Collective Action, Social Movements, and Social Change

These flashcards cover key terms and definitions related to collective action, social movements, and social change as discussed in Chapter 18.

Social Change

A process through which behavior, relationships, institutions, and systems of stratification are altered over time.

Macro-change

Gradual, large-scale changes in a society, movement from simple to more complex institutions.

Micro-change

Changes in interactions between individuals that could eventually change social institutions and possibly entire societies.

Collective Action

Action that takes place in groups and diverges from the social norms of the situation.

Social Movements

Organized, goal-oriented efforts by a large number of people to promote or resist change outside of established institutions.

Convergence Theory

A theory stating that collective action happens when people with similar ideas gather in the same place.

Contagion Theory

A theory claiming that collective action arises because of people's tendency to conform to the behavior of others in close contact.

Emergent Norm Theory

A theory emphasizing the influence of keynoters in promoting new behavioral norms.

Redemptive Social Movements

Social movements that target specific groups but advocate for more radical change in behavior.

Resource-Mobilization Theory

A model emphasizing political context and goals, stating that social movements are unlikely to emerge without necessary resources.

Political Process Model

A model focusing on the structure of political opportunities for social movements and their chances for success.

Three Stages of Social Movements

Emergence, Coalescence, and Routinization, which describe how social movements evolve.

Participatory Movement Organizations

Types of social movement organizations that involve members directly in decisions and actions.

Frame Alignment

Achieving a way for people to see an issue through the lens the social movement organization chooses.

Premodern Societies

Characterized by concentric circles of social affiliation, low division of labor, and traditional social norms.

Modernity

Social relations characterized by rationality, bureaucratization, and overlapping, nonconcentric group affiliations.

Postmodernism

Social relations characterized by questioning progress, narrative replacement with pastiche, and conflicting identities.