Collective Behavior and Social Movements

Collective Behavior Social behavior is usually patterned and predictable Act in accordance to societal norms What about situations with unclear norms? Collective behavior- when people make up their own norms in unclear situations Social behavior is usually patterned and predictable Act in accordance to societal norms What about situations with unclear norms? Collective behavior- when people make up their own norms in unclear situations

Collectivities vs Crowds Collectivity - groups that exhibit collective behavior Limited interaction with each other Unclear norms Limited unity Crowd - temporary gathering of people who are in close enough proximity to interact Casual - waiting in line, beach Conventional - athletic event Expressive - concerts Acting - violence breaks out Collectivity - groups that exhibit collective behavior Limited interaction with each other Unclear norms Limited unity Crowd - temporary gathering of people who are in close enough proximity to interact Casual - waiting in line, beach Conventional - athletic event Expressive - concerts Acting - violence breaks out

Mobs, Riots, Panics, Mass Hysteria Using the textbook find the definitions and examples of these terms Then work with your table and determine what all of these groups have in common Besides involving people! (^_~) Using the textbook find the definitions and examples of these terms Then work with your table and determine what all of these groups have in common Besides involving people! (^_~)

Fashions and Fads Fashion - enthusiastic attachments for a large number of people to a particular style of appearance Fads - unconventional object, action or idea that a large number of people are attached to for a short period of time Less predictable than fashions Fashion - enthusiastic attachments for a large number of people to a particular style of appearance Fads - unconventional object, action or idea that a large number of people are attached to for a short period of time Less predictable than fashions

Fashions and Fads What makes something “popular”? Who in our culture has the strongest influence on fashions and fads? How do we view people who purposefully refuse to give in to a fad? Why? What makes something “popular”? Who in our culture has the strongest influence on fashions and fads? How do we view people who purposefully refuse to give in to a fad? Why?

Rumors Unverified piece of information that is spread rapidly from one person to another. Survive best when large numbers of people lack definite information about a subject As a rumor changes, it reflects the biases of each person who retells it Can resurface after years based upon audience and their knowledge Unverified piece of information that is spread rapidly from one person to another. Survive best when large numbers of people lack definite information about a subject As a rumor changes, it reflects the biases of each person who retells it Can resurface after years based upon audience and their knowledge

Common Rumors

Urban Legends Stories that seem realistic and teach a lesson, but are untrue Attributed to a specific time or place What are some common urban legends? Stories that seem realistic and teach a lesson, but are untrue Attributed to a specific time or place What are some common urban legends?

Propaganda Has been used for centuries to promote one group over another. Some historians believe it may even have roots in Ancient Rome Why would a group want to twist the facts/reality? Has been used for centuries to promote one group over another. Some historians believe it may even have roots in Ancient Rome Why would a group want to twist the facts/reality?

Propaganda Japanese Relocation Project Watch the videothe video Answer questions about what you have seen Pay attention both to what is said and how it is phrased! Japanese Relocation Project Watch the videothe video Answer questions about what you have seen Pay attention both to what is said and how it is phrased!

Propaganda Organized and deliberate attempt to shape public opinion Testimony - speakers, celebrities Transfer - association to something approved of Bandwagon - everybody’s doing it! Name calling - make ‘em look bad Plain-folks appeal - the average America Glittering generalities - sounds great, means nothing Card stacking - organize favorably Organized and deliberate attempt to shape public opinion Testimony - speakers, celebrities Transfer - association to something approved of Bandwagon - everybody’s doing it! Name calling - make ‘em look bad Plain-folks appeal - the average America Glittering generalities - sounds great, means nothing Card stacking - organize favorably

Propaganda Why is it so effective? Do most people realize it’s happening? Other than political ads, where else can propaganda be found? Why is it so effective? Do most people realize it’s happening? Other than political ads, where else can propaganda be found?

Propaganda in Action Watch minutes of TV Identify 10 examples of propaganda What is being pushed? Is it effective? Specify which type Testimony Transfer Bandwagon Name calling Plain-folks appeal Glittering generalities Card stacking Watch minutes of TV Identify 10 examples of propaganda What is being pushed? Is it effective? Specify which type Testimony Transfer Bandwagon Name calling Plain-folks appeal Glittering generalities Card stacking

Why does collective behavior occur? 3 theories Contagion theory Emergent-Norm theory Value-Added theory 3 theories Contagion theory Emergent-Norm theory Value-Added theory

Contagion Theory The power of a crowd encourages people to give up their individuality to the pull of the group Individuals lose willpower and sense of responsibility Crowd acts like one organism People are easily swayed by a persuasive/charismatic leader The power of a crowd encourages people to give up their individuality to the pull of the group Individuals lose willpower and sense of responsibility Crowd acts like one organism People are easily swayed by a persuasive/charismatic leader

Emergent-Norm Theory No norms are readily available in a large crowd, so new norms are formed Leaders initiate new behaviors and others begin to follow Even though individuals may disagree with the action, they may conform to the group No norms are readily available in a large crowd, so new norms are formed Leaders initiate new behaviors and others begin to follow Even though individuals may disagree with the action, they may conform to the group

Value-Added theory Collective behavior can be predicted or steered down a specific path if conditions are correct Structural conduciveness- if society makes a behavior possible Structural strain- social conditions that may drive some to seek relief Growth and spread of a belief Precipitation factors- triggering events Mobilization for action Social control Collective behavior can be predicted or steered down a specific path if conditions are correct Structural conduciveness- if society makes a behavior possible Structural strain- social conditions that may drive some to seek relief Growth and spread of a belief Precipitation factors- triggering events Mobilization for action Social control

Social Movements Deliberate and long-lasting forms of collective behavior Long-term conscious effort to promote or prevent social change Reactionary Conservative Revisionary Revolutionary Deliberate and long-lasting forms of collective behavior Long-term conscious effort to promote or prevent social change Reactionary Conservative Revisionary Revolutionary

Reactionary Movements Goal: to reverse social trends Suspicious and hostile toward change May use fear and violence in support of a cause Examples: Goal: to reverse social trends Suspicious and hostile toward change May use fear and violence in support of a cause Examples:

Conservative Movements Want to protect what they see as society’s values Traditional family values Examples: Want to protect what they see as society’s values Traditional family values Examples:

Revisionary Movements Improve or revise a part of society Use legal channels to cause change Easy to do - they usually focus on a single issue Examples: Improve or revise a part of society Use legal channels to cause change Easy to do - they usually focus on a single issue Examples:

Revolutionary Movements Total and radical change of the existing structure Want to put their own structure in place Usually violent or illegal and can result in drastic social change Occurs when there is no chance for reform Examples: Total and radical change of the existing structure Want to put their own structure in place Usually violent or illegal and can result in drastic social change Occurs when there is no chance for reform Examples:

Social Movement Create your own social movement Answer the questions on the handout Create 2 posters/slogans to publicize your movement Create your own social movement Answer the questions on the handout Create 2 posters/slogans to publicize your movement

Common Sense Read the excerpt from Thomas Paine’s Common Sense Answer the following: Find examples of reactionary, conservative, revisionary and revolutionary movements within the excerpt. How is the American Revolution a social movement? How does it fit the criteria of the 4 types? What types of propaganda did Thomas Paine use? Read the excerpt from Thomas Paine’s Common Sense Answer the following: Find examples of reactionary, conservative, revisionary and revolutionary movements within the excerpt. How is the American Revolution a social movement? How does it fit the criteria of the 4 types? What types of propaganda did Thomas Paine use?

HOMEWORK Print out a (brief) history of a social movement Examples: civil rights, women’s suffrage, prohibition, labor unions, Fair Trade/Organic, LGBT, Tea Party, To Write Love On Her Arms, You may use wikipedia (sigh) Print out a (brief) history of a social movement Examples: civil rights, women’s suffrage, prohibition, labor unions, Fair Trade/Organic, LGBT, Tea Party, To Write Love On Her Arms, You may use wikipedia (sigh)

Life Cycle of a Social Movement Agitation Legitimation Bureaucratization Institutionalization Agitation Legitimation Bureaucratization Institutionalization

Agitation - Public awareness increases - Look for support and resources Legitimation - Gains acceptance - Recognized by government and media - Support continues to increase Bureaucratization - Movement develops structure, policies and strategies for the future - Focus can turn day-to-day rather than original goals Institutionalization - Movement becomes a part of society - Leaders lose focus of movement and care more about themselves - Movement begins resisting change

Explaining Social Movements Using the social movement life cycle, chronicle the story of the social movement you chose Set it up as a timeline (years or months) Identify the group Explain their goal Identify the 4 stages Using the social movement life cycle, chronicle the story of the social movement you chose Set it up as a timeline (years or months) Identify the group Explain their goal Identify the 4 stages