Collective Behavior and Social Movements

Mass

Relatively large group with a common interest, even if they may not be in close proximity.

New social movement theory

Theory that attempts to explain the proliferation of postindustrial and postmodern movements that are difficult to understand using traditional social movement theories.

Changes in individuals

Assembling perspective: theory that credits individuals in crowds as behaving as rational thinkers and views crowds as engaging in purposeful behavior and collective action.

Motivational framing

Call to action.

Social change

Change in a society created through social movements as well as through external factors like environmental shifts or technological innovations.

Social movement industry

Collection of the social movement organizations that are striving toward similar goals.

Acting crowds

Crowds of people focused on a specific action or goal.

Expressive crowds

Crowds who share opportunities to express emotions.

Crowd

Fairly large number of people who share close proximity.

Value-added theory

Functionalist perspective theory that posits several preconditions for collective behavior to occur.

Flash mob

Large group of people who gather together in a spontaneous activity that lasts a limited amount of time.

Reform movements

Movements that seek to change something specific about the social structure.

Revolutionary movements

Movements that seek to completely change every aspect of society.

Religious/redemptive movements

Movements that work to promote inner change or spiritual growth in individuals.

Social movement sector

Multiple social movement industries in a society, even if they have widely varying constituents and goals.

NGO

Nongovernmental organizations working globally for numerous humanitarian and environmental causes.

Collective behavior

Noninstitutionalized activity in which several people voluntarily engage.

Conventional crowds

People who come together for a regularly scheduled event.

Casual crowds

People who share close proximity without really interacting.

Emergent norm theory

Perspective that emphasizes the importance of social norms in crowd behavior.

Crowdsourcing

Process of obtaining needed services, ideas, or content by soliciting contributions from a large group of people.

Modernization

Process that increases the amount of specialization and differentiation of structure in societies.

Social movement

Purposeful organized group hoping to work toward a common social goal.

Social movement organization

Single social movement group.

Alternative movements

Social movements that limit themselves to self-improvement.

Prognostic framing

Social movements that state a clear solution and a means of implementation.

Diagnostic framing

Social problem stated in a clear, easily understood manner.

Resource mobilization theory

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

Resistance movements

Those who seek to prevent or undo change to the social structure.

Public

Unorganized, relatively diffuse group of people who share ideas.

Frame alignment process

Using bridging, amplification, extension, and transformation as an ongoing and intentional means of recruiting participants to a movement.