Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A casual crowd consists of people who come together in the same place but do not have a unified purpose or identify. They might share a space due to coincidence or a shared interest in an event, yet their interaction is minimal.
Related terms
Collective behavior: The spontaneous and unstructured behavior of a group of people who may violate societal norms.
Organized efforts by large groups of people to promote or resist social change through collective action.
Mass society theory: A theory suggesting that social movements offer a sense of belonging to individuals who feel alienated and disconnected from others