Chapter 17:Section 1 Collective Behavior

Objectives: Section 1: Collective Behavior Contrast the various types of collectivities and describe the explanations for collective behavior that have been proposed. Identify the preconditions necessary for collective behavior to occur and explain how they build on one another.

What is Collective Behavior?? The relatively spontaneous social behavior that occurs when people try to develop common solutions to unclear situations. EX: fads, panics, rumors Hard to study because short-lived, spontaneous, and emotional

Characteristics of Collectivities: Limited interaction Unclear norms Limited unity Collectivity: gathering of people who have limited interaction with one another and do not share clearly defined, conventional norms or a sense of group unity.

Types of Collectivities: Crowds Mobs & Riots Panics Mass Hysteria Fashion & Fads Rumors & Urban Legends Public Opinion

Types of Collectivities Section 1: Collective Behavior Types of Collectivities 1. Crowds – temporary gathering of people who are in close enough proximity to interact. A. Casual crowd: Least organized EX: Standing in movie ticket line; beach B. Conventional crowd: Act according to established rule of behavior …. EX: funeral, baseball game C. Expressive crowd: around emotionally charged activities. EX: Rock concert D. Acting crowd: violent crowd. EX: USC vs. Clemson

2. Mobs and Riots – a mob is an emotionally charge collectivity whose members are united by a specific destructive or violent goal. EX: Lynch mobs (whites against African Americans) Riot is a collection of people who erupt into generalized destructive behavior, the result of which is social disorder. EX: Protestors rioting

Section 1: Collective Behavior 3. Panics – a spontaneous and uncoordinated group action to escape some perceived threat. EX: fires, floods, earthquakes. Moral Panic: occurs when people become fearful—often without reason—about behavior that appears to threaten society’s core values. EX: gangs (continued)

The War of the Worlds Radio Broadcast Did you Know?? The War of the Worlds Radio Broadcast http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=526X814s_GE Pg. 439

4. Mass Hysteria – an unfounded anxiety shared by people who can be scattered over a wide geographic area.

Types of Collectivities Section 1: Collective Behavior Types of Collectivities (continued) 5. Fashion and Fads – fashion refers to enthusiastic attachments among large numbers of people for particular styles of appearance or behavior; a fad is an unconventional object, action, or idea that a large number of people are attached to for a very short period of time.

Fads divided into 4 groups: Object fads: hula hoops, Mood rings; Beanie Babies, Pokeman cards Activity fads: Bizarre behavior, such as swallowing goldfish. Idea fads: Reading horoscopes Personality fads: Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Backstreet Boys (oooh la la!!)

What were some your fads growing up?? Elementary/Middle School

Types of Collectivities Section 1: Collective Behavior Types of Collectivities (continued) 6. Rumors and Urban Legends – a rumor is an unverified piece of information that is spread rapidly from one person to another; an urban legend is a story that teaches a lesson and seems realistic but is untrue. Let’s Spread a rumor!

7. Public Opinion – refers to the collection of differing attitudes that members of a public have about a particular issue. Propaganda: an organized and deliberate attempt to shape public opinion.

7 techniques to propaganda: Testimonials Transfer Bandwagon Name calling Plain-folks appeal Glittering generalities Card-stacking

Testimonials: Transfer techniques: Bandwagon: Name-calling: Endorsements by famous people. Transfer techniques: Associates a product or candidate with something that public approves/respects. EX: American flag Bandwagon: Public’s desire to conform. Name-calling: Use of negative labels or images in order to make competitors appear unfavorable.

Glittering generalities: Plain-folks appeal: Sway public opinion by appealing to the average American. Glittering generalities: Use of words that sound positive but have little real meaning. Card stacking: Practice of presenting facts in a way that places politicians or products in a favorable light. EX: Presenting statistics or survey results that favors politician/product.

Several theories have been proposed to explain collective behavior…

Explanations for Collective Behavior Section 1: Collective Behavior Explanations for Collective Behavior Contagion Theory – the hypnotic power of a crowd encourages people to give up their individuality to the stronger pull of the group. Developed by Gustave LeBon Crowd becomes a single organism!

Discovered by Ralph Turner & Lewis Killian 2. Emergent-Norm Theory – people in a crowd are often faced with a situation in which traditional norms of behavior do not apply. Discovered by Ralph Turner & Lewis Killian EX: A wave in the crowd; a crowd clapping to the music; a crowd stomping their feet at a pep-rally.

3. Value-Added Theory – explains crowd behavior as a process that moves from step to step; Each step adds value. Discovered by Neil Smelser

Smelser believed that Value-Added Theory consisted of 6 basic preconditions for collective behavior. These preconditions build on one another, and each one is necessary for the next to occur! The more preconditions that are present, the greater the likelihood of a particular type of collective behavior.

Preconditions of Collective Behavior (Neil Smelser) Section 1: Collective Behavior Preconditions of Collective Behavior (Neil Smelser) 1. Structural Conduciveness – refers to the surrounding social structure that makes it possible for a particular type of collective behavior to occur (EX: video footage of violent behavior) 2. Structural Strain – refers to social conditions that put strain on people and thus encourage them to seek some collective means of relief. EX: poverty, discrimination.

Preconditions of Collective Behavior Section 1: Collective Behavior Preconditions of Collective Behavior 3. Growth and Spread of Generalized Belief –people identify the problem, form opinions about it, and share ways of dealing with it. 4. Precipitating Factors – refer to triggering mechanisms that set off the behavior. EX: Discovering a criminal is “not guilty”

Mobilization for action: Many mobilize to express collective anger and frustration through random acts of destruction. 6. Social Control – a mechanism used to control or minimize a situation

End of Chapter 17:1

Chapter 17:2 Social Movements

Objectives: Section 2: Social Movements Describe the types of social movements that exist and explain how they differ. Identify the stages present in the life cycle of social movements and describe ways in which the existence of social movements can be explained.

What is a social movement?? A long-term conscious effort to promote or prevent social change

What makes social movements different from a form of collective behavior??? Social movements are long-lasting. Social movements possess a highly structured organization with formally recognized leaders. Social movements make a deliberate attempt to institute or block societal change.

Types of Social Movements Section 2: Social Movements Types of Social Movements Reactionary – try to prevent a type of social change and return society to a past way of being; often use fear and violence; “turn back the clock” EX: Ku Klux Klan 2. Conservative – try to protect prevailing values from what are seen as threats to those values; EX: the religious right (banning MTV)

Types of Social Movements Section 2: Social Movements Types of Social Movements (continued) 3. Revisionary – try to improve some part of society through social change; usually use legal methods and focus on a single issue; EX: women’s suffrage movement

Types of Social Movements Section 2: Social Movements Types of Social Movements (continued) 4. Revolutionary – seek a total radical change or existing social structure, overthrow existing government and replace it with their own version; often involve violent or illegal methods; EX: the American Revolution

Life Cycle of Social Movements: Successful movements have certain characteristics in common. Sociologists Malcolm Spector & John Kitsuse identified 4 stages: Agitation Legitimation Bureaucratization Institutionalization

Life Cycle of Social Movements Section 2: Social Movements Life Cycle of Social Movements 1. Agitation – initial stirrings of a movement; admits there is a problem. 2. Legitimation – movement viewed as more respectable; problem seen as legitimate. 3. Bureaucratization – structure of movement more formal 4. Institutionalization – an established part of society

Example of Life Cycle: Labor-Union Movement Agitation: Low pay and harsh working conditions led many workers to seek support for unions that would protect employee interest. Legitimation: After many years, labor unions finally received official governmental recognition. Bureaucratization: Over the years, labor unions grew in size and #. Today, they are firmly established. Institutionalization: Labor unions are now so well established in society that they resist attempts to change their operating procedures.

How do social movements emerge???

Explaining Social Movements Section 2: Social Movements Explaining Social Movements 1. Relative Deprivation Theory – people join social movements because they feel deprived relative to other people or groups with whom they identify.

2. Resource-Mobilization Theory – not even the most ill-treated group with the most just cause will be able to bring about change without resources. Resources needed: body of supporters, financial resources, & access to the media

Example of importance of these resources…