Final answer:
The article 'Panic on the plant form' illustrates both positive and negative consequences of collective behavior, showing how it can lead to market crashes or spur social change and provide guidance in emergencies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The article 'Panic on the plant form' demonstrates both the positive and negative effects of following the crowd. The contagion effect of panic during the market crash of the 1920s, for instance, shows how public confidence, or the lack thereof, can drive widespread economic behavior, leading to a self-fulfilling prophecy of market decline. On the other hand, the mention of Kierns' observation points to a phenomenon where negative social forces, such as shared dissatisfaction, may drive a positive response and bring about social change. Similarly, the bandwagon effect can both positively and negatively influence people, as it encourages adopting popular opinions, which can sometimes result in conformity without individual critical thinking, referred to as the bandwagon fallacy.
Furthermore, the concept of deindividuation highlights how group dynamics can lead to reduced personal accountability and potential mob behaviors, which may yield negative outcomes. Conversely, instances of informational social influence, such as actions taken during an emergency in a movie theatre, demonstrate how crowd behavior might guide individual decision-making in uncertain situations, which can be beneficial for safety.
In conclusion, following the crowd can lead to positive outcomes such as social reform and collective safety measures; however, it also harbors risks like the escalation of market crises and the potential for groupthink or destructive mob actions.