Instincts of the Herd in Peace and War
Title page of Instincts of the Herd in Peace and War (1916) | |
| Author | Wilfred Trotter |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Non-fiction |
Publication date | 1916 |
Instincts of the Herd in Peace and War is a book by English surgeon Wilfred Trotter, published in 1916. Based on the ideas of Gustave Le Bon, it was very influential in the development of group dynamics and crowd psychology, and the propaganda of Edward Bernays. It was also a key influence on Q. D. Leavis' book Fiction and the Reading Public (1932).
After its initial publication, the book was revisited by the author and published again in 1919. The 1919 edition also contained a postscript reflecting on the practical implications of the book's objectives during the First World War.
The book consists of a collection of essays which investigate the importance of human behaviour in relation to the human social environment and introducing the concept of "herd instinct". Explorations of human and collective behaviour are made within the contexts of peace and war, particularly in relation to social motivation and conformity. Due to its pioneer and theoretical background, the book became a foundational work in the field of social psychology.