# The Classification of Crowds explained — The Crowd

> Chapter companion for The Crowd by Gustave Le Bon.

## What happens

This chapter categorizes crowds into heterogeneous and homogeneous types, emphasizing the influence of race on crowd behavior and distinguishing between anonymous and non-anonymous crowds. It also introduces sects, castes, and classes as forms of homogeneous crowds.

## Themes in this chapter

### Race and National Character

Race is presented as the most powerful factor determining crowd behavior, with examples of Latin, English, American, and French crowds.

### Psychology of Crowds

The chapter systematically classifies crowds into heterogeneous and homogeneous types, analyzing their psychological characteristics.

### Social Change and Revolution

Discusses how crowd states relate to barbarism and civilization, and the role of race in shaping social and political movements.

## Character check-ins

### Crowds

Central subject of classification into heterogeneous and homogeneous types.

### Unknown Narrator

Provides the analytical framework and classification of crowds.

## Key lines

> The only important classification to be made of heterogeneous crowds, apart from that based on racial considerations, is to separate them into anonymous crowds, such as street crowds, and crowds not anonymous—deliberative assemblies and juries, for example.

Beyond race, the key distinction among heterogeneous crowds is between anonymous groups like street crowds and identifiable ones like juries or assemblies.

_Highlights the role of anonymity in crowd behavior._

> It should be considered as an essential law that the inferior characteristics of crowds are the less accentuated in proportion as the spirit of the race is strong.

The stronger the racial character, the weaker the negative traits of crowds.

_Emphasizes race as a moderating force on crowd behavior._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crowd_se/chapters/i-the-classification-of-crowds
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crowd_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_crowd_se/chapters