Personal morality and political and social institutions can not exist apart, and (in general) the better the one the better the other. The community is moral, because it realizes personal morality; personal morality is moral, because and in so far as it realizes the moral whole.” Since correcting the proofs of this volume I have become acquainted with two recent books whose teaching is so closely in harmony with my own that I wish to direct my readers’ attention to them. One is Sir Martin Conway’s _The Crowd in Peace and War_, which contains many valuable illustrations of group life. The other is Miss M. P. Follett’s _The New State; Group Organization the Solution of Popular Government_, which expounds the principles and advantages of collective deliberation with vigour and insight. I am under much obligation to the general editor of this series, Prof. G. Dawes Hicks. He has read the proofs of my book, and has helped me greatly with many suggestions; but he has, of course, no responsibility for the views expressed in it. W. McD. OXFORD, _March 1920_. CONTENTS PREFACE PART I. GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF COLLECTIVE PSYCHOLOGY PAGES CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION. THE PROVINCE OF COLLECTIVE PSYCHOLOGY The need for a more concrete psychology—the conception of the group mind—objections to the conception examined—the conception not a new one but familiar in political philosophy and law—the essential problem 1-20 CHAPTER II. THE MENTAL LIFE OF THE CROWD The crowd presents the phenomena of collective life in crude and simple forms—the formation of the psychological crowd—its peculiarities—spread and intensification of emotions—how that takes place—the notion of ‘collective consciousness’ provisionally rejected—the submergence of personality in the crowd—the low intelligence of crowds—suggestibility—lack of individual responsibility 21-47 CHAPTER III. THE HIGHLY ORGANISED GROUP The principal conditions of organisation—the army as the type—how its organisation raises the soldier to a higher plane of collective life—the nature of collective will illustrated—influence of leaders 48-61 CHAPTER IV. THE GROUP SPIRIT The self-consciousness of the group—the group idea and the group sentiment—the group consciousness in primitive life—views of Cornford and Lévy Bruhl examined—‘collective representations’—the peculiar merit of the group spirit—multiple group consciousness—the hierarchy of groups—interaction of groups 62-87 CHAPTER V. PECULIARITIES OF GROUPS OF VARIOUS TYPES Rudimentary groups—natural and artificial groups—purposive, traditional and mixed groups 88-95 PART II. THE NATIONAL MIND AND CHARACTER