On May 7, 1841, Gustave LeBon was born in Nogent-le-Rotuo, France. His family consists of Georges, the younger brothet, Annette Josephine Eugenic Tetiot Desmarlinias, the mother, and Jean-Marie Charles LeBon the father. The grandfather, Jean Carot, has direct ties to the government and LeBons's father, Jean-Marie Charles LeBon, became involved in the local governement. Gustave LeBon excelled as a student at Tours. Later on, he attended the University of Paris, where he studied medicine.
Gustave LeBon is considered the father of the study of psychology. LeBon took interest in psychology, sociology, and politics. With those studies, Gustave LeBon theorized evolution and the behavior of people in crowds. Gustave's research lead him to writing his most famous work, The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind. In this, he includes Darwin's concept of natural selection and Haeckel's concept of evolution. These two important people helped support LeBon's theory that people lose their individuality and become part of the general mass of people.
LeBon's work and research inspired influential figures, such as Theodore Roosevelt and Adolf Hitler. During his lifetime, he informed the public of the natural process and human nature. In his book, The Crowd: A Population of the Popular Mind, ideas were shared and spread, like individuality versus the crowd, the social aspect and identity. Most importantly, LeBon focused on learning and religion. These ideas criticized democracy and socialism. Additionally, Gustave LeBon uphold the common ideology of conservatism and rationalsim. LeBon's inquistion to achieve to neoclassicism and progression was accepted by the general public, but questioned the authority and interference of the governement.
Gustave died ninety years later on December 13, 1931. Yet LeBon's ideas are still significant to the development of society centuries after his death. He described the focus on class and equality, as well as character and distinctiveness. Not only did he encourage a sense of change and development, Gustave LeBon promoted social Darwinsim. His studies and research enabled Gustave LeBon to leave behind a legacy that will never be forgotten.
"The conscious life of the mind is of small importance in comparison with its unconscioss life." -Gustave LeBon