Social movements | Society and Culture | MCAT | Khan Academy

Summary

The video script explores the dynamics of social movements, emphasizing their necessity for organization, leadership, and resources to enact societal change. It delves into various theories, including relative deprivation and resource mobilization, illustrating how movements can form and impact society, even when they fail. The script contemplates the lasting effects of movements like civil rights and the potential future acceptance of current movements.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Social movements are pivotal in shaping the trajectory of society, either by advocating for change or resisting it.
• 🔑 A social movement requires organization, leadership, and resources to gain momentum and effect change.
• 📊 There are various types of social movements, including activist movements that seek change and regressive movements that resist it.
• 🤔 The formation of social movements is not well-defined and is subject to multiple theories, including mass society theory.
• 🕊️ The civil rights movement challenged the mass society theory, demonstrating that movements arise from more than just a psychological need for community.
• 💡 Relative deprivation theory suggests that social movements form when groups feel oppressed or deprived of rights that others enjoy.
• 🧐 Perception of one's situation is crucial in social movements; it's not always the most deprived who join but those who feel a discrepancy between expectations and reality.
• 🤝 Resource mobilization theory emphasizes the importance of practical factors like resources, organizational base, and leadership in the success of a social movement.
• 🧭 Rational choice theory posits that individuals weigh the pros and cons of different actions and choose the one they believe is best for themselves.
• 🌐 Social movements can influence collective behavior, including panics and crazes, affecting even those not directly involved.
• 🔄 The life cycle of a social movement typically includes an incipient stage, growth, and eventual decline or absorption into the dominant culture.
• 🏛️ Both successful and failed social movements leave lasting impacts on society and contribute to the formation of culture and societal norms.

Q & A

What is the role of social movements in shaping the future of a society?

Social movements play a crucial role in shaping the future of a society by either encouraging change or resisting it, which can lead to lasting effects and influence the path that society takes.

What are the essential elements required for a social movement to gain momentum and make an impact?

For a social movement to gain momentum and make an impact, it requires organization, leadership, and resources.

How are activist movements different from regressive or reactionary movements?

Activist movements focus on changing some aspect of society, while regressive or reactionary movements actively resist change.

What is the mass society theory and how did it view social movements?

The mass society theory, prominent in the early 20th century, viewed social movements as dysfunctional, irrational, and dangerous, suggesting that people joined them to find a sense of community and escape the meaninglessness of life.

How did the perception of social movements change in the 1960s?

In the 1960s, scholars began to take a more open view of social movements, especially after the civil rights movement, which demonstrated that these movements were not just about fulfilling a psychological need for involvement.

What is the relative deprivation theory and how does it relate to social movements?

The relative deprivation theory focuses on the actions of groups who are oppressed or deprived of rights that others in their society enjoy. It suggests that a social movement is more likely to form when people feel a discrepancy between their legitimate expectations and the reality of their present situation.

What are the criticisms of the relative deprivation theory?

Criticisms of the relative deprivation theory include the fact that people who don't feel deprived may still join a social movement to address perceived injustices, and that the most oppressed may not have the resources to participate in movements.

What is the resource mobilization theory and how does it differ from the relative deprivation theory?

The resource mobilization theory looks at the factors that help or hinder a social movement, focusing on practical constraints like access to resources, rather than the deprivation of the people, which is the focus of the relative deprivation theory.

What is the rational choice theory and how does it explain individual participation in social movements?

The rational choice theory proposes that individuals compare the pros and cons of different courses of action and choose the one that they believe is best for themselves. It suggests that the choices and actions of individuals trying to do the best for themselves shape the pattern of behavior in society.

How can social movements affect people who are not actively involved in them?

Social movements can cause collective behavior such as panics, where widespread fear leads to hasty actions, or crazes, which are short-lived fads that become incredibly popular for a time.

What happens to a social movement from its beginning to either success or failure?

A social movement begins with shared ideas, moves into an incipient stage where the public takes notice, and then either succeeds in changing society or adapts. Successful movements may become part of the existing bureaucracy, while even failed movements leave a mark on society.