COLLECTIVE BEHAVIOR

What exactly is collective behavior?

There is no single definition of collective behavior but Turner and Killian define it as “forms of social behavior in which the usual conventions cease to guide social actions and people collectively transcend, bypass. Or subvert established institutional patterns and structures” (1987:3).

Collective behavior was once believed to be highly emotional, irrational, and spontaneous, but recent researches reveal that collective behavior is characterized by more caution and less emotion than was originally believed.

Various explanation and theoretical formulations have given to describe the conditions that bring about

collective behavior, these are:Convergence Perspective

-this explanation is premised on the idea that human behavior is determined by forces within the individual.

Emergent Norm Perspective-this view was proposed by Turner and

Killian(1987:36) and expanded by others.-characterized by unanimity but by differences

in expressions and emotions.-these people interact with each other guided

by symbols and an emergent norms comes about.

Types of Collective BehaviorThe Crowd

-a crowd is said to be a transitory group of persons in an ambiguous and, to some degree, unstructured situation where participants do not have a clear and pre-existing knowledge of how to behave but feel that something can be done.

-milling, anonymity, suggestibility, and circular interaction may be seen in the crowd.

Types of CrowdCasual Crowd

-is a spontaneous, loosely organized and very momentary type of grouping whose members came and go.

Conventionalized Crowd-characterized by established regular ways of

behaving, depending upon the time and place of performance and order of activities.

Acting Crowd-the type mostly observed by sociologist. The

more common motivations are rage, fear, and hate.

Expressive Crowd -characterized by rhythmic activity, intense emotional contagion, and emotional release. The crowd acts but it does not develop any goal, nor is there an agent or external condition that serves as a target of attack.-the activity of crowd is channeled to unrestrained physical movements that release their anxiety, tensions, frustrations, or emotions.

Types of Collective Behavior

The Audience-often confused with the conventionalized crowd is the audience as a “form of institutionalized crowd” (1944:399-400).-the spectators or audience are usually passive and are controlled by certain cultural codes.-the audience gather for a specific purpose like entertainment or getting information on a certain subkect.

Types of Collective Behavior

The Mass-unlike the crowd, the mass is a diffused collectivity. It is made up of a number of disparate individuals, each responding independently to the same stimulus.-the mass has no social organization, no established leader, no structure of statuses and roles.-each member makes a decision independently, so that discussion is not crucial. The mass only results in a convergence of decisions.-mass behavior may be seen in migration, evacuation, rush to mining sites or to reported places of miracles and faith healers.

Types of Collective Behavior

Fashions, Fads, Crazes-fashions, fads, crazes are forms of

diffused collectivities and mass interactions.-they meet the human need for

excitement or self expressions and self esteem, so that one’s ego is boosted if one is considered as fashion plate.

Fashions, Fads, CrazesFashion

-applied to the relatively short-lived, socially approved variations in clothing and adornment, art, housing and furniture, and other areas of behavior.

-it reflects the prevailing interests of a society and is centered upon the spread of change in taste and lifestyle.

Fashions, Fads, CrazesFads

-passing fancies or novelties of interest related to trivial deviations from conventional behavior.-a careful qualitative study of fads shows that they are specially numerous in periods of group crisis, so they may serve to divert one’s attention from the problem at hand.

Fashions, Fads, CrazesCrazes

-new activities which become important in life of the community, exciting persons who become subsequently preoccupied with these activities.-crazes are usually very fleeting in duration, generate interest rapidly, and after the excitement collapse suddenly.-according to Smelser (1962:171) refers to mobilization for action based an a positive wish fulfillment belief.

Types of Collective BehaviorDisaster Behavior

-as the name suggest, this is the type of behavior elicited in times of disasters such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, typhoons or hurricanes, and coup de etat.

-disaster behavior combines both crowds and mass behavior. Some kind of mass hysteria and panic follows as people scamper for safety.

Types of Collective BehaviorPublic

-like the mass, the public is dispersed collectively, and like the crowd, it includes the elementary processes of milling and rumor.

-unlike the mass, which is confronted by a problematic situation, the public is faced with an issue, a matter on which people have the right to agree or disagree.

Types of Collective BehaviorPublic Opinion

-the collective product of discussion and arrival at a decision is public opinion, which is the result of interaction vis-à-vis an issue.-public opinion is the composite of individual opinions as these are communicated to the leaders empowered to render a decision.-public opinion may be expressed through the ballots referendum, letters, petitions, delegations, meetings, and interest groups.

Types of Collective BehaviorMass Communication

-mass communication is organized communication through organizational structures.-the role of media is primarily to inform, give entertainment, and provide education. The media is important source of information and of personal opinions about current affairs.-mass media can also provide warnings about some imminent threats or dangers, like typhoons, fall-outs, lahar threats, and military attacks.

Types of Collective BehaviorThe Newspaper

-a channel for disseminating information to a large number of persons.-it relays to the public the news, comments, and opinions crystallized by opinion leaders-the editors and columnist.-it covers issues of local, national, and international importance and is an important instrument for breaking through to public opinion and social consciousness.-in 1986, there were 26 newspaper in the country competing for readership, which was made possible as a result of the newly restored freedom.

Types of Collective BehaviorThe Radio

-a powerful medium as it can reach a wide and extensive audience, since it can beam its program over an area of several miles.-as of 1989, there were 46,435 radio broadcast stations in the Philippines. Of this number, 2,312 stations are government-owned and 38,123 are privately owned.-a study by Coller (1961:53-58) of the impact of radios donated to isolated rural Philippine barrios and distributed by CARE 1959-60 revealed the radio listeners of both sexes preferred the drama to all other types of radio offerings.

Types of Collective BehaviorTelevision

-the uniqueness of the television as compared to the other media except the movies, is the use of both sight and sound in conveying ideas to the people.-television’s advantage over the radio is in its use of visual projection of events so as to make them more real and stimulating.-through intended primarily for entertainment, it has far reaching effects on viewers and can wield a powerful influence in them.-significant events, both local or international, are brought directly into the homes of the viewers.-the establishment of satellite networks has given live coverages of events taking place throughout the world and thus has provided global free flow of information.

Types of Collective BehaviorMotion Pictures

-like television, motion pictures are primarily for entertainment, but at the same time are informative and instructional.-some films may be effective in cementing or changing attitudes to some degree; films will be influential in affecting those attitudes that are remote from the apparent purpose of the film; film sometimes implants or strengthens attitudes opposite to those intended; noncommercial films can be utilized to increase the information of the audience.

Types of Collective BehaviorSocial Movements

-a social movement is an interrelated and coacting unity persons with some degree of organizational continuity aimed to promote or to resist change in the society of which it is a part.-a social movement emphasizes social change. It comes about as a result of stressful conditions in one’s environment which cause unrest and dissatisfaction with existing conditions. An important factor in bringing about a social movement is the ability to organize the resources in support of one cause.

Social MovementsTypes of Social Movements1. Expressive movement- form of dissent resulting from the existing

structure of power. It is not directed to bring about changes in power relations but is a kind of response to a sense of powerlessness or alienation and dissatisfaction.

2. Reform Movements- directed at changing certain aspects of the social class structure or a segment of the power distribution of a social system. The most common goal of reform movements is to make the existing social structure work more effectively by extending certain rights or privileges to given groups.

3. Rebellion and Revolutionary Movements- aim to change the whole social order and replace the leadership. Revolutionary movements involve more sweeping radical, if not violent, changes in the society.

The February 22-25, 1986 People’s Power Revolution

A notable and unique type of revolution, different from the armed and violent revolutions we commonly read about, was the February 22-25, 1986 People’s Power Revolution on EDSA, Quezon City. It was unique in the sense that it was a nonviolent, peaceful revolution which brought about the toppling of an almost twenty years’ dictatorship and the eventual restoration of democracy in the country.

Social Consequences of Collective Behavior

Collective behavior is a result of social change which promotes non-institutional courses of action with a normative justification. While some circumstances strengthen resistance to change, in most cases, collective behavior leads to changes. Developments in technology and other changes like urbanization, industrialization, increase in population, and the coming together of diverse ethnic groups open up new self-conceptions and create new value perspectives which challenge existing traditional norms and values. Widespread collective behavior does not necessarily bring about change. According to Turner and Killian (1957:526), widespread collective behavior becomes a vehicle for change when diverse cultures come in contact within a society and supply new values around which collective behavior will become focused.

Collective behavior may result in new directions of the culture and establishments of new folkways, mores, and values. Thus, collective behavior plays an important part in the process of social change.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.!!!

BE READY FOR THE QUIZ.. :p