. If possible, buckle up. High heels can cost you your life, just like an untied shoelace. Throw away your bag, umbrella, etc.
If something falls (anything), do not try to pick it up - life is more valuable. In a dense crowd, if you behave correctly, the likelihood of falling is not as great as the likelihood of being crushed. Therefore, protect the diaphragm with your hands clasped, folded over your chest. Pushes from behind should be taken on the elbows, the diaphragm should be protected by tension of the arms.
The main task in the crowd is not to fall. But if you do fall, you need to protect your head with your hands and get up immediately. This is very difficult, but it can be done if you use this technique: quickly pull your legs towards you, group yourself and try to stand up with a jerk. It is unlikely that you will be able to rise from your knees in a dense crowd - you will be constantly knocked down. Therefore, you need to rest one foot (full sole) on the ground and sharply straighten up, using the movement of the crowd. But, nevertheless, it is very difficult to get up; preliminary protective measures are always more effective.
This universal rule, by the way, fully applies to the beginning of the “crowd” situation itself. At a concert or stadium, figure out in advance how you will exit (not necessarily the same way you entered). Try not to be near the stage, dressing room, etc. - in the “center of events.” Avoid walls (especially glass), partitions, and mesh. The tragedy at the stadium in Sheffield (England) showed that most of the dead were crushed by the crowd on the barrier walls.
If panic began due to a terrorist attack, do not rush to aggravate the chaos with your movement: do not deprive yourself of the opportunity to assess the situation and make the right decision.
To do this, use auto-training and express relaxation techniques. Here are simple techniques from which you need to choose the ones that are closest to you.
Even breathing helps to keep your behavior even. Take a few breaths in and out.
Look at something blue or imagine a rich blue background. Think about this for a second.
To bring down the beginning emotional confusion, you can address yourself by name (preferably out loud), for example: “Kolya, are you here?” And confidently answer yourself: “Yes, I’m here!!!”
Imagine yourself as a television camera, looking at everything a little from the side and from above. Assess your situation as an outsider: what would you do if you were this person?
Change your sense of scale. Look at the eternal clouds. Smile forcefully, knock down fear with an unexpected thought or memory.
If the crowd is dense but motionless, you can try to get out of it using psychosocial techniques, for example, pretending to be sick, drunk, crazy, pretending to be sick, and so on. In short, you need to force yourself to maintain composure, be informed and improvise.

Massive noisy events probably attract many people. These include holiday concerts and fairs, football matches, etc. There are always a lot of people present at these events. Before the start of a concert or any other holiday, everyone behaves calmly. At this time, people are peaceful, polite, and let each other through at the entrance. In anticipation of an exciting spectacle, they are calm and unhurried. However, after the event ends, everything changes.

Everyone immediately leaves their seats and rushes towards the exit. This contributes to the formation of a large influx of people and constant traffic jams. It also happens that the movement of people goes from orderly to spontaneous, and a crowd forms. Everyone needs to know the rules of behavior in a crowd. They represent a set of measures that will help maintain safety in places where there are large crowds of people.

Facts from history

Humanity knows cases when a large number of people died in crowded spontaneous stampedes. A striking example of such a tragedy is the coronation of Tsar Nicholas II. The crush happened on Khodynka Field. Here a crowd of thousands rushed to the place where refreshments were being distributed. As a result, more than one thousand people died and were injured.

Monstrous stampedes also occurred during Stalin’s funeral. Then not only a large number of people died. The crowd also crushed the horses there, on which the police officers were sitting, keeping order.

Reasons for the appearance of crowds

When does a large number of people become dangerous? A crowd forms when panic or general aggression occurs. Moreover, these two reasons are closely related.

The crowd has its own characteristics. She is characterized by unconsciousness, impulsiveness and instinctivity. The crowd has no logic. The people in it live at this moment only by feelings. The so-called herd instinct, which cannot be controlled, comes into play. This is especially pronounced when there is no leader in the crowd and no one gives any restraining commands. Tens, hundreds, thousands of people are losing their individuality. They literally turn into a terrible multi-headed beast, sweeping away and destroying everything that gets in its way. This is the main feature of crowd behavior.

For what reason does the human mass become “explosive”? To do this, she needs a certain psychological detonator. It is often general hysteria, the emergence of which is provoked by mass protests or, on the contrary, a demonstration of a loyal mood. The reason for the formation of a crowd can be fear caused, for example, by a fire or any other disaster. A mass of people sweeping away everything in its path often occurs after an overly emotional football match or an unprofessionally conducted rock concert.

in crowd

The list of reasons that turn a crowd of people into an uncontrollable mass is, unfortunately, very long. Often those who find themselves in it are later themselves perplexed by their own behavior. The explanation in this case should be sought in the distant past, turning to the primitive instincts of man. They explain the emergence of mass psychosis. This behavior helped people survive in distant and harsh times.

The herd instinct, like any other atavism, is dangerous for the human collective today. The only thing that can resist him is the mind. Any of us, finding ourselves in an aggressive crowd, must try not to succumb to its general negative feeling. However, it is worth keeping in mind that this uncontrollable mass does not tolerate “apostates” and can brutally deal with those who have not succumbed to psychosis. Maintaining your individuality in a crowd is not at all easy. After all, the real human sea is simply going nowhere. However, there is no choice. Without preserving your own individuality, you can lose not only the appearance of a person, but also your life. The mercilessness of the crowd manifests itself not only in relation to those who disagree, but also towards its ordinary members.

Uncontrolled flow in a confined space

During any concert or crowd may form. It is important for everyone to know the rules of behavior in a crowd in a closed room, because a general change of mood can occur, for example, when someone screams heart-rendingly: “Fire!” For people who come to have a good time, their mood suddenly changes from positive to negative. Extreme stress arises. All people in a confined space simultaneously begin to look for a way out in order to get to a safe place. Of course, everything that happens is chaotic. Unfortunately, this happens in most cases.

The people who are farthest from the exit are the most active. They begin to press on those in front. The result is very sad. More of those in front find themselves pressed against the walls. This creates a crush that can claim human lives.

When you find yourself at a mass event, you should pay attention to where the emergency exit is. It is recommended to do this just in case before the start of the performance. Well, what to do if panic arose and an uncontrollable crowd formed? Rules of conduct in a crowd in this case require a sober assessment of the situation. For those who were not among the first to flee, experts advise waiting until the main flow of people subsides. True, this will require composure and considerable endurance. Running through narrow passages along with the entire crowd is only permissible when the flames of a fire are spreading literally before your eyes. After all, this can create a real gas chamber as a result of the combustion of plastic coverings and materials in the hall.

Precautionary measures

So, you rushed to where the main crowd was. The rules of behavior in a crowd dictate that you must empty your pockets. There should be nothing in your clothing that has any rigidity and can cause serious injury to you and others around you. You need to throw away pens and pencils, calculators and notebooks. An exception can be made only for paper money, and even then only if it is not rolled into a tube.

The crowd demands to get rid of clothes that are too loose, long or decorated with metal parts. It is recommended to throw off anything that could put pressure on your neck. This list includes a medallion on a cord, a tie, a chain, a jacket lacing, etc. It is necessary to throw all costume jewelry and any valuables onto the floor, despite the fact that it is a shame to lose them. No exception is made even for glasses. In such a situation, they should not be on the face.

Crowd rules require taking measures to avoid falling due to untied shoelaces while moving. While there is time, they must be tightened with a dead knot. This is very important, because no one can rise up during the movement of uncontrollable masses of people.

The most dangerous places

A person who is moving towards the exit along with a huge mass of people must try to avoid any narrowing places in the room, ledges and dead ends. Here the maximum pressure exerted by the crowd is inevitable. Rules of conduct in a crowd suggest that you should try to avoid being near the wall itself. This is the most dangerous place. A person located there can receive serious injury not only from an incompletely driven nail, but also from an unremarkable electrical outlet. To prevent this from happening, there is a special reminder. Behavior in a crowd requires making every effort to get into the mainstream (although it is not safe there); go back where it is freer; try to lie on top of the flow of people.

The last option causes some difficulties, but it is better to experience the displeasure of the crowd than to be trampled by it or pinned against a wall. Paying attention to the last technique is especially important in cases where children are involved. If possible, place the child on your shoulders.

Crowd on the street

Many people believe that such a flow of people in an open space is less dangerous than in an enclosed space. However, the behavior of an individual in a crowd is, unfortunately, unpredictable. In both cases, a person awakens base instincts that cannot be controlled.

Safe behavior in a crowd will also save you on the street, because a human flow is also capable of trampling its participants. In general, the rules are practically no different from those described above. However, the behavior of a person in a crowd on the street has its own characteristics. In order not to get lost in the mass of people, it is recommended to retreat to side alleys, streets, and walk through courtyards. If this is not possible, the entrances of residential buildings can be used as shelters, through which it is easy to climb to the roofs.

What should someone who finds themselves in a moving crowd do?

First of all, you should stay away from any ledges and walls. The greatest danger in such cases is represented by various metal gratings. There should be no chains, ties or laces around your neck. All these items can easily turn into a stranglehold. There should be nothing hard in clothing pockets that could cause injury.

A person's behavior in a crowd should be restrained. You should not strive to get into the thick of things. It's best to stick to the edge of the crowd.

Rules of Survival

What are the characteristics of human behavior in a crowd? How to take care of your own safety? Keep in mind that you should not resist the spontaneous movement of an uncontrolled flow. Even the most physically strong person will not have enough strength for this. Avoid clinging to lamp posts or walls. It won't help.

The peculiarities of an individual’s behavior in a crowd, when the flow of people has become quite dense, require everyone who really perceives a threat to their own life to stay away from the walls. After all, a broken one will work no worse than a guillotine knife. Already from a distance you need to notice approaching kiosks, poster stands, lamp posts and parapets, and try to miss them.

The peculiarities of an individual's behavior in a crowd are such that a person who cares about his safety should not make the slightest attempt to stop and pick up any object from the ground (even if it is a suitcase with dollars). He is unlikely to be able to take advantage of these values. The reason for stopping should not be an injury. The wounds will need to be examined in a safe place.

Anyone who finds himself in a crowd without losing his head must try to protect women and children. This can only be done by getting out of the human mass. It is necessary to line up in a wedge, placing children and women inside, and, pushing those around you, slowly drift to the side. Moreover, the attempt should be made only in the direction of the crowd.

An uncontrollable crowd can often produce more casualties than the disaster itself that caused the unrest. A crush can form literally in a matter of seconds., regardless of what served as the catalyst - a loud sound, someone's scream or deliberate provocation. In the uncontrollable human mass, no one ever cares about the safety and well-being of an individual person, so getting out of the crowd unharmed is not as easy as we would like. The following recommendations will prompt how to behave in a crowd to survive a crush.

1. Prepare in advance

Before going to crowded places, pay attention to some points:

Cloth. You have to choose the one that does not restrict movement. Avoid loose clothing: raincoats, dresses, jackets with a hood are not the best attire for being in a crowd;

Shoes. You should not wear a laced one - Untied shoelaces in a crush can cost you your life. Girls should forget about heels and stilettos;

Accessories. Do not take with you scarves, chains, medallions, bags and other wardrobe items for which you could be grab and pull along;

Emergency exits. If you are in a confined area, determine possible escape routes in advance. This applies to both main exits and emergency exits, which are most often indicated by green signs.

In case you did not take care of the above in advance, and found yourself in the epicenter of an uncontrollable human mass, without delay get rid of dangerous objects. This also includes small objects such as pens, keys, key chains, combs: with strong pressure, such objects can cause incredible damage.

Fact . 5 3 people died (40 of them girls) and more than 150 were injured as a result of a stampede at a beer festival in Minsk. On May 30, 1999, during a concert, a hail storm suddenly began. To shelter from the bad weather, more than two thousand teenagers rushed into the underground passage of the metro. Some of those who fell were literally stabbed to death by women's stiletto sandals.

2. Panic in the crowd

So, something spontaneous happened, and the crowd around you panicked. First of all, it is necessary, if possible soberly assess the situation around you and understand how obvious the danger is. If at a quick glance you do not see anything clearly threatening, then perhaps it would be wiser skip main thread forward. Try to think sensibly and don’t let yourself get infected by everyone.
The following anti-panic techniques will help you::

take a couple of deep breaths in and out. Even breathing has a beneficial effect on clarity of thoughts;
look at something blue, or imagine a rich blue background. One second is enough for this;
Constantly ask yourself questions: “What do I see?”, “What am I doing?”, “What do I feel?”;
relieve fear with a paradoxical thought or a pleasant memory. Smile through force

3. How to get out of a crush

If the crowd is static or does not move very zealously, then you can try to leave it pretending to be sick, drunk or crazy. Most likely, the road will be automatically cleared in front of you.
If the human mass is a moving stream:

never try to move against the crowd. You will be knocked down and, most likely, trampled;
you need to move in the same direction as the main flow, gradually moving diagonally from the center to the edge of the movement;
BUT don't be at the very edge of the crowd, otherwise you may be crushed against the walls;
do not lower your arms and do not raise them above your head. They should be bent at the elbows and pressed to the chest
“Separate” at the first opportunity from the main stream to nearby streets, alleys, cafes and shops.

Fact . IN During the festivities on the occasion of the coronation of Nicholas II, 1,389 people died as a result of a stampede. The pandemonium was provoked by a rumor spread through the crowd about free gifts that the bartenders distributed only among “their own.” Fearing that there wouldn't be enough for everyone, the crowd rushed to the trays with free gifts.

4. If you fall

Staying on your feet is the most basic task. Even if you drop something important, even a passport, do not try to pick it up - you will be knocked over and trampled. However, if you still find yourself on the ground, do not despair. Try to get up as soon as possible, and you need to get up in the direction of the crowd, without hesitation to grab onto people. Do not use your arms for support; they will crush or break you. If you can't get up, curl into the fetal position: knees to chest, forearms protect head, back of head covered with palms. Having seized the moment, try to rise again by jerking your body while leaning on your knee.

5. Danger is all around

Beware of everything that doesn't move– trees, poles, fences. When in a crowd, various metal bars are especially dangerous. Stay as far away from store windows, walls and ledges as possible.

6. If you are not alone

If you are with a child, then the safest place for him is on your shoulders. If your companion is a woman, then it’s better to lead her in front of you. This way you can prevent sharp thrusts into her back. In addition, she will always remain in your field of vision and in case of a fall, you will be able to help faster.

By following these rules of behavior in a crowd, you have be able to survive the crush with minimal damage to your health. And remember, it is much easier to avoid the crowd than to get out of it. Take care of yourself.

Introduction

Conclusion

Study in advance the possible evacuation routes when visiting a place where there is an expected gathering of people. It's in your best interest. At the same time, do not ignore fences, stairs, courtyards, windows, emergency exits and routes.

1. Rules for safe behavior in crowds

The emergence of panic or general spontaneous aggression, the cause of which may be general hysteria provoked by mass protest, or fear caused by a fire or other disaster; or an overly emotional football match and much more, can turn a large number of ordinary people into a crowd that is capable of sweeping away and destroying everything in its path. Any mass event is a source of increased danger. For example, the organizers of most rock concerts have been warning about this lately right on the entrance tickets.

Social psychologists highlight several simple recommendations on how to avoid becoming a victim of the crowd: do not go against the crowd; if necessary, cross the crowd (cross it tangentially or diagonally, while following the movement of the checkers piece); do not look into the eyes of people in the crowd and do not move with your eyes down on the ground (moving with your eyes down is the movement of the victim). The gaze should be directed just below the face, including the so-called peripheral vision. This view will allow you to monitor the whole situation without fixating on individual details.

Experts distinguish between two types of crowd behavior: outdoors and indoors. In many ways they agree, but there are nuances. In a confined space (at a concert or other public event), when danger arises, people suddenly begin to simultaneously seek salvation, i.e., they want to get out of this room. In the vast majority of cases, this happens chaotically. People who are far from exits become especially active. They begin to push with all their might on those in front, and as a result, most of the “front” find themselves pressed against the walls. A stampede ensues, as a result of which, in a very real sense, many people can find themselves (and find themselves) crushed between a stone wall and a wall of human bodies.

Experts advise memorizing the exit points and the paths to them, because those who know where the nearest exit is have a better chance of being saved. It is especially important to rush to him before the crowd begins to move. However, when the crowd has gained full strength, attempting to move through its thickness can have the most negative consequences. Experts believe that the most reasonable thing to do is to wait until the main flow subsides. In their opinion, rushing into narrow passages when the crowd has already gained strength is only permissible in the event of a fire, which is also spreading very quickly, or when, as a result of extensive combustion of plastic materials and coatings in the hall, a “gas chamber” is formed.

You have to watch out for walls and narrow doorways. To do this you need to try:

Getting into the “main current”, which, however, is also unsafe;

Go back a little, where it’s still more free;

Try to lie on top of the stream of people and, rolling or crawling on your bellies, make your way to a less crowded place. This is especially true when saving children: often this technique is the only hope. A child simply cannot survive in a maddened crowd of adults, if only due to his size. Therefore, if you have the strength, it is better to put the child on your shoulders and move on. Or two adults can, facing each other, create a kind of protective capsule for the child from their bodies and hands.

If it is impossible to wait, then rush into the crowd, but headlong, but at the same time, in advance, you must empty your pockets as much as possible (even better - completely), since almost any object under enormous pressure in the middle of the crowd can cause serious injury not only to yourself, but and any of the people around you.

It is necessary to take off long, too loose clothing, which is also equipped with metal parts, as well as anything that can compress the neck, i.e. jacket lacing, tie, medallion on a cord, pectoral cross on a chain, any jewelry and costume jewelry. The arms should not be pressed to the body, they should be bent at the elbows, the fists pointing upward, then the arms can protect the chest. You can also clasp your palms in front of your chest.

A street crowd is generally considered not as dangerous as in a confined space. However, psychologists do not agree with this, believing that the street crowd more often acts as a carrier of aggressive moods and that in terms of the number of intentional victims, the street crowd exceeds the crowd in a confined space.

In general, the rules of behavior during mass street gatherings are almost no different from those given above, but still have their own characteristics. The first rule is: Do not join the crowd, no matter how much you want to see the events taking place. If you find yourself in a crowd, let it carry you, but try to get out of it. When a crowd approaches, it is necessary to retreat to side streets and alleys, also using passage yards. Some survival manuals also recommend that, if it is impossible to escape to neighboring streets, use entrances through which you can climb to the roofs of houses as shelter. But the entrances may be closed (which happens most often lately). Then the same manuals recommend breaking the windows of apartments located on the first floors and entering the entrances through them.

If you find yourself in a moving crowd, you must stay away from any walls or ledges. All kinds of metal gratings are especially dangerous in these cases. If the crush has become threatening, immediately, without hesitation, free yourself from any burden, especially from your shoulder bag and scarf. Clothing should be comfortable, tightly fitting, preferably a sporty type (the same applies to shoes, which should be tightly laced). On the street, you should stay at the edge of the crowd, and not rush into the thick of things.

While knowing the location of the nearest emergency exits can be useful in an enclosed area, knowing the topography of the area can be just as useful in an open area. There is no need to try to resist the spontaneous movement of the crowd, or cling to walls or lampposts.

You can't stop and try to lift anything. Also, any injury received should not cause a stop. If you fall, try to get back to your feet as quickly as possible. At the same time, do not lean on your hands (they will be crushed or broken). Try to stand on your soles or toes for at least a moment. You need to get up in the direction of the crowd. If you can’t get up, curl up in a ball, protect your head with your forearms, and cover the back of your head with your palms.

If there are still people in the crowd who have not lost their heads and are able to protect children and women, then it is quite possible to organize joint actions and sooner or later get out of the dense crowd. To do this, line up in a wedge, inside which you place children and women, and then, pushing apart the scattered people around you, drift to the side.

You can drift in a crowd like a ship on a river. Assess the direction in advance and move purposefully along it.

The appearance of a crowd is possible in crowded places. As a rule, this happens at holidays, concerts, festivities, and near stadiums after sports matches.

As long as thousands of people follow the established order of behavior or move evenly along designated routes, the situation is relatively safe. But if any incident or obstacle occurs along the way, the crowd turns into a source of increased danger to human health and life. It is very difficult to stop agitated people or control their actions. Sometimes this is almost impossible.

According to psychologists, a crowd is one of the most dangerous phenomena of city life. What is typical is that it does not take into account the interests of individual people, including the safety of their lives.

A large crowd of people is depersonalizing. The person behaves like everyone else. And it is difficult to resist the influence of the crowd. The paradox is that normal law-abiding people in a crowd can behave aggressively and destructively, without any control over their actions and actions. After all, the crowd gives rise to a feeling of impunity in a person. And this is fraught with the fact that his far from best, but hidden vices spill out, presenting a danger to others.

To avoid possible troubles, everyone needs to know the basic rules of behavior in crowded places.

When you find yourself at the venue of a mass cultural, entertainment or sporting event, do not try to get into the densest crowd of people in a limited space. Remember, no spectacle can compensate for possible inconvenience, injury, or pressure in the crowd.

If you have to deal with crowded passages at the venue of a mass spectacle, violation of fire safety rules and public order, the correct action is to leave the event.

Study in advance possible evacuation routes when visiting a place of expected crowding. It's in your best interest. At the same time, do not ignore fences, stairs, courtyards, windows, emergency exits and routes.

What to do if you find yourself in a moving crowd while leaving a concert or stadium?

First of all, it is necessary to adhere to the general speed of the traffic flow, do not push or push on those in front. Pushes from behind and from the side must be restrained with your elbows bent and your arms pressed to your body. Ask the most restless neighbors to keep order or let them go ahead.

What to do if there is a strong crush?

Do not grab protruding objects, try to get around them, stay away from glass display cases, mesh fences, turnstiles, and the stage. Press the umbrella and bag tightly to your body. It is better to move a long scarf from the neck to the lower back, turning this source of danger of suffocation into a means of protection. When moving in a crowd, never bend down for anything, do not pick up fallen things, money, or even tie an untied shoelace. The main task is to stay on your feet at any cost. Warning: Falling inside a moving crowd is life-threatening. But if this does happen, remember these important recommendations: when you fall, do not think about your clothes or bag, bend your arms and legs, protect your head with your hands, and protect your stomach by bending and pulling your legs towards your body. Then quickly try to place your hands and one foot on the ground and straighten up sharply in the direction of the people. If you don't succeed right away, don't despair and try again.

In order for a large number of ordinary people to turn into a crowd with all the ensuing consequences, panic or general spontaneous aggression must occur.

However, these two circumstances are often closely interrelated.

At the same time, thousands, hundreds or even dozens of people (it’s not a matter of quantity) suddenly lose their individuality and turn into one multi-headed beast that is capable of sweeping away and destroying everything in its path.

In order for the mass of people to become “explosive,” a kind of psychological detonator is needed, which can be general hysteria, provoked by mass protest or, on the contrary, a demonstration of loyal feelings; fear caused by fire or other disaster; an unprofessionally conducted rock concert or an overly emotional football match...

The list of reasons that can turn a crowd of people into a crowd, unfortunately, goes on and on.

Too often, people who succumbed to mass psychosis were later unable to understand why this happened. The explanation here should be sought at the level of primitive instincts. It was they who, in time immemorial, helped people survive together when seemingly much stronger creatures adapted to harsh conditions disappeared without a trace.

But today, like any atavism, the herd instinct poses an undoubted danger to the human collective. The only thing that a truly intelligent person can oppose to such an instinct is reason. Try, if you find yourself in an aggressive crowd, not to succumb to the universal feeling, this peculiar “negative charm”.

But remember: the crowd does not accept “apostates” and is capable of dealing with anyone who disagrees with the general psychosis (for the mere fact of demonstrated disagreement) in the most cruel way.

It's not so easy to take and maintain your individuality when the sea of people carries you nowhere. However, there is no choice: if you do not preserve your individuality, you can lose not only your human appearance, but also life itself. After all, the crowd is merciless not only towards those who disagree, but also towards its ordinary members.

2. Crowd behavior and safe behavior in it

The behavior of the crowd reveals both ideological influences, with the help of which certain actions are prepared, and changes in mental states that occur under the influence of any specific events or information about them. In the actions of the crowd, there is a junction and practical implementation of influences, both ideological and socio-psychological, and their interpenetration into the real behavior of people.

Joint feelings, will, and moods turn out to be emotionally and ideologically colored and greatly strengthened.

The climate of mass hysteria serves as the background against which the most tragic actions often unfold.

As already mentioned, one type of crowd behavior is panic. Panic is an emotional state that arises as a result of either a lack of information about some frightening or incomprehensible situation, or its excessive excess and manifests itself in impulsive actions.

Factors that can cause panic are varied. Their nature can be physiological, psychological and socio-psychological. There are known cases of panic in everyday life as a consequence of disasters and natural disasters. When people panic, they are driven by unaccountable fear. They lose self-control, solidarity, rush about, and do not see a way out of the situation.

Factors that have a particularly strong influence on crowd behavior are the following.

Superstition is a firmly established false opinion that arises under the influence of fear experienced by a person. However, there may be a superstitious fear, the reasons for which are not realized. Many superstitions involve believing in something. They affect a variety of people, regardless of their level of education and culture. For the most part, superstition is based on fear and it intensifies many times over in a crowd.

Illusion is a type of false knowledge entrenched in public opinion. It may be the result of deception of the sense organ. In this context, we are talking about illusions related to the perception of social reality. Social illusion is a kind of ersatz resemblance to reality, created in a person’s imagination in place of genuine knowledge, which for some reason he does not accept. Ultimately, the basis of illusion is ignorance, which can produce the most unexpected and undesirable effects when manifested in a crowd.

Prejudice is false knowledge that has turned into belief, or more precisely, into prejudice. Prejudice is active, aggressive, assertive, and desperately resists genuine knowledge. This resistance is so blind that the crowd will not accept any argument contrary to prejudice.

The psychological nature of prejudices lies in the fact that a person’s memory captures not just an opinion (knowledge), it also preserves the feeling, emotion, and attitude that accompanies this knowledge. As a result, memory is very selective. Facts and events that contradict a certain opinion are not always analyzed at the level of consciousness. And, of course, they are discarded under the influence of emotions that usually overwhelm the crowd.

In cases where widespread stereotypes of public opinion are oversaturated with emotions, mass psychosis may occur, during which people are capable of committing the most reckless acts and cease to be aware of all the consequences of their actions.

The factors that determine the nature of the opinions and beliefs of the crowd are of two kinds: immediate factors and remote factors. The immediate factors influencing the crowd act on the ground already prepared by distant factors - without this they would not have caused such devastating results that often strike a raging crowd. The factors that can impress the crowd itself always appeal to its feelings and not to reason.

A crowd can be stopped by categorical commands, an ardent conviction that there is no danger, and even the threat of shooting alarmists, as well as a strong emotional brake or a miracle. It is among miracles that we should include cases when a strong-willed person, enjoying the trust of those gathered, managed to prevent the dramatic development of events.

The leader immediately needs to find assistants who must “cut through the crowd,” sometimes literally - holding hands and chanting.

The basic psychological picture of the crowd looks like this:

· Decreased intellectual level and increased emotional level.

· A sharp increase in suggestibility and a decrease in the ability for individual thinking.

· The crowd requires a leader or an object of hatred. She will gladly obey or destroy. The crowd is capable of both terrible cruelty and self-sacrifice, including towards the leader himself.

· The crowd quickly becomes exhausted after achieving something. People divided into groups quickly come to their senses and change their behavior and assessment of what is happening.

· In the life of a street (especially political-social) crowd, such elements as the first stone in a shop window and first blood are very important. These steps can take the crowd to a fundamentally different level of danger, where collective irresponsibility turns every member of the crowd into a criminal. You need to leave such a crowd immediately.

How to survive in a crowd? The best rule is to go far around it!!! If this is not possible, do not go against the crowd under any circumstances. If you get carried away by the crowd, try to avoid both the center and the edge. Avoid everything stationary on the way, otherwise you may simply be crushed and smeared. Do not cling to anything with your hands, they may break. If possible, buckle up. High heels can cost you your life, just like an untied shoelace. Throw away your bag, umbrella, etc.

If you fall something (anything), under no circumstances try to pick it up - life is more valuable. In a dense crowd, if you behave correctly, the likelihood of falling is not as great as the likelihood of being crushed. Therefore, protect the diaphragm with your hands clasped, folded over your chest. Pushes from behind should be taken on the elbows, the diaphragm should be protected by tension of the arms.

The main task in the crowd is not to fall. But if you do fall, then you need to protect your head with your hands and get up immediately. This is very difficult, but it can be done if you use this technique: quickly pull your legs towards you, group yourself and try to stand up with a jerk. It is unlikely that you will be able to rise from your knees in a dense crowd - you will be constantly knocked down. Therefore, you need to rest one foot (full sole) on the ground and sharply straighten up, using the movement of the crowd. But, nevertheless, it is very difficult to get up; preliminary protective measures are always more effective.

This universal rule, by the way, fully applies to the beginning of the “crowd” situation itself. At a concert or stadium, figure out in advance how you will exit (not necessarily the same way you entered). Try not to be near the stage, dressing room, etc. - in the “center of events.” Avoid walls (especially glass), partitions, and mesh. The tragedy at the stadium in Sheffield (England) showed that most of the dead were crushed by the crowd on the barrier walls.

If panic began due to a terrorist attack, do not rush to aggravate the chaos with your movement: do not deprive yourself of the opportunity to assess the situation and make the right decision.

To do this, use auto-training and express relaxation techniques. Here are simple techniques from which you need to choose the ones that are closest to you.

· Even breathing helps to maintain even behavior. Take a few breaths in and out.

· Look at something blue or imagine a rich blue background. Think about this for a second.

· To bring down the beginning emotional confusion, you can address yourself by name (preferably out loud), for example: “Kolya, are you here?” And confidently answer yourself: “Yes, I’m here!!!”

· Imagine yourself as a television camera, looking at everything a little from the side and from above. Assess your situation as an outsider: what would you do if you were this person?

· Change the sense of scale. Look at the eternal clouds. Smile forcefully, knock down fear with an unexpected thought or memory.

If the crowd is dense but motionless, you can try to get out of it using psychosocial techniques, for example, pretending to be sick, drunk, crazy, pretending to be sick, and so on. In short, you need to force yourself to maintain composure, be informed and improvise.

Let's move on to specific examples. Suppose you are among many other people at a concert or other public event, albeit in a fairly large, but still enclosed room. And suddenly someone’s heart-rending scream was heard: “Fire!!!” The whole point here is a sudden change in everyone’s (including yours) mood. After all, you came here along with everyone else in order to enjoy the concert of your favorite artist or watch a movie about which you heard favorable reviews. And suddenly - “Fire!!!” That is, a positive mood changes diametrically to a negative one. There is extreme stress. And so people gathered in a closed room suddenly begin to all at the same time seek salvation, that is, they want to get out of this room. Of course, everything is happening chaotically, there can be no talk of any organization. This, unfortunately, happens in the vast majority of cases. People who are far from exits become especially active. They begin to push with all their might on those in front, and as a result, most of the “front” find themselves pressed against the walls. A stampede ensues, as a result of which, in a very real sense, many people can find themselves (and find themselves!) crushed between a stone wall and a wall of human bodies. Of course, those who have not lost their heads and know where the nearest exit is have a greater chance of being saved. It is especially important to rush to him before the crowd begins to move. However, when the crowd has gained full strength, attempting to move through its thickness can have the most negative consequences. By the way, when going to such a mass event, even before it starts, don’t be lazy and pay attention to where the dimly lit “Emergency Exit” sign is located. Just do it, just in case. After all, another opportunity may no longer present itself. Let's say you didn't manage to be in the first ranks of those running away. Then, in some cases, it makes sense to wait until the main flow of fugitives subsides. True, this requires considerable restraint and composure, as well as the ability to realistically assess the situation. After all, often a danger that you do not see with your own eyes may seem more formidable than the real danger. And this, by the way, also explains the mechanism of mass panic in the crowd. In general, experts believe that rushing into narrow passages when the crowd has already gained strength is permissible only in the event of a fire, which also spreads very quickly, or when, as a result of extensive combustion of plastic materials and coatings, a “gas chamber” is formed in the hall. But when rushing into the crowd, be sure to empty your pockets as much as possible (even better - completely!)! After all, almost any object under enormous pressure in the middle of a crowd can cause serious injury to both yourself and any of the people around you. Be sure to get rid of pencils and pens, wallet, calculator or notebook... In general, from everything that has any rigidity. You can make an exception for paper money (just make sure that it is not rolled into a tube), but get rid of coins completely. Throw away greed: life is more valuable than any material value! Also, part with long, overly loose clothing, which is also equipped with metal parts, without regret. Anything that can put pressure on the neck, i.e. jacket lacing, tie, medallion on a cord, pectoral cross on a chain, take it off as soon as possible. This is the case when an amulet designed to bring good luck can cause death. And in general, throw any jewelry and costume jewelry, no matter how expensive they are to you, on the floor as soon as possible. Of course, glasses in such a situation should also be absent from the face. Never allow your shoe laces to come undone. While there is still time, tie them in a dead knot! An untied shoelace risks falling in the crowd, and no one has ever managed to rise in such a situation. In any case, your arms should not be pressed to your body. Let them be bent at the elbows, fists pointing up, then the arms can protect the chest. You can also clasp your palms in front of your chest. After all, the most dangerous thing in a crowd is that, as a result of compression from all sides, you will lose the ability to breathe. Try to take precautions in advance before the crowd gets too dense. And this will inevitably happen, since when a large mass of people exits through narrow doors, a “funnel effect” inevitably arises. In general, you should avoid places of narrowing, and therefore the greatest pressure, dead ends and protrusions. Being in the middle of a crowd is definitely dangerous. But it is even more dangerous to be near the wall. Indeed, in this case, a person can be seriously injured not only by an incompletely hammered nail, but even by an electrical outlet that is quite harmless under other circumstances. Therefore, beware of walls and narrow doorways. To do this, you can try: - to get into the “main stream”, which, however, is also unsafe; - go back a little, where it’s still more free; - as paradoxical as it sounds, try to lie on top of a stream of people. Here, of course, difficulties may arise, but it is better to experience the pokes of your comrades in misfortune on your ribs than to be trampled under their own feet or to find yourself firmly grounded to the wall by some ledge. You just have to walk over heads (yes, that’s right - over heads!), rolling or crawling on your bellies. We encourage using this last technique in all cases where children are involved! After all, a child simply cannot survive in a maddened crowd of adults, and none of the adults accompanying him alone can protect him! Two adults can still try, facing each other, to create from their bodies and hands a kind of “protective capsule” for the child. If the adult has sufficient physical abilities, it can also be advised to put the child on the shoulders and in this position move with the crowd. In general, when going to any public event, do not forget from the very beginning that it is a source of increased danger. For example, the organizers of most rock concerts have been warning about this lately right on the entrance tickets.

Conclusion

As statistics show, the greatest number of victims when riots and terrorist acts occur is observed in crowded places. People, being in a crowd, in the event of an extreme situation, endanger their health, and in extreme situations, their lives. Therefore, it is very important to know the following basic rules for safe behavior in crowds:

Be in the safest place of the crowd: away from the stands, garbage containers, boxes, packages, bags, from the center of the crowd, from glass display cases and metal fences;

If unrest or panic occurs, take off your tie, scarf, free your hands, bend them at the elbows, press them to your body, covering your vital organs, fasten all buttons and zippers, do not grab trees, poles, fences;

The main thing is to stay on your feet; if you fall, you should curl up on your side, protecting your head, sharply pull your legs under you, and rise in the direction of the movement of the crowd;

Do not attract attention to yourself by expressing political, religious and other sympathies or attitudes towards what is happening;

Do not approach groups of people behaving aggressively;

Do not react to conflicts occurring nearby.

Try to leave the crowd.

Bibliography

1. American sociological thought. - M., 1994.

2. Lebon G. Psychology of peoples and masses. - St. Petersburg, 1996.

3. Mitrokhin S. Treatise on the Crowd // XX Century and the World. - 1990. No. 11.

4. Moscovici S. Century of Crowds. - M., 1996.

5. Criminal crowd. - M., 1998.

6. Psychology of domination and submission: Reader. - Minsk, 1998.

7. Psychology of the masses: Reader. - Samara, 1998.

8. Psychology of crowds. - M., 1998.

9. Rutkevich A.M. Man and the crowd // Dialogue. - 1990. - No. 12.

10. Freud 3. “I” and “It”. - Tbilisi, 1991.

Description of the presentation by individual slides:

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Completed by the teacher-organizer of life safety at secondary school No. 8 in Monchegorsk. Safety measures in crowded places. Rules for safe behavior in crowds

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Many people like to attend all sorts of noisy events. These could be football matches, various festivals, concerts, nightclubs, holiday concerts and fairs. In such places, certain rules must be followed. Rules of conduct in a crowd are measures to keep your health and life safe.

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As a rule, when coming to a concert or any other event, people behave politely and reservedly, letting others go ahead. But as soon as this event ends, the movement of people becomes spontaneous, everyone moves to the exit as quickly as possible, without noticing or letting anyone through. There are cases when in such spontaneous stampedes people were injured and even died.

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Facts from history Humanity knows cases when a large number of people died in crowded spontaneous stampedes. A striking example of such a tragedy is the coronation of Tsar Nicholas II. The crush happened on Khodynka Field. Here a crowd of thousands rushed to the place where refreshments were being distributed. As a result, more than one thousand people died and were injured. Monstrous stampedes also occurred during Stalin’s funeral. Then not only a large number of people died on Trubnaya Square. The crowd also crushed the horses there, on which the police officers were sitting, keeping order.

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Causes of Crowds When does a large number of people become dangerous? A crowd forms when panic or general aggression occurs. Moreover, these two reasons are closely related. The psychology of crowd behavior has its own characteristics. She is characterized by unconsciousness, impulsiveness and instinctivity. The crowd has no logic. The people in it live at this moment only by feelings. The so-called herd instinct, which cannot be controlled, comes into play. This is especially pronounced when there is no leader in the crowd and no one gives any restraining commands. Tens, hundreds, thousands of people are losing their individuality. They literally turn into a terrible multi-headed beast, sweeping away and destroying everything that gets in its way. This is the main feature of crowd behavior.

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Human behavior in a crowd The list of reasons that turn a crowd of people into an uncontrollable mass is, unfortunately, very long. Often those who find themselves in it are later themselves perplexed by their own behavior. The explanation in this case should be sought in the distant past, turning to the primitive instincts of man. They explain the emergence of mass psychosis. This behavior helped people survive in distant and harsh times. The herd instinct, like any other atavism, is dangerous for the human collective today. The only thing that can resist him is the mind. Any of us, finding ourselves in an aggressive crowd, must try not to succumb to its general negative feeling. However, it is worth keeping in mind that this uncontrollable mass does not tolerate “apostates” and can brutally deal with those who have not succumbed to psychosis. Maintaining your individuality in a crowd is not at all easy. After all, the real human sea is simply going nowhere. However, there is no choice. Without preserving your own individuality, you can lose not only the appearance of a person, but also your life. The mercilessness of the crowd manifests itself not only in relation to those who disagree, but also towards its ordinary members.

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Uncontrolled flow in a confined space During any concert or public event, a crowd can form. It is important for everyone to know the rules of behavior in a crowd in a closed room, because a general change of mood can occur, for example, when someone screams heart-rendingly: “Fire!” For people who come to have a good time, their mood suddenly changes from positive to negative. Extreme stress arises. All people in a confined space simultaneously begin to look for a way out in order to get to a safe place. Of course, everything that happens is chaotic. Unfortunately, this happens in most cases. The people who are farthest from the exit are the most active. They begin to press on those in front. The result is very sad. More of those in front find themselves pressed against the walls. This creates a stampede that can claim human lives.

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When you find yourself at a mass event, you should pay attention to where the emergency exit is. It is recommended to do this just in case before the start of the performance. Rules of conduct in a crowd require a sober assessment of the situation. For those who were not among the first to flee, experts advise waiting until the main flow of people subsides. True, this will require composure and considerable endurance. Running through narrow passages along with the entire crowd is only permissible when the flames of a fire are spreading literally before your eyes. After all, this can create a real gas chamber as a result of the combustion of plastic coverings and materials in the hall. The rules of behavior in a crowd dictate that you must empty your pockets. There should be nothing in your clothing that has any rigidity and can cause serious injury to you and others around you. You need to throw away pens and pencils.

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Safe behavior in a crowd involves keeping your arms bent at the elbows, with your fists pointing upward. This will protect the chest from pressure. You can do it a little differently. In order not to lose the opportunity to breathe during the pressure of the human mass, it is advisable to clasp your hands in front of your chest. Such precautionary measures must be taken in advance while the crowd is still thin. The compaction of a large mass of people will certainly occur, because when exiting through narrow doors, the “funnel effect” will work. The most dangerous places A person who is moving towards the exit along with a huge mass of people must try to avoid any narrowing places in the room, ledges and dead ends. Here the maximum pressure exerted by the crowd is inevitable. Rules of conduct in a crowd suggest that you should try to avoid being near the wall itself. This is the most dangerous place. A person located there can receive serious injury not only from an incompletely driven nail, but also from an unremarkable electrical outlet.

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Crowd on the street Safe behavior in a crowd will also save you on the street, because a human stream is also capable of trampling its participants. In general, the rules are practically no different from those described above. However, the behavior of a person in a crowd on the street has its own characteristics. In order not to get lost in the mass of people, it is recommended to retreat to side alleys, streets, and walk through courtyards. If this is not possible, the entrances of residential buildings can be used as shelters, through which it is easy to climb to the roofs.

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Rules for safe behavior in a crowd How, if you find yourself in an active and aggressive environment, leave a crowded place without injury. Experienced emergency rescue specialists recommend following certain rules of behavior. The main rule of safe behavior in a crowd is to avoid crowded places. You don't have to come to events alone. Close people will always come to the rescue first. You need to carefully consider the clothes you wear to the event. It is not advisable to wear loose dresses, robes or clothes with laces or strings. Earrings and piercings are best left at home. Do not wear ties, scarves, chains, beads or anything else that may be on your neck. Clothes should be tight-fitting - fasten all buttons or zippers, check that your shoes are laced, it is advisable for women not to wear heels. The level of crowd activity and the consequences of its actions directly depend on the amount of alcohol consumed. In addition, a smuggled glass bottle becomes a dangerous weapon in the hands of a hooligan. A person intoxicated cannot restrain his aggression, further irritating people around him, and in the event of a threat to his life, he himself will not be able to adequately defend himself.

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If you find yourself in a place where there is a mass gathering of people, calculate your retreat moves in advance and stay as close to them as possible. The most dangerous places to avoid during the general flight: the area near the stage and near the dressing rooms, narrow passages and being near glass display cases. If you feel that the situation at the gathering place is heating up and there is nowhere to run. Show your acting skills: pretend to have a heart attack or vomit. People themselves will part and form a corridor around you through which you can leave the dangerous place. The best behavior in the event of danger is to calm down and make a sober decision. Sometimes it only takes ten seconds to look around, find a safe path and escape. If the crowd begins to move, try to move with everyone else, with the flow, especially not against or across the main mass. Try not to push you to the center, where there is pressure from all sides and it will be very difficult to get out of there. You also need to be not on the very edge, where you are in danger of being pressed against a wall or fence. Do not grab handrails, railings; you will not have enough strength to hold on to various objects, and your hands may be seriously injured. If events in a crowded place have already become aggressive, then forget about the fallen things. Reaching for a fallen object puts you at risk of falling and being trampled or injured. People running for their lives won't even notice you.