sociology 545 social psychology fall 2005. collective behavior definition definition crowds crowds...

Sociology 545Sociology 545Social PsychologySocial Psychology

Fall 2005Fall 2005

Collective BehaviorCollective Behavior

DefinitionDefinition

CrowdsCrowds

MassesMasses

Social MovementsSocial Movements

Collective BehaviorCollective Behavior

Definition:Definition:

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

Collective BehaviorCollective Behavior

Face-to-FaceFace-to-Face DiffuseDiffuse

SpontaneouSpontaneouss

Crowds Crowds MassesMasses(Fads/Fashions)(Fads/Fashions)

Longer-Longer-TermTerm

Masses Masses (Public Opinion)(Public Opinion)

Social Social MovementsMovements

Space

Time

Collective BehaviorCollective Behavior

Crowds (Acting and Passive)Crowds (Acting and Passive)

““a relatively large aggregate a relatively large aggregate of individuals in the same of individuals in the same physical proximity, reacting to physical proximity, reacting to a common stimulus (yet a common stimulus (yet exhibiting none of the exhibiting none of the characteristics of a group).”characteristics of a group).”

Collective BehaviorCollective Behavior

Characteristics:Characteristics:

An opportunity to congregateAn opportunity to congregate A milling processA milling process A precipitating eventA precipitating event A means to mobilize A means to mobilize The exercise of social controlThe exercise of social control

Collective BehaviorCollective Behavior

Social Psychological considerations:Social Psychological considerations:

Social Space as Role definitionsSocial Space as Role definitions

Circular Reaction in Participating EventsCircular Reaction in Participating Events

Status Characteristics in mobilizationStatus Characteristics in mobilization

Social Exchange in the exercise of controlSocial Exchange in the exercise of control

Collective BehaviorCollective Behavior

MassesMasses

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

Collective BehaviorCollective Behavior

Characteristics:Characteristics:

The Rumor Process The Rumor Process – (I x A) = M(I x A) = M– The Wells WOW exampleThe Wells WOW example

Mass media and Public OpinionMass media and Public Opinion– Lazarsfeld’s two-step flow Lazarsfeld’s two-step flow – Networks and Public OpinionNetworks and Public Opinion

Collective BehaviorCollective Behavior

Social Psychological considerations:Social Psychological considerations:

Mass media in the Rumor ProcessMass media in the Rumor Process

Networks and the Spread of RumorNetworks and the Spread of Rumor

Status Characteristics in Two Step FlowsStatus Characteristics in Two Step Flows

Structural Equivalence in Public OpinionStructural Equivalence in Public Opinion

Collective BehaviorCollective Behavior

Social Movements:Social Movements:

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

Collective BehaviorCollective Behavior

Characteristics:Characteristics:

Differing Types Differing Types – Evolutionary, Revolutionary, UtopianEvolutionary, Revolutionary, Utopian– Reactionary, RepressiveReactionary, Repressive

MembershipMembership– Marginalized, alienated, few tiesMarginalized, alienated, few ties– Lower income, minorityLower income, minority

Collective BehaviorCollective Behavior

Social Psychological Social Psychological considerations:considerations:

Relative Deprivation and ActionRelative Deprivation and Action

Network properties of MarginalizationNetwork properties of Marginalization

Consensus and Social ChangeConsensus and Social Change