Mind’s On – That’s So 2009… Quick Discuss: You are out shopping at the mall and an old school flash mob break out. Is it a social movement? If everyone is wearing t-shirts raising awareness for a cause does that change your answer?

Social Movements

A social movement can be considered a highly structured form of collective behaviour Its goal is to promote or prevent social change They can also reflect an inequitable society

Collective behaviour is the spontaneous behaviour of people responding to shared stimuli A true social movement is a structured, rational and purposeful form of collective behaviour

Types of Social Movements These can be defined on the basis of their goals and have their own characteristics Revolutionary Reformative Redemptive Alternative

Revolutionary Movement: Attempts to change a society totally Reflects dissatisfaction with social order and seeks to replace entire structure Example: The American Revolution

Reformative Movement: Has a focussed change for society by looking at specific areas Example: Civil Rights Movement

Redemptive Movement: Focuses on changing people completely Example: Fundamentalist movements or cults

Alternative Movement: Seeks limited change in people Does not challenge or threaten status quo or power structure Example: MADD

Textbooks – Recreate Chart from pg. 206 (but summarize!)

Value Added Theory of Social Movements This theory (Neil Smelser) suggests that ALL of these conditions must be met: Structural Conduciveness: Conditions in society are conducive to the movement. People are aware of the issue and can then act. Structural Strains: There is strain in society, most often in the form of inequality or injustice. Generalized Beliefs: There is a general belief in society that the movement is valid and agreed upon. Precipitating Factors: Events/actions that further provoke the issue and provide the ‘spark’ for the movement. Mobilization of Action: The organization/structure needed for collective action to occur. People are aware how the movement will occur and what it hopes to achieve. Social Control: The relationship between how the movement occurs and how it is received by the law, media, justice system, etc. Essentially it is how those in power respond to it and potentially prevent it.

Applying Theory: Case Studies With a small group read the fact sheet you have been given. Establish the following: What kind of social movement is it? How does it connect to each of the 6 conditions? If it does not have all 6 do you still view it as a movement? Why or why not? Use the chart on pg. 206 for more elaboration on the 6 conditions.