17.1 Collective Behavior

Explaining Collective Behavior:

//Contagion theory: hypnotic power of a crowd that encourages people to give up their individuality -large numbers and impact of emotion change belief of the crowd -Emergent-norm theory: traditional norms do not apply -new norms emerge through imitation //Value-added theory: each step of the process adds value 1. structural conduciveness: environment 2. structural strain: negative conditions 3. growth and spread of a belief: creates meaning 4. precipitating factors: triggering events 5.mobilization for action: people express their collective anger 6. social control: curfew, federal troops

Types of Collective Behavior:

//Crowds -Casual: buying movie tickets -Conventional: funeral, lecture, sports game -Expressive: rock concert -Acting: violent //Mobs and Riots: most violent, can be destructive and may need social control //Panic: triggered by fear, need to escape a percieved threat (building fire) //Moral Panic: feel threatened by values of a society (rock group) //Mass Hysteria: unfounded anxiety shared by people living in various geographic areas (witch hunts) //Fashion and Fads: style of appearance or attachment to unconventional object or idea (Hula Hoops, Beanie Babies, Pokemon cards) //Rumors: unverified piece of information passed from one person to another //Urban legends: stories that teach a lesson and seem realistic but are untrue, teach a moral lesson //Public Opinion: attitudes that the public have about an issue //Propaganda: deliberate way to shape public opinion (testimonials, famous people selling products)

Characteristics of Collectives

//gathering of people with: -limited interaction -unclear conventional norms -limited group unity //Types of Collective Behavior: -mass hysteria -fashion -fads -rumors -urban legends -public opinions -panics (moral panics) -riots -mobs -crowds

Collective Behavior:

//how might population density shape group behavior? //Spontaneous social behavior emerging from attempts to resolve unclear situations //lynch mobs, panic, fads, or rumors

Propaganda and Advertising:

//impact of tv commericals //Observation: tye of product, ad technique, consistency of ad, population

Collective Behavior

Collective behavior is a relatively spontaneous social behavior that occurs when people try to develop common solutions to unclear situations.

Collectivity

Collectivity is a collection of people who have limited interaction with each other and who do not share clearly defined, conventional norms.

Propaganda

Propaganda is an organized and deliberate attempt to shape public opinion.

Public Opinion

Public opinion is a collection of differing attitudes that members of a public have about a particular issue.

Public

The term public refers to a group of geographically scattered people who are interested in and divided by some issue.

Urban Legends

Urban legends are stories that are untrue but that seem realistic and teach a lesson.

A riot differs from a mob in that a. riots end when the participants exhaust themselves or when officials regain control. b. riots are more destructive and violent than are mobs. c. riots attack property, while mobs attack people. d. riots are more unified and more focused than are mobs.

a

Which of the following is an example of the value-added theory? a. the 1992 L.A. riots c. receiving an unexpected gift b. a building on fire d. buying movie tickets

a

The contagion theory describes how a. propaganda affects collective behavior. b. emotions encourage people toward collective action. c. public opinion shapes collective behavior. d. resources encourage people toward collective action.

b

Which of the following is NOT one of the six basic preconditions for collective behavior as identified by Neil Smelser? a. structural conduciveness c. structural strain b. emergent-norm d. mobilization

b

A unique feature of rumors is that a. they are always untrue. b. they teach moral lessons. c. they change as they are passed from person to person. d. they are short-lived.

c

This event occurs when a group of people erupt into generalized destructive behavior due to social disorder. a. A protest b. Moral panic c. A riot d. An expressive crowd

c

Which of the following is NOT subject to rapid and continual change? a. fads c. urban legends b. fashions d. public opinion

c

Please select the word from the list that best fits the definition A gathering of people who have limited interaction with one another and do not share clearly defined, conventional norms or a sense of group identity.

collectivity

Please select the word from the list that best fits the definition A temporary gathering of people who are in close enough proximity to interact.

crowd

Collective behavior is easy to study.

f

Fads never die out.

f

Interaction among members of collectivities is direct and long-lasting.

f

Panics occur in everyday situations.

f

Propaganda is an unorganized attempt to shape public opinion.

f

Please select the word from the list that best fits the definition An unconventional object, action, or idea that a large number of people are attached to for a short period of time.

fad

Please select the word from the list that best fits the definition An emotionally charged group whose members are united by a specific, and often destructive, goal.

mob

Please select the word from the list that best fits the definition Spontaneous and uncoordinated group action to escape some perceived threat.

panic

Explain the emergent-norm theory.

people in a crowd are often faced with a situation in which traditional norms of behavior do not apply; through interaction, new norms gradually emerge when one or more leaders initiate new behaviors

Please select the word from the list that best fits the definition An organized and deliberate attempt to shape public opinion.

propaganda

Please select the word from the list that best fits the definition A group of geographically scattered people who are concerned with or engaged in a particular issue.

public

Please select the word from the list that best fits the definition Collection of differing attitudes that members of a public have about a particular issue.

public opinion

Please select the word from the list that best fits the definition An unverified piece of information that is spread rapidly from one person to another.

rumor

An expressive crowd is one that forms around emotionally charged activities.

t

What is the goal of a testimonial?

to persuade people to transfer their admiration for a celebrity to the products or candidates endorsed by the celebrity

Please select the word from the list that best fits the definition Stories that teach a lesson and seem realistic but are untrue.

urban legends