Vol. 10, No 3: 82–91.

Sociology and Social Work

2025

Scientific article

UDK 316

pdf-version

Ksenia O. Karasova
bachelor’s degree, Petrozavodsk State University
(Petrozavodsk, Russia),
karasovak.18@mail.ru

A Comparative Analysis of the Theories of Gustave Le Bon and Gabriel Tarde in the Context of Modern Social Reality

Scientific adviser:
Elena N. Luzgina
Reviewer:
Andrey S. Sokolov
Paper submitted on: 09/02/2025;
Accepted on: 09/28/2025;
Published online on: 09/28/2025.
Abstract. This article presents a comparative analysis of the sociological theories of Gustave Le Bon and Gabriel Tarde. It examines the core ideas of Le Bon’s crowd psychology and Tarde’s theory of imitation, focusing on their methodological differences and similarities. The study highlights the relevance of these theories in modern society, analyzing contemporary social phenomena such as the spread of fake news, the emergence of protest movements, and the impact of social networks on public opinion. Through illustrative examples, the study identifies distinct approaches to understanding mass processes and demonstrates the continued relevance of Le Bon’s and Tarde’s frameworks in modern society.
Keywords: mass behavior, digital society, crowd psychology, imitation, communication, Le Bon, Tarde, sociology, public, public opinion

For citation: Karasova, K. O. A Comparative Analysis of the Theories of Gustave Le Bon and Gabriel Tarde in the Context of Modern Social Reality. StudArctic forum. 2025, 10 (3): 82–91.

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