1. Social Change and Collective Behavior
Chapter 18
Social Change and
Collective Behavior

2. Chapter Outline Using the Sociological Imagination Social Change
Sources of Social Change
Theoretical Perspectives

3. Chapter Outline Modernization Collective Behavior
Dispersed Collectivities
Crowds
Social Movements

4. Tocqueville’s Key Assumptions in Predicting Social Change
Major social institutions would continue to exist.
Human nature would remain the same.
Equality and the trend toward centralized government would continue.

5. Tocqueville’s Key Assumptions in Predicting Social Change
The availability of material resources limits social change.
Change is affected by the past, but history does not strictly dictate the future.
There are no social forces aside from uman actions.

6. Processes for Change
Three interrelated social processes lead to social change:
Discovery
Invention
Diffusion

7. Computers Connected to the Internet (per 100,000 people)

8. Years for 30% of Americans to Acquire Technologies

9. Defining Elements of Asocial Movement
A large number of people
A common goal to promote or prevent social change.
Some degree of leadership and organization.
Activity sustained over a relatively long period of time.

10. Theoretical Perspectives: Social Change
Concept
Example
Functionalism
Equilibrium
The nature of the presidency has continuity, despite scandals in the Nixon and Clinton administrations.

11. Theoretical Perspectives: Social Change
Concept
Example
Symbolic Interactionism
Urbanism
A smaller proportion of social interaction in a large city is based on shared meanings.

12. Theoretical Perspectives: Social Change
Concept
Example
Conflict theory
Interest group
Civil rights laws were enacted in the 1960s as a result of the struggle over racial equality.

13. The J-Curve Theory of Revolution

14. Hot Buttons for College Activists
Year
Hot Topics
1960s
Vietnam war
Civil rights
1970s
Clean air and clean water
Female empowerment
1980s
International human rights
Endangered species
Sexual assault

15. Hot Buttons for College Activists
Year
Hot Topics
1990s
Gay rights
Sweatshop labor
Legalization of marijuana
New Millennium
Globalization and corporate
dominance
Immigration

16. Major Forms of Collective Behavior
Example
Rumor
The prediction that airplanes would crash on a massive scale on January 1, 2000
Urban legend
Fierce alligators in New York City’s sewer system
Fad
Swing dancing
Fashion
Wearing Nike shoes.

17. Major Forms of Collective Behavior
Example
Crowd
New Year’s celebrants at Times Square in New York City
Mob
Lynch mob
Riot
Behavior following the acquittal of police officers who were filmed using extreme force against Rodney King
Social movement
Civil rights movement