Chapter 23 Collective Behaviour And Social Movements 2005

Studying Collective Behaviour Activity involving a large number of people often spontaneous and usually in violation of established norms l Collective behaviour is wide-ranging l Collective behaviour is complex l Much collective behaviour is transitory © 2005 Pearson Education Canada Inc.

Differences from Groups and Organizations (Chapter 7) l l l Collectivities are based on limited social interaction Collectivities have no clear social boundaries Collectivities engender weak unconventional norms © 2005 Pearson Education Canada Inc.

Localized Collectivities Crowd: a temporary gathering of people who share a common focus of attention and who influence one another l Mob: a highly emotional crowd that pursues a violent or destructive goal l Riot: a social eruption that is highly emotional, violent, and undirected They can challenge or support society. l © 2005 Pearson Education Canada Inc.

Explaining Crowd Behaviour Contagion theory: crowds exert a hypnotic effect over their members. Critical evaluation: can be made up of small groups with different orientations Convergence theory: people who wish to act in a certain way come together Critical evaluation: people sometimes do things in crowds they would not do alone (Cont’d) © 2005 Pearson Education Canada Inc.

Explaining Crowd Behaviour (Cont’d) Emergent norm theory: distinctive patterns of behaviour may emerge within a crowd. It is neither irrational or as deliberate as suggested. Critical evaluation: a symbolic-interaction approach that suggests that people take on different roles, leader, lieutenant, and follower. © 2005 Pearson Education Canada Inc.

Dispersed Collectivities: Mass Behaviour l l Rumour: unsubstantiated information spread informally, often by word of mouth, thrives in ambiguity, is unstable, and is difficult to stop Gossip: rumour about people’s personal affairs Public Opinion: widespread attitudes about controversial issues Propaganda: information presented with the intention of shaping public opinion. (Cont’d) © 2005 Pearson Education Canada Inc.

Dispersed Collectivities (Cont’d) l l l Panic: a form of localized collective behaviour and Mass hysteria: a form of dispersed collective behaviour by which people respond to a real or imagined event with irrational, frantic, and often self destructive behaviour. Fashion: a social pattern favoured by a large number of people Fad: an unconventional social pattern that people embrace briefly, but enthusiastically © 2005 Pearson Education Canada Inc.

Social Movements and Change Organized activity that encourages or discourages social change l Alternative: Least threatening, limited change for a limited number of members, e. g. , planned parenthood l Redemptive: Selective focus, radical change, e. g. , some religious organizations l Reformative: Limited social change that targets all members of society, e. g. , environmental movement l Revolutionary: The most severe, striving for basic transformation of society, e. g. , Communist or ultraconservative political movements © 2005 Pearson Education Canada Inc.

Figure 23 -1 © 2005 Pearson Education Canada Inc.

Explaining Social Movements Deprivation theory: People mobilize because of relative deprivation: perceived disadvantage Critical evaluation: Everyone feels some deprivation, why so few movements? Mass-society theory: Movements attract social isolates Critical evaluation: How to specify a mass is difficult and activists have deep commitment to goals. (Cont’d) © 2005 Pearson Education Canada Inc.

Explaining Social Movements (Cont’d) Structural –Strain theory: 6 factors create movements 1. Structural conduciveness: problems exist 2. Structural strain 3. Growth and spread of an explanation 4. Precipitating factors; specific event 5. Mobilization for action: building alliances and holding rallies. 6. Lack of social control Critical evaluation: Movement depends on strain (a problem of evidence) and ignores resources. (Cont’d) © 2005 Pearson Education Canada Inc.

Explaining Social Movements (Cont’d) Resource-mobilization theory: Success depends on resources as well as a problem. Critical evaluation: powerless groups can bring change with commitment. New social movements theory: New focus on quality of life, world peace, environment, etc. Critical evaluation: differences between the past and present are exaggerated © 2005 Pearson Education Canada Inc.

Gender and Social Movements Men more than women tend to take part in public life. Women have taken part in social movements , e. g. , feminist, but male predominance is the norm. © 2005 Pearson Education Canada Inc.

Stages in Social Movements 1. 2. 3. 4. Emergence: Perception that something is wrong Coalescence: Defines itself, recruits members, and devises strategies and tactics Bureaucratization: Organizes rationally to get job done Decline: Is the movement in need of regrouping or is it simply time for its demise? © 2005 Pearson Education Canada Inc.

Figure 23 -3 © 2005 Pearson Education Canada Inc.

Social Movements and Social Change l l l Social movements exist to encourage or resist change and many have been partially successful, e. g. , feminism and environmentalism. Major social transformation, e. g. , the industrial revolution, have given rise to social movements. New technology permits social movements to unite people around the world. © 2005 Pearson Education Canada Inc.