How Crowd Psychology Made the Modern World, with Dan Hancox

Intelligence Squared

Arts, News, Society & Culture, News Commentary

4.2 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 24 November 2024

⏱️ 55 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Journalist and author Dan Hancox argues that despite what politicians, philosophers and the press have long told us, every peaceful crowd is not a violent mob in waiting. His new book. Multitudes, asks readers to rethink long-held assumptions about crowd behaviour and psychology, as well as the part crowds play in our lives. Hancox has written for the Guardian, the New Statesman, The Independent, The Wire and many more. His previous books include Inner City Pressure: The Story of Grime and The Village Against the World. Joining him to discuss Multitudes is Adam McCauley, the writer and researcher studying the social, cultural, and political impacts of emerging technologies. McCauley also writes a regular newsletter, The View From Here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	On the 60th day of Christmas my true love gave to me one gift that's late left behind the gate
0:06.0	next to the plant pot not quite a safe spot they've shown no respect no wonder it was wrecked
0:12.2	my parcel delivery want to know what to do next which get it right this Christmas
0:19.8	using my Berkeley card forward credit card to pay for the stuff
0:22.7	I need now could help build up my credit school for the day I need something bigger. So buying a set of
0:27.7	headphones, all waits for my workout, smashed it. Could help in the future when I want to rent
0:33.6	my first flat share. Now that's forward thinking. Check if you're eligible at barclaycard.com.
0:40.5	33.9% APR representative variables subject to application financial circumstances in borrowing
0:45.5	history, T's and Cs apply. Responsible use of a credit card can help build your credit score when
0:49.4	you pay on time. Welcome to Intelligence Squared where great minds meet. I'm head of programming Connor Boyle.
0:57.0	Our guest today is Dan Hancock, the journalist whose new book looks at the psychology of the crowd, and how crowd thinking has shaped history.
1:05.0	The book is called Multitudes, How Crowds Made the Modern World. And joining him to discuss it is Adam McCauley, the writer and
1:12.2	researcher studying the social, cultural and political impacts of emerging technologies. He also writes
1:17.8	a regular newsletter, The View From Here. Let's join Adam in conversation with Dan Hancock's now.
1:23.5	What did the G20 protests, football matches and the Notting Hill Carnival have in common?
1:29.5	The short answer appears simple.
1:31.3	These are spaces where large groups of people meet.
1:33.9	But something more profound and uniquely human occurs amidst the rhythmic chants, home club anthems, and spontaneous street parties.
1:40.9	Today's guest argues that these events, bringing diverse individuals together, are some of the
1:45.5	most direct and physical expressions of democracy that we have. Amidst the alchemy of these crowded,
1:51.7	complicated, ecstatic, and sometimes even dangerous gatherings, the world, our modern world,
1:57.6	is made and remade anew. To explore this further, I'm pleased to welcome Dan Hancock.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Intelligence Squared, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Intelligence Squared and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.