Social movements organize people around shared goals and can influence communities, governments, and societies across the world. This lesson introduces their defining features and examines how they operate at local, state, and global levels.
A social movement is a purposeful, organized group working toward a common social goal. Movements may seek to create change, resist change, or draw attention to an issue. They are not limited to formal organizations: people may begin organizing informally and later establish groups or institutions.
All flashcards
Social movement
A purposeful, organized group working toward a shared social goal; it may seek change, resist change, or raise awareness.
Frame alignment
The process of connecting or adjusting movement goals and frames to recruit participants and strengthen organizing.
Prognostic framing
A type of framing that proposes a solution to a problem and explains how it might be carried out.
Resource mobilization theory
A theory explaining movement capacity and success in terms of acquiring resources and mobilizing people.
Strong ties
Close social connections that can support continued participation in high-risk activism.
Quiz questions
What does diagnostic framing do in a social movement?Answer: Identifies a problem and explains what is wrong or responsible.
What does resource mobilization theory emphasize when explaining a movement’s capacity?Answer: Its ability to acquire resources and mobilize people.
What characterizes the institutionalization stage of a social movement?Answer: The movement becomes an established organization, sometimes with paid staff.
What is a social movement industry?Answer: A collection of social movement organizations pursuing similar goals.
How can weak ties contribute to social movements?Answer: They can spread information across wider networks.
Based on Introduction to Sociology 3e by Tonja R. Conerly, Kathleen Holmes, Asha Lal Tamang (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.