Collective Behavior and Social Movements Chapter 17

Collective behavior Collective behavior is the relatively spontaneous social behavior that occurs when people try and develop common solutions to unclear situations Collective behavior is difficult to study due to: the varied phenomena that can occur such as lynch mobs, fads, panics, and rumors Collective behavior is relatively short lived, spontaneous, and emotional Collective behavior usually involves large groups of people who do not know each other

Collective behavior Characteristics of collectives Limited interaction Interaction is often limited and sometimes non-existent unlike members of social groups who have direct interaction for long periods of time Unclear norms Norms are usually clearly defined and understood, but in collectives norms for behavior are either unclear or unconventional Limited unity Members of collectives rarely share a sense of group unity Collectivity is a gathering of people who have limited interaction with one another and do not share clearly defined conventional norms or a sense of group unity

Collective Behavior Types of Collective Behavior Crowds are a temporary gathering of people who are in close enough proximity to interact. A casual crowd is the least organized and most temporary type of crowd and there is little/no interaction. Ex: people buying movie tickets or at the beach A conventional crowd is more structured than a casual crowd, there is limited interaction, but they act according to established rules of behavior. Ex: people at a funeral, public lecture, or baseball game

Collective behavior An expressive crowd has no apparent goal or purpose, they are usually emotionally charged. Ex: rock concerts An acting crowd is a violent crowd, the emotions of this type of crowd are more intense than an expressive crowd. Behavior is if hostile and destructive and generally focuses on a particular target. Ex: LA Riots

Collective Behavior Mobs and Riots The most violent form of an acting crowd is a mob. A mob is an emotionally charged collective whose members are united by a specifically destructive or violent goal. This type of collective generally has a leader who urges the group toward a common action and enforce conformity among the group’s members. Mobs are generally unstable and limited in duration, but represent a threat to social order and challenge official authority Examples: lynch mobs

Collective Behavior Another violent type of acting crowd is a riot. A riot is a collective of people who erupt into generalized destructive behavior which results in social disorder. Riots are less unified and less focused than mobs are. Riots are typically carried out by people who lack access to power so they vent their frustrations through destructive actions Ex: LA Riots

Collective behavior Some collective behavior is triggered by violence but by fear. A panic is spontaneous and uncoordinated group action to escape a perceived threat. Panics generally occur when people believe that their means of escape are limited and soon to be closed off. In a panic, mutual cooperation breaks down and the norms of conventional behavior are lost. Panics are usually caused by experiences such as fires, floods, and earthquakes.

Collective Behavior A moral panic occurs when people become fearful, without reason, about behavior that appears to threatened society’s core values. Mass media usually identifies this behavior and casts it as a major social or moral crisis. Alarmed by the media warnings, the public and various institutions

Collective Behavior Mass hysteria is an unfound anxiety shared by people who can be scattered over a wide geographic area. This typically is founded on irrational beliefs and behavior that spread among the population, sometimes unwittingly fueled by the media. Episodes of mass hysteria are often short lived, vanishing as people realize their anxieties have no basis. Ex: Salem Witch Trials

Collective behavior Fashions are attachments among a large number of people for a particular style of appearance or behavior. Most fashions are related to clothing, but cultural artifacts can gain widespread acceptance as well. Fashions are generally identified with modern industrialized societies, in most pre-industrial societies almost everyone dresses alike.

Collective Behaviors Fads are similar to fashion. A fad is an unconventional object, action, or idea that a large number of people are attached to for a short period of time. Fads differ from fashion in that they are less predictable and less enduring.

Collective behaviors Sociologist John Lofland divided fads into four groups: Objects – hula hoops, beanie babies, pokemon Activities – swallowing goldfish, Pokemon Go Ideas - horoscopes Personalities – Elvis Presley, Princess Diana, Michael Jackson Fads primarily appear among young people

Collective Behavior Rumors are unverified pieces of information that spread rapidly from one person to another Rumors may be true or false The content of a rumor is likely to change over time as it passes from person to person Rumors are difficult to control and may persist for years!

Collective behavior Urban legends are stories that teach lessons and seem realistic, but are untrue. Like rumors, urban legends arise and spread due to unclear situations. These stories often seem true because they are attributed to specific times and places, and likely happened to someone who knows the storyteller.

Collective behavior Public opinion refers to the collection of differing attitudes that members of a public have about a particular issue. The public refers to a group of geographically scattered people who are concerned with or engaged in a particular issue Public opinion has an important place in society such as politics, interest groups, businesses, ect… Propaganda is an organized and deliberate attempt to shape public opinion, it is the most effective way to shape public opinion and influence people.

Collective behavior Contagion Theory states that the hypnotic power of a crowd encourages people to give up their individuality to the stronger pull of the group. Individuals become anonymous, with no will power or sense of responsibility. The crowd becomes a “single organism” operating under a collective mind. Emotions often sweep the crowds and behavior becomes unrestrained.

Collective behavior Sociologist Gustave Lebron who developed the Contagion Theory states there are three factors that give crowds power over individuals: 1: sheer number of the crowd give people anonymitiy making them feel unconquerable. 2: the spread of emotion is so rapid and contagious that it overpowers people like an epidemic 3: members often are unconscious of their actions due to suggestibility and manipulations of the crowd leader.

Collective Behavior Emergent Norm Theory developed by sociologists Ralph Turner and Lewis Killian see the crowd members as acting with one collective mind, acknowledging that the individuals in the crowd have different attitudes, behaviors, and motivations. According to this theory, people in a crowd are faced with a situation in which traditional norms of behavior do not apply. Through interaction, new norms emerge when one or more leaders initiate new behaviors.

Collective Behavior Value Added Theory by sociologist Neil Smelser attempted to predict if collective behavior would occur and the direction that it might take. Smelser borrowed the value-added concept from economics Transforming raw materials into finished products

Collective Behavior There are six basic preconditions for collective behavior Structural conduciveness Structural strain Growth/spread of a general belief Precipitating factors Mobilization for action Social control Ex: Rodney King and the LA Riots

Social Movements Social Movements are more deliberate and long-lasting form of collective behavior. A social movement may be defined as a long-term conscious effort to promote or prevent social change. Social movements may develop around any issue of public concern. Three factors distinguish social movements from other forms of collective behaviors: Long lasting Highly structured and formally organized with a leader Deliberate attempts to institute or block societal change

Social Movements The goal of most social movements is to change society, but movements differ in the amount of change they seek. Sociologist William Cameron identified 4 types of social movements: Reactionary movements Conservative movements Revisionary movements Revolutionary movements

Social Movements Reactionary Movements have the main goal to reverse current social trends “turn back the clock” The members of this type of movement are typically suspicious of and hostile towards the agent of change. They often use fear and violence in support of their cause Ex: The KKK wanted to re-impose racial segregation before the passage of civil rights.

Social Movements Conservative Movements try to protect what they see as society’s prevailing values from change they consider to be a threat to those values. Ex: Opposition to gay marriage to maintain traditional family values

Social Movements Revisionary Movements have the goal of improving or revising some part of society through societal change. They often use legal channels to seek change because they support the existing social system as a whole. They typically focus on a single issues. EX: Women’s suffrage

Social Movements Revolutionary Movements have the goal of total and radical change of the existing social structure. The ultimate goal is to overthrow the existing government and replace it with their own vision of a new government. They typically use violent and illegal actions and usually result in widespread social change. EX: Castro’s revolution in Cuba

Social Movements Many social movements differ in their goals and they hope to attain, successful movements appear to have certain characteristics in common and go through a series of stages that lead to acceptance by society. The Life Cycle of Social Movements: Agitation Legitimation Bureacractization Institutionalization

Social Movements Agitation Social movements typically emerge out of the belief that a problem exists. A small group of people attempt to stir up public awareness on the issue. More often than not, social movements die out at this stage due to lack of support of resources

Social Movements Legitimation Movements that find support for their concerns move to the legitimation stage of the life cycle. Social movements in this stage become more respectable as they gain acceptance among the population. Governmental or other authorities also recognize the concerns of the movement as legitimate. At this point the movement often gains attention of the mass media and the attention of a large number of people Demonstrations and rallies add to the visibility of the movement.

Social Movements Bureaucratization At this point the movement has developed a ranked structure of authority, official policies, and efficient strategies for the future. The original goals of the movement are sometimes swept aside because more time and energy are focused on day to day running of the organization.

Social Movements Institutionalization At this stage, the movement has become an established part of society. Bureaucrats who oversee daily operations replace the idealistic leaders who helped found the movement. Often these leaders care more about their position than the goals of the movement.

Social Movements Labor Unions as an example of the stages: Agitation: Low pay and harsh conditions led many workers to seek protection from unions Legitimation: After many violent confrontations between workers and employers labor unions finally gain official government recognition. Bureaucratization: labor unions grew in size and power and are firmly established. Institutionalization: They are so well established that they often resist attempts to change, even though these procedures may not benefit their members.

Social Movements Explaining Social Movements Relative Depravation Theory People join social movements because they feel deprived to other people or groups with whom they identify with. Resource Mobilization Theory Resource mobilization is the organization and effective use of resources Without necessary resources such as supporters, financial resources, and access to the media groups will not be able to generate social change.