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Chapter 16 Study Guide
Sociology in our times; The Essentials
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Sociology
Undergraduate 1
03/24/2014

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Term
Collective behavior
Definition
is voluntary, often spontaneous activity engaged in by a large number of people and that may violate dominant group norms and values. it is spontaneous, unplanned, no goals.
Term
Factors that contribute to collective behavior include:
Definition
Structural factors that increase the chances of people responding in a particular way.
Timing
Breakdown in social control mechanisms and corresponding feeling of normlessness.
Common stimulus
Term
Forms of Collective Behavior
Definition
Crowds,Casual,Conventional,Expressive,Acting, Protest
Term
Casual
Definition
– collections of people responding to same stimulus in one another’s immediate presence; have common mood, identity.
Term
Conventional
Definition
come together for a scheduled event and share a common focus (concert, game, event)
Term
Expressive
Definition
gather to express emotion with others who experience similar emotions (revival, pep rally)
Term
Acting
Definition
come together to act out emotions – so intensely focused that they may become violent.. Mob – highly emotional crowd engaging in violence against specific target
Riot – violent crowd fueled by deep-seated emotion but not at a specific target
Panic – large number of people react with strong emotions and self-destructive behavior to a real or perceived threat
Term
Protest
Definition
engage in activities to achieve specific political goals (civil disobedience)
Term
Mass behavior
Definition
respond to stimulus in same way although geographically separated
Term
Fads and fashions
Definition
short lived, minor or socially approved style or appearance
Term
Mass hysteria
Definition
ultimate fad or craze, compulsive and irrational – widely felt fear and anxiety based on erroneous belief
Term
Rumors and gossip
Definition
unsupported reports of events or projected events that can spark riots, panics, mobs
Term
Public opinion
Definition
attitudes and beliefs communicated by citizens to decision makers
Term
Explanations of collective behavior
Definition
Contagion theory , Social Unrest and Circular Reaction, Convergence theory, Emergent norms theory
Term
Contagion theory
Definition
LeBon – emotions spread through crowd like virus
crowd produces profound changes in psychology of members
Collective mind produces anonymity and sense of invulnerability– checks on behavior are stripped away
Term
Social Unrest and Circular Reaction –Park
Definition
Added these concepts to LeBon’s theory. Social unrest is transmitted by interactive communication about discontent
Term
Convergence theory
Definition
– people are predisposed to behavior; focuses on shared emotions, goals, beliefs that people bring to event
Gathering provides setting for release of latent feelings not expressed in other situations
Certain crowds attract people who are inclined to behave in specific irrational ways
Term
Emergent norms theory
Definition
behavior is not norm less – new norms are established to fit situation
Crowds develop their own definition of situation and develop norms, values, social relations and patterns of communication develop to fit needs of immediate situation
Not all individuals share the feelings but they remain a silent minority
Term
Social movement is
Definition
is an organized group that acts consciously to promote or resist change through collective action ..In summary – it is organized, planned, has goals
Term
Social movements arise because:
Definition
People experience discontent
Suffer change in life conditions
Rapid social change
Anomie and alienation
Rising expectations
Term
Explanations of social movements
Definition
Relative deprivation theory , Resource mobilization .Social Constructionist (frame analysis) . New social movement theory
Term
Relative deprivation theory
Definition
people compare achievements, become discontent and join movements to get their fair share; often occurs when rising expectations aren’t fulfilled
Term
Resource mobilization
Definition
people participate in movements when the movement has access to key resources (money, media, people who dedicate time)
Term
Social Constructionist (frame analysis
Definition
assumes movements are interactive, symbolically defined and negotiated processes that involve participants, opponents, and bystanders. How we interpret the activities depends on the framework from which we perceive them.
Term
New social movement theory
Definition
incorporates identity including race, class, gender and sexuality as resources of collective behavior and social movements such as environmental justice movements and eco-feminism
Term
Smelser’s value-added theory
Definition
effort to change social environment
Term
Structural conduciveness
Definition
conditions in social structure – channels of communication – larger national situation such as discrimination, societal discontinuities – necessary but not sufficient
Term
Structural strain
Definition
inconsistencies within immediate social environment such as conflict, acute deprivation – rapid social change, economic deprivation, etc.
Term
Generalized belief
Definition
– identify forces and agents of discontent and programs to deal with situation – focus strain and identify targets of hostility – spread possible solutions to the problem
Term
Precipitating factor
Definition
focus on particular strain or condition and relate beliefs to concrete situation – events reinforce the beliefs
Term
Mobilization for action
Definition
leaders emerge – opposition weakness and vulnerability may stimulate mobilization – emotional contagion works people into action – mobilization of participants for action
Term
Social control factors
Definition
such as reaction of authorities – police move in to quell or authorities may ignore and allow movement to take action
Term
Life cycle of social movement
Definition
Preliminary, Coalescence , Formalization , Institutionalization
Term
Preliminary
Definition
people become aroused about social conditions or develop new self conception – social unrest – period of arousal and new self image
Term
Coalescence
Definition
unorganized widespread hope for change – popular excitement – focus behavior and sharpen objectives – build solidarity and emotional attachments – unorganized hope for change
Term
Formalization
Definition
hopes focus on specific objective – develop rules and policies – morale and sense of mission – need myths, heroes, martyrs as focus of loyalty
Term
Institutionalization
Definition
division of labor and stated objectives – formally composed with ideology and statement of purpose, plan of action-
Term
Types of social movements
Definition
Reform social movement , Revolutionary social movement
Term
Reform social movement
Definition
try to improve society by changing an aspect of society
Influence public opinion
Enlist middle class for exploited
Reaffirm societal values

Example: Southern Christian Leadership Council; disability rights
Term
Revolutionary social movement
Definition
seek to bring about total change in society
Religious conversion
Direct appeal to the exploited
Try to destroy societal values

Example: Black Panthers; Terrorists (calculated unlawful use of physical force or threats of violence against people or property to intimidate or coerce government, organization or individual to gain objective)
Term
Resistance
Definition
resist change or try to undo it– dissatisfied because change is too fast – scapegoat by focusing frustration on other sources – example: Ku Klux Klan
Term
Religious
Definition
– seek radical change in individual based on spiritual belief system
Term
Alternative
Definition
limited change in some aspect of behavior – movement to limit drinking or be vegetarian
Term
Expressive
Definition
within confining social system , modify reactions to fit reality – inner change
Term
Millenarian
Definition
believe end of world is near so need to change fast
Term
Social change
Definition
Physical environment ,Population changes ,Technology, Social institutions
Term
Physical environment
Definition
can produce changes and people can change the physical environment
Term
Population changes
Definition
impact culture and society
Term
Technology
Definition
creates social change and even creates potential disasters (toxic waste, global warfare)
Term
Social institutions
Definition
are changing and impacting society
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