SOCIAL CHANGE & COLLECTIVE BEHAVIORChapter 17

MAJOR FORCES TO SOCIAL CHANGE

SOCIAL CHANGE

occurs when many

members of society

adopt new behaviors.

Technology

Population

Natural Environm

ent

Revolution & War

COLLECTIVE BEHAVIORRumors• Y2K dooms day• Food food burgers contain

worms

Urban Legends•Coke and Pop Rocks•Hotels and Kidney Theft

Fads• Silly bands• Streaking

Fashions• Uggs• Slang – groovy, sick

Mass Hysteria• Salem Witch Trials• War of the Worlds

Panics• People trampled during fires• Bank panics during

depression

Crowds• Moviegoers• Times Square on New Year’s

Eve

Mobs• Les Miserables barricade• Lynch mob

Riots• Fans after world series• Rodney King riots

Social Movement• Civil Rights Movement• National Rifle Assoc.

Collective Behavior refers to the spontaneous behavior of people who are responding to similar stimuli.

Exploit insecurities and

anxieties.

Modern fables that warn against

dangerous behavior

Comes and goes quickly

More widespread than fads.

Based on false ideas

Based on real events

Crowd that is violent for a

purpose

Temporary with

common interest

Mob with no purpose Promote or

prevent social change