Download Collective Behavior and Social Movements

Collective
Behavior
Chapter 16
Introduction to Sociology
What is Collective
Behavior ?
• Collective behavior is a type of spontaneous social behavior that
occurs in crowds or masses
• Riots, mobs, mass hysteria, fads, fashions, rumor, and public opinion
• People tend to surrender their individuality and moral judgment in
crowds
• Individuals give in to the hypnotic powers of leaders who shape crowd
behavior as they like
Collective Behavior
Collective Behavior occurs within a “COLLECTIVITY”. A
“collectivity” is a collection of people who have limited
interaction with each other and who do not share clearly defined,
conventional norms
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Crowds
Mobs & Riots
Panics
Mass Hysteria
Fashions and Fads
Rumors and Urban Legends
Public Opinion
Characteristics of
“ColleCtivities”
1. Limited Interaction
2. Unclear Norms
3. Limited Unity
Collective Behavior,
continued...
• In general, social behavior is patterned
and predictable – people expect others to
act in accord with established norms
• Sometimes situations occur in which the
norms of behavior are unclear – it appears
that people are making up new norms as
they go along
Which of the following is an example of
collective behavior ?
A ) A soldier questioning orders
B ) A group of people interested in watching a street
performer
C ) A class going on a field trip
D ) Going shopping with a friend
What are the Preconditions
for Collective Behavior ?
Six Basic Preconditions for Collective Behavior :
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Structural Conduciveness
Structural Strain
Growth and Spread of a Generalized Belief
Precipitating Factors
Mobilization for Action
Social Control
What is Structural
Conduciveness ?
“Structural conduciveness”
refers to the surrounding social
structure that makes it possible
for a particular type of
collective behavior to occur
What is Structural Strain ?
“Structural Strain” refers to social
conditions that put strain on people
and encourage them to seek some
collective means to relieve the strain
Structural Strain can be produced by
social and economic conditions such
as poverty; overcrowded conditions;
unemployment, etc.
What is Growth & Spread
of a Generalized Belief ?
The “growth of a generalized belief”
makes the structural strain
personally meaningful
People begin to identify the problem,
form an opinion and share ways of
dealing with the problem
What is a Precipitating
Factor ?
“Precipitating factors” refer to some kind of
triggering mechanism that sets off the
collective behavior
These factors give confirming evidence to
the generalized belief
The confirming evidence adds to the
structural strain felt by the people
Mobilization for Action
The first four
preconditions of
collective behavior set the
stage for people to act
Social Control
Collective behavior can be controlled if
mechanisms exist to prevent or
minimize the situation
( penalties, punishments, law enforcement )
A boy throwing rocks during a demonstration
might be an example of ___________.
A ) structural conduciveness
B ) structural strain
C ) precipitating factors
D ) mobilization for action
Explanations
of the Types of
Collectivities
What is a “CROWD ” ?
A “CROWD” is a temporary collection
of people who are close enough in
proximity to interact
What is a “Mob ” ?
A “MOB” is an emotionally charged collectivity
whose members are united by a specific
destructive or violent goal
Mobs are unstable and limited in duration
The actions of a Mob pose a threat to social order
and a challenge to official authority
Mobs allow for anonymity ( Gang Mentality )
What is a “Riot ” ?
A “RIOT” is a collection of people who erupt in
generalized destructive behavior with the goal of
social disorder
Riots are less unified and less focused than mobs
People who participate in riots lack access to
power and so vent their frustrations through
destructive actions
A riot often begins when long-standing tensions
are triggered by a single event
What is a “Panic ” ?
A “PANIC” is a spontaneous and uncoordinated group
action to escape some perceived threat
Panics occur when people believe their means of escape are
limited or soon to be closed off
Mutual cooperation breaks down
Norms that govern conventional behavior are lost –
responses during a panic are irrational and emotionally
charged
What is “Mass Hysteria ” ?
“MASS HYSTERIA” is an unfounded
anxiety shared by people who are
scattered over a wide geographic region
Mass hysteria anxiety involves irrational
beliefs fueled by the media or incorrect
information spread by word of mouth
What is a “Fashion ” ?
Not all types of collective behavior that are
spread among the population involve fear
“FASHIONS” refer to enthusiastic
attachments among large numbers of
people for particular styles of appearance
or behavior
What is a “Fad ” ?
“FADS” are an unconventional thought or
action that a large number of people are
attached to for a very short period of time
Fads differ from Fashions in that they are
less predictable, less enduring, and less
socially respectable
What is a “Rumor ” ?
A “RUMOR” is an unverified piece of information
that is spread rapidly from one person to
another
Rumors, which may be true or false, tend to thrive
when large numbers of people lack definite
information about the subject of interest
Rumors morph and are difficult to control and will
eventually end when substantiated evidence is
provided
What are “Urban Legends ” ?
“URBAN LEGENDS” are stories that are
untrue but seem realistic and teach a lesson
Urban legends are considered folklore with
the purpose of clarifying situations by
teaching moral lessons
What is “Public Opinion ” ?
“PUBLIC OPINION” refers to the collection
of differing attitudes that members of a
public have about a certain issue
Public opinion has an important place in
American society - - politicians, interest
groups & businesses spend billions to
influence public opinion ( propaganda )
How do Sociologists Explain
Collective Behavior ?
1. Contagion Theory
2. Emergent – Norm Theory
What is
“Contagion Theory ” ?
• Developed in 1896 by Gustave Le Bon
• “CONTAGION THEORY” allows for a
type of hypnotic power to take control of
individuals in a crowd and encourages
people to give up their individuality to
become anonymous with no sense of
responsibility
What is
“Emergent – Norm Theory ” ?
• Developed by Ralph Turner & Lewis Killian
• “EMERGENT – NORM THEORY” says
that individuals in a crowd have different
attitudes, behaviors and motivations
• Traditional values & norms do not apply,
therefore ‘new norms’ emerge to satisfy
the situation
According to emergent-norm theory, crowds are:
A ) irrational and impulsive
B ) often misinterpreted and misdirected
C ) able to develop their own definition of the situation
D ) prone to criminal behavior