Degree of Spontaneity,Collective Behavior - Sociological Imagination - Lecture Slides, Slides of Sociology

Download Degree of Spontaneity,Collective Behavior - Sociological Imagination - Lecture Slides and more Slides Sociology in PDF only on Docsity! CHAPTER 17: SOCIAL CHANGE: COLLECTIVE BEHAVIOR, SOCIAL MOVEMENTS, AND TECHNOLOGY docsity.com COLLECTIVE BEHAVIOR • Collective behavior is the spontaneous and unstructured behavior of a large number of people who may violate traditional or conventional norms and values. – It is an act rather than a state of mind. – It varies in its degree of spontaneity and structure. 1 docsity.com Varieties of Collective Behavior • Rumors, gossip, and urban legends— widespread beliefs – Rumor—unfounded information spread among people in rapid fashion – Gossip—the act of spreading news about other people's personal lives – Urban legends—stories that supposedly happened to people 1 docsity.com Discussion • Why do rumors, gossip, and urban legends exist? • Why do they have the power they do? 1 docsity.com Varieties of Collective Behavior • Panic and Mass Hysteria – Panic involves a collective flight from a real or perceived danger in an irrational way. – Mass hysteria involves an intense, fearful, and anxious reaction to a real or imagined threat 1 docsity.com Varieties of Collective Behavior • Disasters are unplanned and unwanted occurrences that cause widespread damage, destruction, distress, and loss. – Disasters can be due to social causes, technological causes, or natural causes. – Disasters often inspire organization rather than chaos. 1 docsity.com Discussion Why does a particular event cause panic sometimes and organization other times? 1 docsity.com • Publics, Public Opinion, and Propaganda – A public is a collection of people who are interested in a particular issue. – Public opinion involves a verbalization about a matter of concern and involves controversial matter. – Propaganda is the presentation of information designed to influence others. 1 Varieties of Collective Behavior docsity.com Application • Identify the type of collective behavior. – A group of people gathered to peacefully protest the war in Iraq. – A group of people rampaged through a city neighborhood smashing windows in many stores. – People gathered in a designated shelter during a tornado. docsity.com SOCIAL MOVEMENTS • A social movement is a large group of people who are organized to promote or resist some social change in society. • Social movements are organized, deliberate, and structured. 2 docsity.com Types of Social Movements • Social movements are classified according to their goals and the amount of change that they seek. – Alternative—aimed at changing people's attitudes and behaviors in a specific way; seek limited change among some people. Example: Alcoholics Anonymous 2 docsity.com Types of Social Movements MOVEMENT GOAL Jehovah's Witnesses, born- again Christians Redemptive Change some people, but completely Resistance Preserve status quo by blocking or undoing change anti-abortion groups, white supremacists Application • Identify the type of social movement. – A white supremacy group – A militia group that declares the existence of a new nation – People involved in practicing yoga docsity.com Why Social Movements Emerge • Mass Society Theory suggests that social movements offer a sense of belonging to people who feel alienated and disconnected from others. • Relative Deprivation Theory argues that people react to what they think they have relative to others. 2 docsity.com The Stages of Social Movements • Emergence—People are upset about some social condition and want to change it. • Organization—Active members form alliances, seek media coverage, develop strategies, and tactics. • Institutionalization—The movement becomes more organized and bureaucratic. 2 docsity.com • Decline—In the last stage movements may – become interest groups and part of society's fabric – be co-opted by government or other groups – become distracted – experience fragmentation – be repressed The Stages of Social Movements 2 docsity.com The Stages of Social Movements FIGURE 17.1 The Typical Stages of a Social Movement Emergence Organization Institutionalization Decline l i L Establishment of interest groups Co-optation Distractions Fragmentation Loss of interest Repression Possible Reemergence docsity cB Technology and Social Change • Biotechnology is a broad term that applies to all practical uses of living organisms in the biological sciences. – Genetic engineering involves technologies that can change the makeup of cells and move genes across species boundaries. – Stem cell research involves self-regenerating cells found in embryos, umbilical cords, and parts of adult bodies. 3 docsity.com Discussion • Why is biotechnology controversial? • Should there be limits on the use of biotechnology? 3 docsity.com • Nanotechnology involves building objects and substances one atom or molecule at a time. 3 Technology and Social Change docsity.com • Privacy issues result from the use of computer and communication technologies. – Computer information is not always removed before the hardware is reused. – Information is collected about people as they search the Internet. – Insurance companies have accessed information about individuals' purchase of prescription drugs. 3 docsity.com Discussion • Should we be concerned about the amount of information that is available about each individual? • What can be done to protect privacy? 3 docsity.com • The digital divide refers to the division between the "haves" and "have-nots" in access to technology. – Seventy percent of Americans use the Internet compared with 5% of Africans. – About 61% of lower-income American adults use the Internet compared with 93% of higher income adults. 3 Benefits and Costs of Technology docsity.com