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

Question 1

The text describes five types of dispersed collective behaviours.Explain the two that you have had the most experience with,and why.

Answer 1

Answers will vary,but should include a comprehensive discussion of two of the following: rumours;mass hysteria;disaster behaviour;fashion,fads,and crazes;and publics.Student should demonstrate knowledge of the concept through personal experience with it and an understanding of their social influence.

Question 2

Describe how evolutionary theory uses Darwin's theory of genetic evolution to explain how societies change over time.What are some criticisms of this approach?

Answer 2

Comte saw societies evolving from the theological and metaphysical stages to ultimately arrive at the scientific or positive stage.Durkheim similarly proposed that,over time,societies inevitably become more complex,which many at that time interpreted as meaning that since European societies were the most complex,they were the most highly evolved.Spencer later argued that society was similar to a living organism with interrelated and interdependent parts that work together to achieve a common end.In short,Comte,Durkheim,and Spencer all proposed what are referred to as unilinear and universal evolutionary theories.
Unilinear evolutionary theories hold that there is only one path through which an organism or society can evolve.Universal evolutionary theories argue that all societies must progress in the same manner;no society can stay at the theological stage or evolve into any form other than the three stages.
While these views of social development have been discounted,a new form of evolutionary theory has been proposed by Gerhard Lenski.Neoevolutionary theory highlights the role of technology in assisting human beings with their subsistence needs.Lenski (1966,1996)also addresses one of the key weaknesses of social Darwinism: unilinear and universal evolution.He argues that social change is instead multilinear,continuous,and fluid.Despite their differences,all evolutionists would agree that all societies have some internal drive that inspires them to adapt to the environment better so that they can compete more effectively for survival-this applies not just to individuals but to entire societies as well.
Evolutionary theory has been influential in the past,but continues to face criticism.First,there is no evidence to suggest that all traditional societies were alike,and when societies do change,there does not appear to be a fixed set of stages through which they pass.Another criticism of evolutionary theory is the underlying assumption that societies progress over time.After all,in terms of social development,defining progress is difficult.

Question 3

Compare and contrast two different sociological approaches that explain why social movements are likely to emerge and why people are attracted to them.What are the limitations to these approaches? Use examples to contextualize your answer.

Answer 3

Answers will vary but students should demonstrate knowledge of two of the following: relative deprivation theory,mass society theory,value-added theory,resource mobilization theory,political process theory,new social movement theory.

Question 4

Drawing extensively on one of the major theories of social movements that is presented in the text,develop an essay in which you analyze a particular social movement that is of interest to you.

Question 5

Explain how Sorokin's cyclical theory relates social change to the changing seasons throughout the year.What are some of the weaknesses of this theory?

Question 6

Your text reviews nine inspirations for social change.Discuss the three which you believe are the most influential,and why.

Question 7

Explain the mobilization of ethnic minorities,such as Aboriginal peoples in Canada or Roma Gypsies in Eastern Europe,through the use of value-added theory and its six conditions.

Question 8

Define the terms social change,collective behaviour,and social movement and provide contemporary examples of each.Describe three inspirations that might lead to change.

Question 9

Drawing on the different theories of collective behaviour,critically analyze the ways in which a particular "crowd" story is represented in the mainstream press.Discuss the key assumptions that are being made about crowd participants as they are made present in these representations,while offering your own critical response to these assumptions.

Question 10

Briefly describe the four types of social movements.Using examples,discuss which one you feel has the most power to enact social change and why.