Born in 1841 in France, Gustave Le Bon was a psychologist, sociologist, and polymath, best known for his pioneering work on crowd psychology. His seminal book, The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind (Psychologie des Foules), established him as one of the most influential thinkers in the field of social psychology. Le Bon’s theories on the behavior of crowds have been studied and applied across various disciplines, from politics to advertising, where understanding mass influence is critical.

Le Bon argued that individuals within a crowd lose their sense of personal responsibility and moral judgment, becoming part of a collective consciousness dominated by emotion rather than reason. His work has been influential in shaping modern theories of mass behavior, manipulation, and leadership. Despite controversies surrounding his work, particularly regarding its use by totalitarian regimes, Le Bon remains a significant figure in the study of social dynamics.