15 SOCIAL MOVEMENTS, COLLECTIVE BEHAVIOUR, AND SOCIAL CHANGE

How Do Societies Change?

WHAT DRIVES SOCIAL CHANGE?

• reactions to events and new opportunities

WHAT ARE THE THEORIES BEHIND SOCIAL MOVEMENTS?

• functionalism: social movements challenge the equilibrium of society and give people a way to relieve their frustrations and emotions about a particular subject
• conflict theory: social inequality creates discontent among some, which can lead to social movements
• symbolic interactionism: people protest in reaction to a need that is not being met
• feminist theory: feminism is itself an example of a social movement

HOW DO SOCIAL MOVEMENTS INFLUENCE SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY AND STUDY?

• social movements: provide an ever-changing sociological landscape; encourage the development of new theory and the application of existing theory