That motto i break in order to reveal aptly fits neil smelsers classic theory of collective behavior a book that radically broke with conventional treatments of collective behavior in order to reveal new ways of understanding. Looking at smelsers theory of collective behavior after. Smelsers six preconditions for collective behavior mr. Elements of collective behavior, social movements smelser. Without such structural strain, people would not have any reason to protest, and social movements would not arise. Each condition adds to the likelihood that collective behaviour will occur. Collective behavior is like this as each successive determinant is added, the range of possible final outcomes is narrowed. The final condition relates to action by the agents. To clarify any confusion about this matter, i am going to give definitions of collective behavior and social movement. Collective behaviour theories of collective behaviour. Collective behavior and social movements 2012 book archive. Park and burgess 1921, herbert blumer 1939, ralph turner and lewis killian 1957, and neil smelser 1962 to refer to social processes and events which do not reflect existing social structure laws, conventions, and institutions, but which emerge in a. There are three primary forms of collective behavior.
Structural conduciveness refers to the broad social conditions that are necessary for an. A study of the kent state incident using smelsers theory. A state of actual equilibriuma state that we can describe as stasis is defined as a fictitious condition of a system which tends to. One main concern will be to point out how smelsers explanations of collective behavior may be. A critical note on conceptions of collective behavior jstor.
Brown and goldin 1973 pointed to smelsers importance in. Publication date 1965 topics social psychology, human behavior publisher new york. For each, can you tell which of smelser s six preconditions for collective behavior is represented. Examples include a group of people attending an ani difranco concert, tailgating at a patriots game, or attending a worship service. Smelser the operation of social control is treated as one situational condition. As they discuss their potential behavior, norms governing their behavior emerge, and social order and rationality. Smelsers analysis shows that heterogeneity and anonymity of the individual is characteristic of a modern complex society and very much encourages collective behaviour. His research was on collective behavior, sociological theory, economic sociology, sociology of education, social change, and comparative methods. Social movements paperback suzanne staggenborg oxford.
According to sociologist neil smelser, an important condition for protest is a precipitating factor. A third book, shorn of smelsers tightly crafted theory of collective behavior, rests in the discussion of key variables. Chapter 17 social change and collective behavior 569. Structural conduciveness refers to the broad social conditions that are necessary for an episode of collective behavior to occur. Lapiere from his general survey of collective behavior even though his major work is entitled collective behavior new york, 1938 on the grounds that lapieres treatment represents a. Adding a reflective new preface by the author and an extensive, analytical foreword by mits gary marx, it is an authorized and quality edition not just scanned and forgotten like most such reprints today. According to the university, he died peacefully at his berkeley home on october 2.
This golden anniversary edition of theory of collective behavior is a modern republication of a sociological and social psychology classic. It is not simple to present the satisfying definition of social movements. Structural strain neil smelser 6 conditions to lead to. A critical evaluation and implications for future study, sociological focus, 16, 3, 195, 1983. This chapter represents an unfashionable engagement with the work of the collective behaviour theorist neil smelser 1962, 1969.
Smelser used this process as a model to understand social movements. A half century has gone by since the publication of neil smelser s classic book on the theory of collective behavior. Looking at smelser s theory of collective behavior after almost 50 years. Smelser argues that collective behaviour is essentially an attempt by people to alter their environment particularly when they are under conditions of uncertanity, threat or strain. Neil smelser, john lofland, and others have proposed three corresponding. What does smelsers structural strain explain about collective behaviour. Evans 1969 lauded its significance as did marx 1972 who approved of value added theorys conventional rather than abnormal behavioral categories. Theory of collective behavior kindle edition by smelser, neil j.
In this regard, recall that one of the essential conditions for collective behavior in smelsers valueadded theory is structural strain, or social problems that cause people to be angry and frustrated. Neil smelsers 1962 meticulous categorization of crowd behaviour, called valueadded theory, is a perspective within the functionalist tradition based on the idea that several conditions must be in place for collective behaviour to occur. Featuring a reflective new preface by the author and an extensive, analytical foreword by mits gary marx, it is an authorized and painstaking editionnot just scanned and forgotten like most such reprints today. Neil joseph smelser 19302017 was an american sociologist who served as professor of sociology at the university of california, berkeley. Smelser defines collective behavior as mobilaztion on the basis of a belief.
Publication date 1965 topics social psychology, human behavior publisher. Neil smelsers conditions for n structural conducivenesssomething in the social structure conducive for collective behavior n structural strainsystem strain n generalized beliefshared interpretation of events n precipitating factorstrigger incident n mobilization for action n failure of social controlagencies of. Quarantelli, methodological, ideological, and conceptualtheoretical criticisms of the field of collective behavior. Elements of collective behavior, social movements smelser a. Neil smelsers foundational theory of collective behavior. A theory of collective behaviour theory of collective behaviour has been made by neil smelser 1962. Pdf looking at smelsers theory of collective behavior. It takes a fairly large number of people in close proximity to form a crowd lofland 1993. In this paper, we critically examine smelsers significant efforts to organize the field. Theories of social movements and collective action collective behavior theory the chicago school approach to collective behavior smelser s theory of collective behavior mass society theory relative deprivation. These problems are studying unanticipated events, finding ways to study collective behavior under controlled conditions, and. The informality of the groups structure is the main source of the frequent.
Collective behavior, social movements, and social change. Leadership, communication, funding, and material resources 6. May 19, 2014 a theory of collective behaviour theory of collective behaviour has been made by neil smelser 1962. Neil smelser sociologist neil smelser, whose research on collective behavior and economic sociology were rivaled by his tenure as a mentor, teacher, and liaison to a restive university of californiaberkeley student body in the 1960s, died at age 87. Pdf looking at smelsers theory of collective behavior after. That is, each condition is a precursor to the next condition and must appear for subsequent conditions to appear. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading theory of collective behavior. Smelser argues that collective behaviour is essentially an attempt by people to alter their environment particularly when they. From this view the book is read not for an explanatory theory, or for an essentialist a priori definition of what collective behavior really is rather than a definition of a major form of it, but as a guide to asking.
Collective behaviour, the kinds of activities engaged in by sizable but loosely organized groups of people. A half century has gone by since the publication of neil smelsers classic book on the theory of collective behavior. Structural strain or tensions that produce conflicting interests 3. Smelsers six preconditions for collective behavior the list below includes information related to the different examples of collective behavior that we studied together in class. Looking at smelsers theory of collective behavior after almost 50 years.
Toward an integrated approach for explaining riotous behavior one bene. To have a financial panic, you need a money market in which assets can be freely and quickly exchanged. Critically important to neil smelsers theory of collective behavior is the idea that people join radical social movements because they experience strain. A social movement arises to reassure participants that something is being done to redress. A study of the kent state incident using smelsers theory of collective behavior 1. Collective behavior introduction to sociology lumen learning. A third book, shorn of smelser s tightly crafted theory of collective behavior, rests in the discussion of key variables.
Neil smelsers 1962 meticulous categorization of crowd behavior, called valueadded theory, is a perspective within the functionalist tradition based on the idea that several conditions must be in place for collective behavior to occur. Called social control, it is the only way to end the collective behavior episode smelser 1962. Smelsers 6 steps of social movement flashcards quizlet. Structural strain neil smelser 6 conditions to lead to social movement 1. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Because much collective behaviour is dramatic, unpredictable, and frightening, the early theories and many contemporary popular views are more evaluative than analytic. Park and burgess 1921, herbert blumer 1939, ralph turner and lewis killian 1957, and neil smelser 1962 to refer to social processes and events which do not reflect existing social structure laws, conventions, and institutions, but which emerge in a spontaneous way. For each, can you tell which of smelsers six preconditions for collective behavior is represented. This is why the subject of collective behaviour and social movements is primal in. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Each condition adds to the likelihood that collective behavior will occur. Episodes of collective behaviour tend to be quite spontaneous, resulting from an experience shared by the members of the group that engenders a sense of common interest and identity.
Ironically, in the politicized decade of the 1960s and beyond smelser was nipped. Introduction the origins of the social movement defining social movements outline of the book discussion questions suggested readings chapter 2. That is, general conditions in a given society are such that they would enable or allow a particular form of collective behaviour. Collective behaviour collective behaviour theories of collective behaviour. Haphazard ideas grow in different segments of the society about a problem and the ways and means in tackling it and, when the outburst occurs, the traditional social controls. That motto i break in order to reveal aptly fits neil smelser s classic theory of collective behavior a book that radically broke with conventional treatments of collective behavior in order to reveal new ways of understanding. The french social psychologist gustave le bon identified the crowd and revolutionary movements with the excesses of the. Smelser s six preconditions for collective behavior the list below includes information related to the different examples of collective behavior that we studied together in class. Smelser believes in defining collective behavior that collective behavior is beseeched on. The expression collective behavior was first used by franklin henry giddings 1908 and employed later by robert e. Introduction to sociologycollective behavior wikibooks.
More specifically, structural strain refers to certain aspects of a system such as economic competition, unequal distribution of wealth, and sense of economic deprivation. The reissue of the book triggered these observations in which i reflect on. Social change and collective behavior miami east local schools. Neil smelsers 1962 meticulous categorization of crowd behavior, called valueadded theory, is a perspective within the functionalist tradition based on the idea that several conditions must be. Structural strain neil smelser 6 conditions to lead to social. One main concern will be to point out how smelser s explanations of collective behavior may be. A study of the kent state incident using smelsers theory of. Many forms of collective behavior fit within this dynamic. A study of the kent state incident using smelser s theory of collective behavior 1. Smelsers 1963 model proposes that six conditions are necessary and sufficient to produce any given form of collective behavior. Evaluation of the accelerating factor in the iranian oil. Smelser offers a heirarchal set ofstructural determinants, but fails to examine system processes. Generalized belief emerges problem is identified and situation is identified. The reissue of the book triggered these observations in which i reflect on the fate of old books.
The breaking was complemented by a reassembling of collective behavior into its fundamental components. The french social psychologist gustave le bon identified the crowd and revolutionary movements with the excesses of the french revolution. Gluckman defines two new perspectives on equilibrium. Theories of social movements and collective action collective behavior theory the chicago school approach to collective behavior smelsers theory of collective behavior mass society. Neil smelser in his book, theory of collective behavior, has tried to build a massive structural theory so that on its basis all types of collective behaviors including social movements could be explained. A tribute to neil smelser, 88th asa president american. The golden anniversary edition of theory of collective behavior from quid pro books is a modern take on a sociological and social psychology classic. It can influence the other five conditions, namely, prevent them, generate them, or change them to conditions for another kind of behavior or it can be ineffective. The six conditions are 1 structural conduciveness, 2 structural strain, 3 the development of a. Smelsers theory of collective behaviour springerlink.
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