1. Four major characteristics of change
Social Change
-Transformation of culture & social institutions
Four major characteristics of change
Inevitable, only rate varies
Sometimes intentional, often unplanned
Controversial
Some change matters more than others

2. Why Cultural Change Takes Place
Invention
Production of new objects, ideas, and social patterns
Discovery
Taking note of existing elements of culture
Diffusion
Spread of products, people, information from culture to culture

3. Other Reasons Conflict and social change Ideas and change
Tensions between individuals and groups Different groups gain/lose power/privilege as they struggle for own positions
Ideas and change
Ideas can fuel social movements
Idea of equal rights for everyone
Demographics and change
Increases and decreases in numbers lead to change as society may need to expand and/or contract
Need for jobs, housing, education

4. Social Movements Most of today’s movements are international
Focus on cultural change
Improving social/physical surroundings
Draw support from middle/upper classes
Term "social movements" introduced 1850 by German Sociologist Lorenz von Stein in "History of the French Social Movement from to the Present “(1850)

5. Stages of Social Movements
Stage one: emergence
Perception that something is wrong
Stage two: coalescence
Defining itself and “going public”
Stage three: bureaucratization
Organizing rationally to get job done
Stage four: decline
Is movement in need of regrouping or is it simply time for demise?
Reasons:
Success has been reached
Organizational problems (leadership)
Leadership sells out to other interests
State-sponsored repression

6. Types of Social Movements
Social Movements – organized activity that encourages or discourages social change
Alternative
Least threatening, limited change for limited number of members
Planned Parenthood Organization
Redemptive
Selective focus, radical change
Churches, religions
Reformative
Limited social change targeting all members of society
Equal Rights Movement
Revolutionary
Most severe, striving for basic transformation of society
American Socialist Party

7. Four Types of Social Movements

8. Theories of Social Movements
Deprivation Theory
Social movements arise among people who feel deprived
relative deprivation – perceived disadvantage arising from some specific comparison
Mass-Society Theory William Kornhauser’s
Social movements attract socially isolated people who feel personally insignificant
Movements are personal as well as political, giving people with weak social ties sense of purpose and belonging

9. Six factors encouraging social movement
Structural-Strain Theory Neil Smelser’s
Six factors encouraging social movement
Structural conduciveness
Arise out of perceptions of problems
Structural strain
Experiencing relative deprivation
Growth and spread of an explanation
Making clear reasons and solutions for suffering
Precipitating factors
Specific events give rise to collection action
Mobilization for action
Action stage; Protest and rallies
Lack of social control
Quick, harsh response, or giving “green light” for change

10. Resource-Mobilization Theory
Social movement won’t succeed without substantial resources
Money
Human labor
Offices/communication facilities
Mass media

11. Gender and Social Movements
Gender figures in operation
More men than women take part in public life, including heading social movements
“Freedom Summer” in (Negro voter registration in MS)