Sociology 1020 Chapter Notes - Chapter 23: Collective Behavior, Mass Hysteria, Arab Spring

• School: Western University
• Department: Sociology
• Course: Sociology 1020
• Professor: Sharon Roberts

Document Summary

Soc 1020: chapter 23 collective behavior and social movement. Social movement is organized activity that encourages or discourages social change: this is a type of collective behavior, activity involving a large number of people, often spontaneous, and usually in violation of established norms. Other forms are mobs, riots, gossip, fashion, and mass hysteria. It is difficult to study for three reasons: collective behavior is diverse, collective behavior is variable; some rumours catch on while others do not, much collective behavior is transitory; it comes and goes quickly. There are a few key differences from social groups: people in collectivities have little or no social interaction, collectivities have no clear social boundaries, they generate weak and unconventional norms; excited fan culture. A crowd is a temporary gathering of people who share a common focus of attention and who influence one another.