Collective action

'''Collective action''' is the synchronous performance of the same action by more than one agent or person. If the action is more abstract, and the agents pursuit a common a goal or set of goals, then we can speak of [[Collective intention|collective intention]]. A large group can be dangerous for the individual, for example during a mass panic, but the "collective" can be attractive and seductive for the invidiual member:

* Individuals may feel stronger than they are during synchronous action due to feedback effects and illusions. Although the individual makes only a small effort, it seems to have a large effect during collective, synchronous actions

* Individuals may exploit the benefits and the "public goods" of the group, as explained in "The Logic of Collective Action" by Mancur Olson Harvard University Press (1971): why should you put yourself out to secure a public good if someone else does it?

== Links ==

* Wikipedia entry for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collective_action Collective Action]
* Notebook entry for [http://cscs.umich.edu/~crshalizi/notebooks/collective-action.html Collective Action]

[[Category:Collective Processes]]