Module 8.2 - Social Movements, Social Change, and Groups/Organization

collective behavior

noninstitutionalized activity in which several or many people voluntarily engage

crowd

It takes a fairly large number of people in close proximity to form

casual crowds

consist of people who are in the same place at the same time but who aren’t really interacting, such as people standing in line at the post office

conventional crowds

are those who come together for a scheduled event that occurs regularly, like a religious service

expressive crowds

are people who join together to express emotion, often at funerals, weddings, or the like

acting crowds

focuses on a specific goal or action, such as a protest movement or riot

public

is an unorganized, relatively diffused group of people who share ideas, such as the Libertarian political party

mass

is a relatively large number of people with a common interest, though they may not be in close proximity (Lofland 1993), such as players of the popular Facebook game Farmville

emergent norm theory - Ralph Turner and Lewis Killian

asserts that, in this circumstance, people perceive and respond to the crowd situation with their particular (individual) set of norms, which may change as the crowd experience evolves

value added theory - Neil Smelser

is a perspective within the functionalist tradition based on the idea that several conditions must be in place for collective behavior to occur

assembling perspective - Clark McPhail

another system for understanding collective behavior that credited individuals in crowds as rational beings - Unlike previous theories, this theory refocuses attention from collective behavior to collective action. Remember that collective behavior is a noninstitutionalized gathering, whereas collective action is based on a shared interest

social movements

are purposeful, organized groups that strive to work toward a common social goal

Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)

are sometimes formed to support such movements, such as the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement (FOAM). Global efforts to reduce poverty are represented by the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief (OXFAM), among others.

Reform movements

seek to change something specific about the social structure

Revolutionary movements

seek to completely change every aspect of society

Religious/Redemptive movements

are “meaning seeking,” and their goal is to provoke inner change or spiritual growth in individuals

Alternative movements

are focused on self-improvement and limited, specific changes to individual beliefs and behavior - these include trends like transcendental meditation or a macrobiotic diet

Resistance movements

seek to prevent or undo change to the social structure -the Ku Klux Klan, the Minutemen, and pro-life movements fall into this category

resource mobilization theory

as a way to explain movement success in terms of the ability to acquire resources and mobilize individuals

social movement organizations

are single social movement groups, with the same goals constitute a social movement industry

social movement sector

is the multiple social movement industries in a society, even if they have widely varying constituents and goals

diagnostic framing

states the problem in a clear, easily understood way. When applying diagnostic frames, there are no shades of gray: instead, there is the belief that what “they” do is wrong and this is how “we” will fix it

prosgnostic framing

offers a solution and states how it will be implemented

motivational framing

is the call to action: what should you do once you agree with the diagnostic frame and believe in the prognostic frame?

new social movement theory

a development of European social scientists in the 1950s and 1960s, attempts to explain the proliferation of postindustrial and postmodern movements that are difficult to analyze using traditional social movement theories

social change

is the change in society created through social movements as well as external factors

modernization

describes the processes that increase the amount of specialization and differentiation of structure in societies resulting in the move from an undeveloped society to a developed, technologically driven society

dya and triad

a two-member group or 3 -member group

leadership function

refers to the main goal of the leader, which may be instrumental or expressive

instrumental leader

is one who is goal-oriented and largely concerned with accomplishing set tasks

expressive leaders

are more concerned with promoting emotional strength and health, and ensuring that people feel supported (like a priest)

democratic leaders

encourage group participation in all decision making. They work hard to build consensus before choosing a course of action and moving forward

laissez-faire leader

leader is hands-off, allowing group members to self-manage and make their own decisions

authoritarian leaders

issue orders and assign tasks with little to no feedback from group members

conformity

is the extent to which an individual complies with group norms or expectations

bystander effect

a situation in which people are less likely to interfere during an emergency or when a social norm is being violated if there are others around

Normative organizations,

also called voluntary organizations, are based on shared interests. As the name suggests, joining them is voluntary. People find membership rewarding in an intangible way. They receive non-material benefits. The Audubon Society and a ski club are examples of normative organizations

Coercive organizations

are groups that we must be coerced, or pushed, to join. These may include prison or a rehabilitation center

total institutions

is one in which inmates or military soldiers live a controlled lifestyle and in which total resocialization takes place.

utilitarian organizations

which, as the name suggests, are joined because of the need for a specific material reward. High school and the workplace fall into this category—one joined in pursuit of a diploma, the other in order to make money

hierarchy of authority

refers to the chain of command that places one individual or office in charge of another, who in turn must answer to her own superiors

clear division of labor

each individual has a specialized task to perform

explicit rules

rules that are outlined, written down, and standardized

impersonality

which takes personal feelings out of professional situations

meritocracies

, meaning that hiring and promotion is based on proven and documented skills, rather than on nepotism or random choice. In order to get into a prestigious college, you need to perform well on the SAT and have an impressive transcript

iron rule of oligarchy

wherein an entire organization is ruled by a few elites

McDonaldization of Society

(Ritzer 1993) refers to the increasing presence of the fast food business model in common social institutions, including government, education, and even relationships. The term itself isn't widely used in publications, research, or common conversation, but its effects are very familiar, even commonplace