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Understanding Collective Behavior: Crowds, Masses, and Social Movements in Sociology

This overview delves into the concept of collective behavior within sociology, focusing on crowds, masses, and social movements. Collective behavior is defined as emergent actions carried out in the presence of others without pre-established norms. Key elements include the characteristics of crowds, such as opportunities to congregate and the mobilization process, as well as the role of mass media and rumor in shaping public opinion. Additionally, the evolution of social movements reflects collective identity and action influenced by social psychology and group dynamics.

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Understanding Collective Behavior: Crowds, Masses, and Social Movements in Sociology

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  1. Sociology 545Social Psychology Fall 2005

  2. Collective Behavior • Definition • Crowds • Masses • Social Movements

  3. Collective Behavior Definition: “The elements of emergent behavior carried out in the presence of others, the nature of which is not guided by any pre-established normative order”

  4. Collective Behavior Space Time

  5. Collective Behavior Crowds (Acting and Passive) “a relatively large aggregate of individuals in the same physical proximity, reacting to a common stimulus (yet exhibiting none of the characteristics of a group).”

  6. Collective Behavior Characteristics: • An opportunity to congregate • A milling process • A precipitating event • A means to mobilize • The exercise of social control

  7. Collective Behavior Social Psychological considerations: • Social Space as Role definitions • Circular Reaction in Participating Events • Status Characteristics in mobilization • Social Exchange in the exercise of control

  8. Collective Behavior Masses “Large geographically diffuse social interaction which can be of both shorter or longer duration, that demonstrates identity orientation, resulting in affective behavior.”

  9. Collective Behavior Characteristics: • The Rumor Process • (I x A) = M • The Wells WOW example • Mass media and Public Opinion • Lazarsfeld’s two-step flow • Networks and Public Opinion

  10. Collective Behavior Social Psychological considerations: • Mass media in the Rumor Process • Networks and the Spread of Rumor • Status Characteristics in Two Step Flows • Structural Equivalence in Public Opinion

  11. Collective Behavior Social Movements: “Diffuse interaction, over a longer period, engaging individuals in a form of reference group behavior that facilitates their activities and forms attitudes, so as to effect a political and social consequence.”

  12. Collective Behavior Characteristics: • Differing Types • Evolutionary, Revolutionary, Utopian • Reactionary, Repressive • Membership • Marginalized, alienated, few ties • Lower income, minority

  13. Collective Behavior Social Psychological considerations: • Relative Deprivation and Action • Network properties of Marginalization • Consensus and Social Change

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