Messianic movements:

: stress divine participation in human form as the savior in fomenting the wanted changes in the mazeway.

equilibrium exists, culture change occurs slowly enough that it is not problematic to adjust to, stress varies but is not unmanageable, may have a limited system "correction" )

Period of Increased Individual Stress

existing system is being bent out of shape/equilibrium due to forces mentioned above, numerous people feel too much stress to handle or get needs met; anomie & disillusionment common, crime, illness & cultural disorganization/inadequacy increase, but still seen as fluctuation within steady state)

. Period of Cultural Distortion

ineffective attempts to regain personal equilibrium by dysfunctional methods like alcohol, underground economy, promiscuity, lack of social responsibility, gambling, scapegoating become institutionalized to deal with systemic problems.  Violence to promote groups' interests.  Continual social decline.)

Period of Revitalization

severe cultural distortion leads to attempts to change things.  Without such efforts, society is on its way out one way or another in its search for stability.)  Takes place by the following steps.

Formulation of a code:

an individual or group creates original utopian idea of what society could be like to form target for society to obtain, & attempts are made to bring current society (defined as evil/ineffectual) to move towards that by a "transfer culture" which includes steps to automatically make current society meet its target form.  Ideas may occur as part of hallucinatory revelation (interpreted as coming from divine source) to one person, in which case, will probably start a religious movement.  Nonhallucinatory approaches come from political movements.  Either reformulates individual's mazeway, builds confidence in possible future, & deals with his symptoms prior to this experience.

Organization:

New converts are organized internally by conversion experience resynthesis of their mazeways or hysterical conviction or opportunism, & then develop leaders & followers.  Disciples administer their outreach, promoting consistency among believers, etc.  An authoritarian structure is instituted, with originator on top, then disciples, & then followers, & the originator's wisdom/authority rests on divinely given charisma.

Revolutionary organization promotes total overhaul of  society/system, & more & more modifications are made to make it influential, defend movement, by political negotiation or force.  Codes solidify & movement tends to become like a nativistic movement which takes a negative stance towards non-participants & national enemies.  Knowledge on mobilizing population is important.

Cultural transformation

If large enough proportion of society joins & control over important infrastructure is obtained, transfer culture & maybe goal culture can be instituted.  If so, people's negative symptoms & cultural distortions dramatically reduced.  Movement must be able to protect self from outside influence, stay socially unified without force, & have workable economic system.

If the above succeeds, movement settles down to rule & becomes status quo to be maintained.  If it was mostly a religious movement, it becomes a more lasting established form, like a church or cult, which keeps public aware of the group's history & foundation, via ritual & myth.  If movement was mostly political, it's routinized into organized ways to standardize decision making & keep morale.  Charisma may be routinized, but will lessen in intensity.

(The new movement settles down into new status quo & deals adequately with stress of individual members.)