Chapter 15 Social Change

Chapter Outline How Societies Change Collective Behavior Social Movements Technology Where This Leaves Us

How Societies Change Social Change Social change is defined as any significant modification or transformation of social structures or institutions over time. Three sources of social change: ◦ collective behavior ◦ social movements ◦ technology

Collective Behavior Collective behavior is spontaneous action by groups in situations where cultural rules for behavior are unclear. Collective behavior, such as mosh pits and crowd-surfing at rock concerts, differs from social movement in being more spontaneous and relatively unplanned.

Social Movements A social movement is an ongoing, goal-directed effort to fundamentally challenge social institutions, attitudes, or ways of life. ◦ Organized ◦ relatively broad-based, ◦ long-term, ◦ intended to foster social change It may include sit-ins, demonstrations, and even riots, but it also includes meetings, fund-raisers, legislative lobbying, and letter-writing campaigns.

Collective Behavior and Social Movements Both challenge the status quo They are related in two ways: ◦ Social movements need and encourage collective behavior to keep issues in the public eye. ◦ Collective behavior can be part of a repeated mass response to problematic conditions and may be a force in mobilizing social movements.

Theoretical Perspectives on Social Movements Structural-Functional Theory: Relative Deprivation argues that social movements arise when people experience an intolerable gap between their rewards and their expectations. ◦ Relies on the disorganizing effects of social change, it is often referred to as breakdown theory ◦ Assumes that in normal circumstances society functions smoothly.

Gap between Expectations and Rewards Structural-Functional Theory: Relative Deprivation Gap between Expectations and Rewards

Relative-deprivation Theory: Limitations Empirical evidence does not bear out the prediction that those who are most deprived will be the ones most likely to participate in social movement. Fails to specify the conditions under which relative deprivation will lead to social movements.

Conflict Theory: Resource Mobilization Theory Social Movements Theoretical Perspectives on Social Movements Conflict Theory: Resource Mobilization Theory Social movements develop when individuals who experience deprivation garner the resources they need to mobilize for action. The spark for turning deprivation into a movement is not anger and resentment but rather organization. The movement building blocks are organized groups with resourced leaders – not alienated, discontented individuals.

Symbolic Interaction Theory: Political Process Theory Social Movements Theoretical Perspectives on Social Movements Symbolic Interaction Theory: Political Process Theory Suggests that a social movement needs: 1. political opportunities include pre-existing organizations that can provide the movement with leaders, members, phone lines, copying machines, and other resources 2. an “insurgent consciousness” is the sense that change is needed and possible

Comparing Theories of Social Movements Theory Major Assumption Causes of Social Movements Relative Deprivation SMs are an abnormal part of society. Social change produced disorganization and discontent Resource Mobilization SMs are the outgrowth of co-opted resources Competition between organized groups Political Process People join SMs because they have “insurgent consciousness” Political opportunities; the sense that change is needed and possible

Social Movements Why Movements Succeed or Fail Successful SMs achieve their goals and win acceptance. Most likely to succeed if they have: 1.diverse organizations using diverse tactics 2. sufficient resources to mobilize 3. attractive ideology and goal frames Some SMs become co-opted when ideology gains acceptance but real change does not follow; some SMs become pre-empted when goals are adopted but the SM is denigrated by those in power.

Social Movements Why Movements Succeed or Fail Diverse Organizations and Tactics: SMOs can be organized as professional (formal organizations) or as indigenous (volunteer organizations) Existence of both within SM network aids success of a Social Movement

Social Movements Why Movements Succeed or Fail Mobilizing Resources: Mobilization is the process through which a social movement gains significantly in the control of assets it did not previously control. Assets are resources that might include members, goods, money, technologies, expertise, or even weapons.

Social Movements Why Movements Succeed or Fail Frame Alignment: Frame alignment is the process of convincing individuals that their interests, values, and beliefs are complementary to those of the SMO. A key factor to recruitment to an SMO is personal ties and networks of like-minded others.

Social Movements The “immigrants’ rights” movement in the United States reflects “insurgent consciousness”—the belief that change in the system is both needed and possible—among both immigrants and their supporters.

Social Movements Why Movements Succeed or Fail Possible Outcomes of Social Movements A full response to the movement’s goals. Goals co-opted by mainstream orgs while the SMO is discounted and dismissed. Goals adopted by those in power but the SM is pre-empted from continued efficacy. Total failure – SM fails to achieve legitimacy.

Social Movements Countermovement Countermovements are SMs that seek to reverse or resist changes advocated by a SM. Likely to develop if three conditions met: 1. Initial SM has achieved moderate success 2. Mainstream power, status or social values are threatened by SM 3. Allies align (politicians, institutions, unions, other major social groups) against a SM

Case Study: Environmental Movement The Battle over Environmental Policy: Both professional and indigenous; moderate and radical SMOs help to push the EM goals forward. The Environmental Movement Assessed: In 2009 Americans rated economic recovery more important than protecting the environment. Ecoterrorists oppose suburban sprawl and the sale of gas-guzzling vehicles have spray-painted SUVs and have burned dealerships where SUVs are sold.

Technology Involves the human application of knowledge to the making of tools and to the use of natural resources. As culture changes new technologies arise to meet new needs; new technologies also contribute to cultural adaptation and advance. Social change both causes and results from new technology.

Theories of Technologically Induced Social Change Technology Theories of Technologically Induced Social Change Structural-functional Theory: Technology and Evolutionary Social Change - sees social change as evolutionary and adaptive. Conflict theory: Technology, Power and Social Change – focuses vested interests of maintaining or transforming the status quo.

The Costs and Benefits of New Technologies Technology The Costs and Benefits of New Technologies New reproductive technologies change society and social life… 1960s – having sex meant likelihood of having a baby. Birth control pills allowed couples to have sexual intercourse without fearing pregnancy. This brought positive and negative changes: Individuals found it easier to relax and enjoy sex; but it was harder to justify saying no to sex. 1990s – in vitro fertilization allows a woman to conceive without having sex; sperm banks allow choice of donor for a ‘custom’ child. Increases options for bearing children; affects family forms; raises ethics questions about ‘designer babies’

Technology The Costs and Benefits of New Technologies Information Technology – computers and telecommunication tools store, use and send information. 1970s – college student goes to the library, searches hard copy sources, makes notes, writes several drafts of the paper, then types the paper using carbon paper to make a copy for herself, submits the hard copy. 1990s – college student goes online using key word prompts to find articles, writes the paper correcting and rearranging throughout the process, saves her work to a disc, the hard drive, or a jump drive, then submits the paper using email, drop box or printed hard copy.

Technology The Costs and Benefits of New Technologies Technological Imperative – refers to the idea that once a technology is available, it is difficult to avoid using it. Normal Accidents – are accidents that can be expected to happen sooner or later, no matter how many safeguards are built into a system, simply because the system is so complex.

Where This Leaves Us… Collective behavior is spontaneous; social movements are organized and long term. Relative Deprivation theory – SMs arise due to unacceptable gaps in what they have and what they expect to have. Resource Mobilization theory – SMs arise from resources individuals procure to create social change. Political process theory – SMs arise due to political opportunities where resources can be used. Successful SMs need diverse organization. Countermovements resist or reverse effects of SMs Technology is the result and cause of social change Structure functional theory - focus on orderly adaptation to technology. Conflict – focus on competing interests

Quick Quiz

A social movement is defined as: a crowd episode triggered by nonroutine events. a collection of people in the same place at the same time. a group of people who go through the life course at the same time. an organized attempt to change social institutions from the outside.

Answer: D A social movement is defined as an organized attempt to change social institutions from the outside.

Which is not true about incidents of collective behavior? They are emotionally aroused gatherings. They are a reaction to an unusual or problematic situation. They are unplanned. They involve routine behavior.

Answer: D The following is not true about incidents of collective behavior: They involve routine behavior.

The main difference between a social movement and collective behavior is that: collective behavior is not violent. social movements always involve huge numbers of people and collective behavior does not. collective behavior is unplanned. collective behavior is planned and social movements are not.

Answer: C The main difference between a social movement and collective behavior is that collective behavior is unplanned.

The process of recruiting social movement members one at a time by convincing them their values are the same as the social movement organization’s is called: white-hot mobilization. bloc mobilization. resocialization. frame alignment.

Answer: D The process of recruiting social movement members one at a time by convincing them their values are the same as the social movement organization’s is called frame alignment.