Abstract: There are two features in a collective action: the individuals’ behavior is acting as the representative of a group; the action aims at improving the conditions of the group. This article analyzes and summarizes the models of collective action, elaborated social identity model (ESIM) as well as the theories of deindividuation, which can explain the readiness of the collective action, the trigger process and the maintenance factors in different angels. Social identity, anger and group efficiency constitute the states of collective action readiness. An awful intergroup interaction, together with the emergence of like-minded people in the group, plays a vital role in firing a massive collective action. Once a collective action breaking out, the key elements of sustaining the action are the temporary and situational group norms generated from the collective action. The behavior measurement in researching collective action is discussed. Existing literature in Western society regarding collective action provides us a realistic reference for studying group events in China.

Key words: collective action, anger, group efficiency, social identity, deindividuation