Social Change Chapter 16

Social Change The transformations of societies and social institutions over time. Some changes are short-lived other changes are long- term and have lasting effects

Collective Behavior The spontaneous and unstructured behavior of a large number of people. Encompasses a wide range of actions, including riots, fads, fashion, panic, rumors, and responses to disasters. Explanation of occurrence: Contagion—individuals act emotionally and irrationally due to a crowd’s almost hypnotic influence Convergence—crowds consists of like-minded people who deliberately assemble in a place to pursue a common goal Emergent—social norms shape crowds behavior. Structural Strain– very conditionally and structured. Predictable

Types of Collective Behavior Rumors— unfounded information that people spread quickly Panic and Mass Hysteria —an intense, fearful, and anxious reaction to an event Fashions —a popular way of dressing during a particular time or among a particular group of people Fads —a fashion that spreads rapidly and enthusiastically but lasts only a short time Disasters —an unexpected event that causes widespread damage, destruction, distress, and loss Publics, Public Opinion and Propaganda —widespread attitudes on a particular issue/ spreading information (or misinformation) to influence people’s attitudes or behaviors Crowds —a temporary gathering of people who share a common interest or participate in a particular event Mobs —a highly emotional and disorderly crowd that uses force, the threat of force, or violence against a specific target Riots —a violent crowd that directs its hostility at a wide and shifting range of targets

Social Movement A large and organized group of people who want to promote or resist a particular change. Types of Movements

Technology and Social Change Technology—the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes Computer technology Artificial intelligence - Develops theories and systems to perform tasks that require human intelligence Set up the development of robots and cobots Biotechnology - Applies to practical uses of living organisms Genetic engineering - Techniques that can change the makeup of cells and move genes across species to produce new organisms Nanotechnology - Ability to build objects one atom or molecule at a time