SOC 111 Ch 23 Collective Behavior

Summary

This video explores the concept of collective behavior and social movements, discussing their role in driving social change. It covers the types of social movements, including alternative, redemptive, reformative, and revolutionary movements, and explains how collective behavior manifests in crowds, mobs, and mass behaviors like rumors and public opinion. The video also highlights key sociological theories, such as resource mobilization and cultural theory, and examines the stages of social movements—from emergence to decline. With a focus on the impact of technology, the video underscores how social movements continue to shape society globally.

Takeaways

• 😀 Social movements are organized activities that aim to encourage or discourage social change and can range from protests to underground movements.
• 🌍 Technology, especially the internet, plays a critical role in modern social movements, allowing for global support and coordination, as seen with movements like the Zapatista and Occupy movements.
• 💻 The internet has become an essential tool for social movements, helping people participate in causes despite busy lives and geographic distance.
• 📱 Collective behavior refers to a wide range of group behaviors, from flash mobs to protests, and can lead to significant societal changes.
• 🎭 Collective behavior can be both rational and organized, even when it appears spontaneous, with clear goals such as fun or social change.
• 👥 Collective behavior can be divided into localized collectivities (crowds, mobs, riots) and dispersed collectivities (rumors, public opinion, propaganda).
• 📢 Sociologist Herbert Blumer categorized crowds into five types: casual, conventional, expressive, acting, and protest crowds, based on their social dynamics and goals.
• 🚨 A riot is an example of highly emotional, violent, and undirected collective behavior, such as the Detroit riot of 1967, which was sparked by racial tensions.
• 🗣️ Mass behavior, such as rumors, public opinion, and propaganda, involves large-scale social interaction across geographic distances, often influencing public attitudes and behavior.
• 🌀 Social movements can be categorized into four types: alternative, redemptive, reformative, and revolutionary, depending on the scope and scale of the change they seek.
• 🔑 The process of claims making is crucial for social movements to gain public attention and support for their causes, often involving media and charismatic figures.
• 🧠 Theories explaining social movements include Deprivation Theory, Mass Society Theory, Resource Mobilization Theory, Structural Strain Theory, and Cultural Theory, each highlighting different factors that lead to the formation of movements.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of social movements as described in the transcript?

Social movements are organized activities aimed at encouraging or discouraging social change. They operate in various ways, from underground groups to large-scale protests, and increasingly rely on technology and the internet to build support.

How has technology influenced social movements, according to the transcript?

Technology, especially the internet, has become a crucial tool for social movements. It allows for easier coordination, communication, and support-building across geographical boundaries, as exemplified by movements like the Zapatista and Occupy Movements.

What is the difference between localized and dispersed collectivities?

Localized collectivities refer to people who share a physical space, such as crowds and mobs, which are more immediate and focused on specific events. Dispersed collectivities, on the other hand, refer to people spread over a large geographic area, and include behaviors like rumors, public opinion, and propaganda.

What are flash mobs, and how are they an example of collective behavior?

Flash mobs are spontaneous gatherings where people perform a seemingly senseless act in a public space, such as a water gun battle or a coordinated dance. Though they may seem irrational, they are often organized and can have specific goals, such as creating a shared fun experience.

What are the four types of crowds identified by Herbert Blumer?

The four types of crowds are: 1) Casual crowds, which have minimal interaction; 2) Conventional crowds, which are planned events; 3) Expressive crowds, which form around emotionally charged events; 4) Acting crowds, which are motivated by a specific purpose and can lead to protest.

What is the concept of a 'mob' and how does it differ from a crowd?

A mob is a highly emotional crowd that pursues a violent or destructive goal. It differs from a regular crowd in that mobs are driven by intense emotions and can engage in harmful actions, such as lynchings or riots.

What are the main theories explaining crowd behavior mentioned in the transcript?

Theories explaining crowd behavior include: 1) Contagion Theory, which suggests crowds turn individuals into irrational automatons; 2) Convergence Theory, which posits that crowds form from like-minded individuals; and 3) Emergent Norm Theory, which highlights the rationality of crowd behavior and the emergence of new norms.

What role do rumors and gossip play in mass behavior?

Rumors and gossip are forms of mass behavior that spread unsubstantiated information informally. They thrive in climates of ambiguity and uncertainty, are unstable, and are difficult to stop. They can have a significant social impact by shaping public perceptions.

What are the four types of social movements described in the transcript?

The four types of social movements are: 1) Alternative social movements, which seek limited changes in specific individuals; 2) Redemptive social movements, which promote radical change in individuals; 3) Reformative social movements, which aim for moderate changes in society; and 4) Revolutionary social movements, which seek broad, sweeping transformations of society.

What are the four stages of a social movement as described in the transcript?

The four stages of a social movement are: 1) Emergence, where the movement starts due to a perceived problem; 2) Coalescence, where the movement defines itself and organizes; 3) Bureaucratization, where the movement becomes a structured organization; and 4) Decline, where the movement may dissolve due to success, poor organization, co-option, or repression.