Sociology Ch 21 Lecture Notes

Value-Added Theory (Neil Smelser)

A functionalist perspective; it posits that several preconditions must be in place for collective behavior to occur; argues that six factors are necessary and sufficient for collective behavior to emerge

emergent norm theory (Ralph Turner and Lewis Killian)

A symbolic interactionist perspective; it emphasizes the importance of fluctuating norms in shaping crowd behavior; It suggests that when people face a crisis or a unfamiliar situation they look for cues from others to decide how to act; Hence new norms emerge that guide the behavior of the group (these norms may be different from conventional norms and may change over time as the situation evolves)

activism

Social movements are also most likely to create social change via ______________ which is their most common goal

diagnostic, prognostic, and motivational framings

Social movements progress in three different frames: what are they

motivational framing

a call to action or rationale for action This is the moment to get out and make an impact to actually get on the bus, to to the march, call local politicians, donate money, educate people, and do the work

crowd

a fairly large number of people who share close proximity (for instance: attending a concert or worship service)

collective behavior

a non-institutionalized activity in which several people voluntarily engage

mass

a relatively large number of people with a common interest, not necessarily in close proximity (ex: players of Farmville)

public

an unorganized diffused group sharing ideas; a public does not require physical presence (ex: political parties)

social movement

any social group with leadership, organization, and an ideological commitment to promote or resist social change

acting crowds

crowds of people who are focused on a specific action or goal (ex: protestors?)

expressive crowds

crowds who share opportunities to express emotions (ex: people at funerals or weddings)

framing theory

examine show participants give meaning to their struggles for social change

shouting profanities during a protest, looting during a natural disaster, even insurrecting at the US Capitol

examples of emergent norm theory

resource mobilization theory

explains social movements' success in terms of their ability to acquire resources and mobilize individuals

generalized beliefs

general recognition not only that there is a problem but that something should be done about it (a solution to the problem must be sought)

social movements

groups of people who come together to bring about social or political change

resistance movements

include those who seek to prevent or undo change to the social structure (The Ku Klux Klan, slow food movement)

local

movements happening in cities, towns, and even college campuses

reform movements

movements that seek to change something specific about the social structure (ex: feminist movement, dreamers movement, BLM)

revolutionary movments

movements that seek to completely change every aspect of society (ex: Texit, Communist movement, French revolution, The Enlightenment)

religious/redemptive movements

movements that work to promote inner change or spiritual growth individuals (alcoholics anonymous; some cults like Heaven's Gate)

institutionalization stage

occurs when the movement becomes more organized such as incorporating, hiring a formal staff, or arranging a hub and spoke model of a national organization and local chapters

preliminary stage

people become aware of an issue and leaders emerge

conventional crowds

people who come together for a regularly scheduled event (ex: religion services)

causal crowds

people who share close proximity without really interacting (ex: standing in line at grocery store)

prognostic framing

refers to the suggestion of solutions in which participants lay out the strategies for solving the problem Depends on the diagnostic frame

alternative movements

social movements that limit themselves to self improvement changes in individuals (zero population growth, transcendental meditation)

social change

the change in society created through social movements as well as external factors; it is constant and inevitable process

state

the most impactful state level protest would be to cease being a state, and organizations in several states are working toward that goal

coalescence stage

the point when people join together to publicize the issue and get organized

diagnostic framing

the social problem is defined or identified in a clear way by the social movement; also the movement attributes blame or causality to the problem

structural conduciveness

the social structure must allow or facilitate the possibility of collective action (freedom to gather together and collectively organize)

lack of social control

there must be a lack of opposition or resistance from the authorities or other groups that could suppress the movement; the effectiveness of social control can prevent the movement

structural strain

there must be a perceived problem or injustice that causes discontent, tension, or frustration among the people

precipitating factors

there must be a triggering event or situation that sparks the collective action; it must galvanize people into action

true

true or false: College campuses serve as hubs for national movements - for instance the Vietnam War protests in 68 or the Black Lives Matter protests or currently, the Israel-Gaza conflict; Other times college students and faculty are managing local issues

true

true or false: Early theories saw crowds as irrational, bur emergent norm perspective challenges this view

true

true or false: Frames are like templates that help us define and then act in social situations

true

true or false: Resources include leadership, labor power, money, equipment Civil right movement mobilized not only the african american community but people of other races as well

true

true or false: Shared diagnostic frames → draw activists together Contested diagnostic frames → differentiate us from them

true

true or false: Social movements have played a critical role in many of the most important social changes in history

true

true or false: They can be large or small, organized or spontaneous, and focused on a wide range of issues, such as civil rights, environmental protection, or economic justice

true

true or false: difference between collective behavior and action: Collective behavior is a noninstitutionalized gathering Collective action is based on a shared interest

true

true or false: example of diagnostic framing: For example: How to define abortion? Conservative groups will use a diagnostic frame that define abortion as the killing of human being Progressive groups will use a diagnostic frame to define abortion as the right of an individual woman to decide not to continue a pregnancy

true

true or false: example of prognostic framing: Ex: on abortion Members may plan a lobby day at the state capitol to pressure legislators to sponsor bills outlawing abortion: OR They may organize a clinic defense in which they protect women who are entering a healthcare facility from harssment

true

true or false: several movements have gone global (feminist movement, BLM, Occupy wall street) other have organized globally since the beginning like the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief which focuses on reducing poverty and the Fair Trade movement that focuses on protecting and supporting food producers in developing countries

true

true or false: the key distinction between mass and public: members of a mass share interest, while members of a public share ideas

true

true or false: ways to get involved in social movements: Organizing an awareness event Volunteering at a shelter Donating to a cause speaking up for a cause Running for office Writing an article Involved on social media or person

social movement industry

vehicles for organizing and mobilizing networks of individuals, groups, and organizations within a social movement; social movement organizations that are striving towards similar goals

technology, population, the natural environment, revolution and war, and ideas

what are other sources of social change other than social movements

Large number of people Common goal to promote or prevent social change Some degree of leadership and organization Activity sustained over a relatively long period of time

what are the four defining elements of a social movement

structural conduciveness, structural strain, generalized beliefs, precipitating factors, mobilization of the public for action, lack of social control

what are the six factors necessary for collective behavior to emerge according to the value added theory

preliminary, coalescence, institutionalization, decline

what are the social movement's life cycle/stages

crowd, mass, and public

what are the three primary forms of collective behavior

mobilization of the public for action

when leaders emerge to direct a crowd to action; social network mobilization, pamphlets, demonstrations, awareness, etc must be organized for the success of the movement

decline stage

when people adopt a new movement or when the movement brought about the change it sought or when people no longer take the issue seriously