Collective Behavior & Social Movements Sociology, Tenth Edition

Studying Collective Behavior Social movements Organized activities that encourage or discourage social change Collective behavior Activities involving a large number of people, often spontaneous, and typically in violation of established social norms Sociology, Tenth Edition

Studying Collective Behavior Collective behavior is wide-ranging So many variables to take into account Collective behavior is complex The possible questions and answers are so numerous Much of collective behavior is transitory Things arise and dissipate quickly Sociology, Tenth Edition

Sociology, Tenth Edition Collectivity A large number of people whose minimal interaction occurs in the absence of well-defined and conventional norms Two types Localized – people in physical proximity to one another Dispersed or mass behavior – people who influence one another even though SEPERATED by great distances Sociology, Tenth Edition

How Collectives Differ From Groups Collectives are based on limited social interaction Interaction in mobs is limited and temporary Collectives have no clear social boundaries Little sense of unity compared to social groups whose members often share a common identity Collectives generate weak and unconventional norms Mobs often destroy and act spontaneously Sociology, Tenth Edition

Sociology, Tenth Edition Crowds A Temporary Gathering of People Who Share a Common Focus of Attention and Whose Members Influence One Another HERBERT BLUMMER IDENTIFIED 4 TYPES, WE ADD A 5TH A CASUAL CROWD: PEOPLE ON A BEACH LOOSE COLLECTION OF PEOPLE WHO INTERACT VERY LITTLE A CONVENTIONAL CROWD: A COLLEGE CLASSROOM RESULTS FROM DELIBERATE PLANNING NORMALLY CONFORMING TO CULTURAL NORMS AN EXPRESSIVE CROWD: A CHURCH SERVICE AROUND AN EVENT WITH EMOTIONAL APPEAL AN ACTING CROWD: PEOPLE FLEEING FROM A FIRE COLLECTIVITY FUELED BY AN INTENSE, SINGLE-MINDED PURPOSE A PROTEST CROWD: A COLLEGE STUDENT SIT-IN PEOPLE ENGAGE IN A VARIETY OF ACTIONS, INCLUDING STRIKES AND BOYCOTTS Sociology, Tenth Edition

When Acting Crowds Turn Violent Mob A highly emotional crowd that pursues a violent or DISTRUCTIVE goal Lynch mob Riots A social REUPTION that is highly emotional, violent & undirected Watts, south central, after a LAKERS championship Sociology, Tenth Edition

Theories of Crowd Behavior Gustave le Bon’s contagion theory Crowds exert hypnotic influence over their members, people surrender to a “collective mind” its members rid themselves of inhibitions and act out and the crowd assumes a life of its own Critical evaluation Crowd actions result from the intentions and decisions of specific individuals Not necessarily irrational Sociology, Tenth Edition

Theories of Crowd Behavior Convergence theory Motivations are brought to the crowd by the individual members, not vice versa Crowds amount to a convergence of like-minded people The crowd doesn’t generate the action, but rather the members themselves stimulate the action of the crowd Example: neighborhood groups concerned about crime and want to do something about it Critical evaluation Some people do things in a crowd that they would not have the courage to do alone Crows can intensify a sentiment simply by creating a critical mass of like-minded people Sociology, Tenth Edition

Theories of Crowd Behavior Turner & Killian’s emergent-norm theory People in crowds have mixed interests In less stable crowds (expressive, acting, and protest), norms may be vague or changing one does something and others jump on the “bandwagon” people in crowds make their own rules as they go along Critical evaluation A symbolic-interaction approach that POINST out that POEOLE in a crowd take on different roles Sociology, Tenth Edition

Sociology, Tenth Edition Mass Behavior Collective behavior among people dispersed over a wide geographical area Types include Rumor and gossip Public opinion Propaganda Panic and mass hysteria Fads and fashions Sociology, Tenth Edition

Sociology, Tenth Edition Rumor and Gossip Rumor – unsubstantiated information people spread informally, often by word of mouth Rumor thrives in a climate of ambiguity Rumor is unstable Rumor is difficult to stop Gossip – is rumor about the personal affairs of others Gossip concerns a small circle of people Rumors spread widely, but gossip is more localized Can be used to praise or scorn someone Can be used to raise one’s standing or keep others in their place Sociology, Tenth Edition

Public Opinion & Propaganda Public opinion – widespread attitudes about controversial issues On any given issue from 2–10% of Americans report they hold no opinion Is this due to ignorance or indifference? Not everyone’s opinion carries the same weight Experts in a field Propaganda– information presented with the intention of shaping public opinion Thin line between information and propaganda Not all propaganda is false Sociology, Tenth Edition

Sociology, Tenth Edition Panic & Mass Hysteria Panic A form of localized collective behavior by which people react to a perceived threat or other stimulus with irrational, frantic, and often self-destructive behavior Mass hysteria A form of dispersed collective behavior by which people respond to a real or imagined event often with irrational and even frantic fear and often self-destructive behavior Sociology, Tenth Edition

Sociology, Tenth Edition Fashions and Fads Fashions A social pattern favored for a time by a large number of people Fashion characterizes all forms of art Traditional style gives way to changing fashion Can trickle down through less expensive copies THORSTEIN VEBLEN’S conspicuous consumption – people buying expensive products simply to show-off their wealth Fads An unconventional social pattern that people embrace briefly but enthusiastically Sometimes called crazes Sociology, Tenth Edition

Types of Social Movements Social Movements – an organized activity that encourages or discourages social change Alternative Least threatening, limited change for a limited number of members Example: planned parenthood Redemptive Selective focus, radical change Example: some religious organizations Reformative Limited social change that targets all members of society Example: equal rights amendment movement Revolutionary The most severe, striving for basic transformation of society Example: ultra-conservative political movements Sociology, Tenth Edition

Figure 23-2 Four Types of Social Movements Sociology, Tenth Edition

Theories of Social Movements Deprivation Theory Social movements arise among people who feel deprived Result of experiencing relative deprivation – a perceived disadvantage arising from some specific comparison Critical evaluation Why do social movements arise among some groups and not others Theory suffers from circular reasoning Focuses exclusively on the cause telling us little about movements themselves Sociology, Tenth Edition

Figure 23-3 Relative Deprivation and Social Movements Sociology, Tenth Edition

Theories of Social Movements Wm. Kornhauser’s Mass-Society Theory Social movements attract socially isolated people who feel personally insignificant. Movements are personal as ell as political, giving people with week social ties a sense of purpose and belonging Critical evaluation Gives no clear standard fro measuring the extent to which we live in a mass society Belittles the social justice issue suggesting it is flawed people not flawed society that are responsible Research is mixed on support of theory Sociology, Tenth Edition

Theories of Social Movements Neil Smelser’s Structural-Strain Theory Six factors encouraging social movement Structural conduciveness Arise out of perceptions of problems Structural strain Experiencing relative deprivation Growth and spread of an explanation Making clear reasons and solutions for suffering Sociology, Tenth Edition

Theories of Social Movements Neil Smelser’s Structural-Strain Theory Six factors encouraging social movement (cont.) Precipitating factors Specific events give rise to collection action Mobilization for action Action stage; Protest and rallies Lack of social control Quick, harsh response, or giving the “green light” for change? Critical evaluation Same circular arguments as Kornhauser’s theory Overlooks important role of resources, mass media and international alliances Sociology, Tenth Edition

Theories of Social Movements Resource-Mobilization Theory No social movement is likely to succeed or even get off the ground without substantial resources Money Human labor Offices and communication facilities Access to mass media Critical evaluation Powerless can promote change if they are organized an have committed members Overstates the extent to which powerful people are willing to challenge the status quo Sociology, Tenth Edition

Theories of Social Movements Cultural Theory The people in any particular situation are likely to mobilize to form a social movement only to the extent that they develop shared understandings of the world that legitimate and motivate collective action Critical evaluation Does not address how and when powerful cultural symbols turn people from supporting the system toward protest Sociology, Tenth Edition

Theories of Social Movements New Social Movements Theory Emphasizes the distinctive futures of recent social movements in postindustrial societies Most of today’s movements are international Tend to focus on cultural change and improving social and physical surroundings Draws support from middle and upper classes Critical Evaluation Tends to exaggerate differences between past and present social movements Sociology, Tenth Edition

Stages of Social Movements Stage one: emergence Perception that something is wrong Stage two: coalescence Defining itself and “going public” Stage three: bureaucratization Organizing rationally to get job done Stage four: decline Is the movement in need of regrouping or is it simply time for its demise? Reasons: Signals success has been reached Signals organizational problems (leadership, etc.) Leadership sells out to other interests Demise may result from state-sponsored repression Sociology, Tenth Edition

Figure 23-4 Stages in the Lives of Social Movements Sociology, Tenth Edition

Social Movements of the 21st Century Many of the nation’s serious social woes remain unchanged. Poor public schools, crime, size of government, race relations, cost of political campaigns, health care costs, free speech, etc. Reasons why social movements will continue to be part of the American scene. Protest should increase as more historically marginal groups gain a greater political voice. Technology means people can stay current with events as they happen. Because many problems are global in scope, only international cooperation can solve them. Sociology, Tenth Edition