Chapter 22, Collective Behavior And Social Movements Characteristics Of Collective Behavior Crowds Riots Collective Preoccupations Social Movements Diversity, Globalization and Social Change

Characteristics of Collective Behavior Represent the actions of groups of people, not individuals. Involve new relationships that arise in unusual or unexpected circumstances. Capture the changing elements of society more than other forms of social action.

Characteristics of Collective Behavior May mark the beginnings of more organized social behavior. Exhibit patterned behavior, not the irrational behavior of crazed individuals. Usually appear to be highly emotional, even volatile.

Characteristics of Collective Behavior Involve people communicating extensively through rumors. Are often associated with efforts to achieve social change.

Crowds Involve groups of people coming together. Usually transitory, volatile, and have a sense of urgency. Distinctly social, not individual, forms of behavior.

Panic Three factors characterize panic situations: A perceived threat. Possible entrapment. A failure of front-to-rear communication - people at the rear of the crowd push to the front of the crowd.  

Three Types of Riots Commodity riots - property, not people, is the object of attack. Communal riots - violent outbursts in which civilians riot against other civilian groups. Political riots - against a government policy or treatment by government officials.

Characteristics That Make Cites Prone to Riots Economic deprivation of racial-ethnic minority groups. Failure to address the grievances of the rioting group. A rapid influx of new populations.

Characteristics That Make Cites Prone to Riots A precipitating event and failure of social control mechanisms. The resources to initiate and sustain rebellious activity.

What Stops Riots? Goals of the protest groups have been satisfied. Actions of social control agents end violence. Political situation changes. Discontent has been regulated by the expansion of relief services.

Collective Preoccupations Often begin within a small group of people involved in face-to-face interaction. Involve some aspect of social change. Provide opportunities for participants to belong to a group while differentiating themselves from other groups.

Types of Collective Preoccupations Fads provide a sense of unity and a sense of differentiation. Examples: inline skates, hula hoops, streaking, popular heroes, words and phrases (yo!, cool). Fashion can mark inequality between groups. Examples: hairstyles, clothing, jewelry.

Types of Collective Preoccupations Hysterical contagions involve the spread of symptoms of an illness when there is no disease present. Scapegoating commonly targets racial minority groups and other groups perceived by the dominant group to be a threat.

Type of Social Movements Personal transformation movements hippie, new age Social change movements environmental and animal rights movements Reactionary movements Aryan Nation, Right-to-Life

Elements Necessary for Social Movements Pre-existing communication network. Pre-existing grievance. Precipitating incident. Ability to mobilize.

Theories of Social Movements Resource mobilization theory - social movements develop when people can compete for and gain resources needed for mobilization Political process theory - social changes provide the conditions that spawn social movements.

Theories of Social Movements New movement theory links culture, ideology, and identity to explain how people in groups frame events, and how new identities are forged within social movements.