Deck 18: B: Social Change,collective Behaviour,and Social Movements

Question 1

Explain the connection between Émile Durkheim and mass society theory.Is it confirmed by research? Why or why not?

Answer 1

The foundation for mass society theory can be traced back to Émile Durkheim and his belief that people need to feel connected to the society around them in order for the individual and the society to be healthy.Mass society theory suggests that the forces of industrialization and urbanization,as well as the sheer size and pace of our contemporary world,are diminishing our ties to those around us.Without these ties,people are left feeling alienated,vulnerable to manipulation by elites,and prone to extremist social movements.
Beginning with the work of William Kornhauser,mass society theory has argued that people who feel socially isolated are attracted to social movements as a way of connecting with others and gaining a sense of importance and belonging.According to Kornhauser,then,the people who are most likely to participate in social movements are those who lack ties to the community.However,recent research challenges this assumption.For example,Thomson found no evidence to suggest that modern society has diminished people's kinship ties or connections to their local community.Additionally,those who feel most connected are most likely to join with others to achieve collective benefit.

Question 2

What does the term collectivity give emphasis,to and why do some sociologists prefer this over the term group?

Answer 2

Collective behaviour occurs when people come together to achieve a single and meaningful short-term goal that may inspire social change.Some sociologists prefer to use the term collectivity rather than group to highlight the strength of the bonds between the people involved.A collectivity,then,is a substantial number of people who join together on the basis of loosely defined norms.Collectivities generate little solidarity or loyalty,usually last only a short while,have no defined boundaries,recognize few leaders,and display only a basic division of labour between members.

Question 3

How is social change understood through "equilibrium theory"? Discuss the criticisms of this theory.

Answer 3

Equilibrium theory holds that changes in one part of society require changes in other parts in order for society to return to its natural state of balance and harmony.These adjustments,then,actually help to maintain social stability.
Critics of functionalist theory point out that,at times,social changes amount to far more than a simple adjustment.The two World Wars,for example,fundamentally changed international relations,and the eradication of apartheid in South Africa represented nothing less than a complete reordering of that country's entire society.To argue that societies can be understood as organic entities that maintain equilibrium is also problematic in that it confers intent and conscious action to the conceptual notion of society.

Question 4

Discuss the differences between fashion,fads,and crazes,and give an example of each.

Question 5

Using uniquely Canadian examples,explain how demographic shifts can lead to social change.

Question 6

In what sense does emergent norm theory lie between the extremes of contagion theory and convergence theory with respect to crowds?

Question 7

Discuss how war might contribute to social change and give an example.

Question 8

How is "new social movement theory" different from other theories of social movements?

Question 9

Describe the three stages of the life cycle of social change,giving a relevant example of what occurs in each.

Question 10

Discuss the difference between a "revolutionary" and a "reformist" social movement and give an example of each.

Question 11

Apply a convergence theoretical approach to an example of the power of groups allowing for behaviour that one would not usually engage in on their own.

Question 12

Discuss the two forms that social movements generally fall into.Give an example of each.

Question 13

Compare and contrast convergence theory and contagion theory.

Question 14

As discussed in the text,there are four stages of a social movement's life cycle.Name each stage and briefly discuss two of them.

Question 15

Are you a digital native or immigrant and why? Make sure you differentiate between the two.