#Social phenomena definition how to

Commitment is strengthened by participation in group activities with other members and by engaging in actions, individual or collective, that publicly define the individuals as committed members. The norms prohibit behaviour that may cause embarrassment to the movement or provide excuses for attacks by opponents. These norms prescribe behaviour that will symbolize the members’ loyalty to the social movement, strengthen their commitment to it, and set them apart from nonmembers.

In addition to shared values, a social movement possesses norms. The sense of membership suggests that individuals are subject to some discipline. Like a group, a social movement is a collectivity with a common goal and shared values. Individual members experience a sense of membership in an alliance of people who share their dissatisfaction with the present state of affairs and their vision of a better order. A social movement is a collectivity or a collective enterprise. The quixotic efforts of bold, imaginative individuals do not constitute social movements. Asked about their activities, members of a social movement would not reply, “I do this because it has always been done” or “It’s just the custom.” They are aware that their behaviour is influenced by the goal of the movement: to bring about a change in the way things have “always” been done or sometimes to prevent such a change from coming about. Uncommitted observers may regard these goals as illusions, but to the members they are hopes that are quite capable of realization. It reflects, instead, the faith that people collectively can bring about or prevent social change if they will dedicate themselves to the pursuit of a goal. The behaviour of members of social movements does not reflect the assumption that the social order will continue essentially as it is. They do not encompass the activities of people as members of stable social groups with established, unquestioned structures, norms, and values. Smelser Social movements and social changeĪll definitions of social movement reflect the notion that social movements are intrinsically related to social change. The famous John Brown was not a member of any major abolitionist organization, but his martyrdom made him a leader and symbol for the movement, even though organizational leaders were reluctant to recognize him. For example, although organizations such as California’s Sierra Club are influential in the movement to preserve the natural environment, anyone who works for the cause and interacts with other workers for this purpose is a member of the conservationist movement. There is usually one or more organizations that give identity, leadership, and coordination to the movement, but the boundaries of the movement are never coterminous with the organizations. A movement is a mixture of organization and spontaneity. Furthermore, crowd mechanisms cannot be used to achieve communication and coordination of activity over a wide area, such as a nation or continent.

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#Social phenomena definition how to