Development of a new evacuation method for emergencies: Control of collective behavior by emergent small groups.

A new evacuation method for emergencies, the Follow Me method, in which each leader takes only one evacuee to an exit without gesturing or loudly directing many evacuees toward the exit, was compared, in two field experiments, with a traditional method, the Follow Directions method, in which each leader indicates the direction with a loud voice and vigorous gestures. Results showed that the Follow Me method was more effective when the leader-to-evacuee ratio was relatively small, such as 1:4, and less effective when the ratio was large, such as 1:8. Effective evacuation by the Follow Me method was shown to be caused by the drawing power of emergent small groups. Generating from around a leader, other evacuees rapidly formed a collective stream toward the exit. Small groups can be used as a lever in moving a larger collectivity in an emergency, as well as in activating a large formal organization. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)