Chapter 8: Collective Behavior and Social Movements

COLLECTIVE BEHAVIOR Collective behavior--voluntary behavior of large numbers of people that often occurs spontaneously and which frequently violates the norms and values of dominant culture. Collectivity--a relatively large number of people whose interactions and behaviors may undermine or bypass established patterns of behavior.

TYPES OF COLLECTIVE BEHAVIOR Crowd--a temporary gathering of a large number of people who share a common focus of activity or attention and who influence each other. Types: Conventional crowd--group of people who come together for a scheduled event. Casual crowd--large number of people who happen to be in the same place at the same time, though they may interact little if at all, such as people gathered in a shopping mall. Expressive crowd--provides the opportunity to express pent-up emotions. Protest crowd--activities are directed toward the achievement of specific political aims.

ACTING CROWD Three forms: Panic--a form of crowd behavior that occurs when a large number of people perceive a threat – either real or imagined – and react with strong emotions and often self-destructive behavior. Riot--a collectivity acting violently as a result of deeply held emotions, but whose behavior isn’t directed at a specific target Mob---- is highly emotional crowd whose members engage in or intend to engage in violent behavior directed toward a specific target.

THEORIES OF CROWD BEHAVIOR Contagion theory--views crowds as providing their members with a cloak of anonymity, which in turn enables people to abandon personal responsibility for their actions and to behave in irrational and irresponsible ways. Convergence theory--states that people bring like-minded behavioral expectations into a crowd setting. Emergent norm theory--stresses that the behavior of crowds is varied and difficult to predict.

MASS BEHAVIOR Mass--large number of people who share a specific interest or activity but who are spatially dispersed. Mass behavior--collective behavior among people who are spatially dispersed from one another. Several forms.

FORMS OF MASS BEHAVIOR Rumors--unsubstantiated information about a subject that is spread informally. Gossip--rumor about an individual’s personal affairs.

FORMS OF MASS BEHAVIOR Mass Hysteria--is a form of dispersed – rather than concentrated in a crowd – collective behavior whereby people respond to a real or imagined threat with irrational and often self-destructive behavior. http://www.salemwitchmuseum.com/about.html Salem Witch Museum

Heavens Gate member’s appearance TYPES OF MASS BEHAVIOR Mass Suicide--three or more people killing themselves together. They have a common element of interest; and, all or nearly all of the members agree to commit suicide at the same time. http://www.anw.com/halebopp/heaven.htm Heavens Gate member’s appearance after suicide.

TYPES OF MASS BEHAVIOR Fashion and Fads--form of behavior that is widely and enthusiastically copied but which lasts only a short period of time. They represent change that has a less consequential impact than other types of social change and are, more often than not, seen as harmless fun. http://www.fiftiesweb.com/fashion/ducktail.htm

TYPES OF MASS BEHAVIOR Public Opinion--consists of widespread attitudes and beliefs among a population, frequently involving controversial issues, which often are communicated to policy makers. http://www.datausainc.com/index.htm

TYPES OF MASS BEHAVIOR Propaganda--a deliberate attempt by a collective or an individual to shape, control, or change the attitudes of other collectives or individuals by the use of some form of communication. Propaganda: is deliberate; aims to control or alter people’s attitudes; aims to produce predictable behavior by those who have had their attitudes controlled or changed; and does not depend on violence or bribery. http://carmen.artsci.washington.edu/propaganda/transfer.htm

SOCIAL MOVEMENTS Social Movement--people organized to act collectively and intentionally in order to promote or resist social change and who are willing to use non-institutionalized means such as protest demonstrations and civil disobedience to achieve their aims.

TYPES OF SOCIAL MOVEMENTS Reform Movements--seek a specified change in a society that would apply to all members of that society. http://www.madd.org/home/

TYPES OF SOCIAL MOVEMENTS Revolutionary Movements--seek widespread, total change in a society. Such movements typically work outside established, institutional channels in an attempt to dramatically remake society. http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Classroom/9912/malcolmx.html Malcolm X

TYPES OF SOCIAL MOVEMENTS Expressive Movements--seek to produce substantive change within individuals, rather than in society at large. http://www.recoveryemporium.com/

TYPES OF SOCIAL MOVEMENTS Alternative Movements--seek limited changes within individuals or in some aspect of their behavior. http://www.promisekeepers.org/ A million men at the cross.

STAGES OF SOCIAL MOVEMENTS Emergence--dissatisfaction and concern exist among a group of people who believe that change is both necessary as well as holding the promise of success. Coalescence--construct a vision for the movement as well as a strategy and tactics to achieve their goals. Organizations within the movement begin to emerge and solidify during this stage. Bureaucratization--movement organizations become formalized and professionalized. Decline--movements change over time. They decline for a variety of reasons.

THEORIES OF SOCIAL MOVEMENTS Relative Deprivation--social movements emerge among segments of the population that feel deprived of rights, privileges, and possessions they believed are enjoyed by other members of the society. Social inequality on Wall Street

THEORIES OF SOCIAL MOVEMENTS Structural Strain--identifies six factors that encourage the development of social movements. These factors are additive; each must be present in order for a movement to emerge. These factors are: Structural conduciveness Structural strain Generalized belief Precipitating factors Mobilization for action Weakened social control

THEORIES OF SOCIAL MOVEMENTS Resource Mobilization theory--focuses on the role that resources play in the emergence and success of social movements

THEORIES OF SOCIAL MOVEMENTS New Social Movements theory--points out that many contemporary movements are substantively different from older social movements. Many modern movements span national boundaries, such as the environmental movement, the peace movement, and the gay and lesbian movement. http://www.ngltf.org/index.cfm