Collective Action & Social Change

Question 1

Define social change.

Answer 1

Way in which society develops over time to replace beliefs, attitudes and behaviour with new norms and expectations.
Modification of existing societal order of society.
Social inequalities + discontent inherently related to social change.

Question 2

What are the 4 different types of inequality?

Answer 2

Relative deprivation - perception of having less than oneself should have.
Distributive injustice - perception of having less than entitled to.
Procedural injustice - perception of being a victim of unfair laws, procedures.
Violation of important moral standards.

Question 3

Define collective action.

Answer 3

Form of political protest.
Any action to improve status of an entire group.
Action that promotes interests of in-group or conducted in political solidarity.

Question 4

Define the two different types of collective action.

Answer 4

Normative - conforms to norms of existing social system. E.g. protests.
Non-normative - violates norms. E.g. terrorism.
Action always done in favour of group - COLLECTIVE action.

Question 5

What are the three main aspects of the social identity model of collective action (Van Zomeren)?

Answer 5

Injustice, identification and efficacy.

Question 6

What other theory is the social identity model of collective action related to and how?

Answer 6

Social identity theory (Tajfel & Turner).
Person’s sense of who they are based on group membership. Group = source of pride, sense of belonging.
In-group seeks to find negative aspects of out-group to enhance their self-image.

Question 7

Explain how injustice plays a role in collective action (Van Zomeren).

Answer 7

Bernburg - financial loss predicts protest participation (but only if individual sees their loss as greater than others).
Left-wing political attitude + belief in extensive corruption predicts protest participation + support.
Protest likelihood positively correlated to economic loss.
Van Zomeren - relative deprivation + likelihood of voting and protest participation in Kenya.

Question 8

Explain how identification plays a role in collective action (Van Zomeren).

Answer 8

Stuermer & Simon - 400 gay pps in gay movement.
Identification with a formal social movement predicted participation in collective action.
Other study - feminist identification and feminist collective action.

Question 9

Explain how efficacy plays a role in collective action (Van Zomeren).

Answer 9

Martin, Brickman & Murray - 90 female workers, large; moderate or small inequality condition. Collective action intentions strongest when there efficacy levels highest.
Other studies - increased efficacy = more protests.

Question 10

Explain how morality and emotions play a role in collective action (additions to Van Zomeren model).

Answer 10

Morality - zero tolerance, context independent - violation of individual’s moral standards.
Emotions - cognitive appraisal of environment leads to experience of emotion - leads individuals towards actions. ALL aspects of the model can be linked to emotional components.

Question 11

Explain some studies + results that show evidence for emotions role in collective action.

Answer 11

Cohen-Chen - hope and efficacy. Group efficacy induced collective action intentions when hope was high. Hope low = group efficacy had no effect on collective action.
Hope is a MODERATOR for efficacy.
Tausch - anger and contempt. Anger = normative collective action. Contempt = non-normative collective action.

Question 12

Explain how solidarity plays a role in collective action (addition to the Van Zomeren model).

Answer 12

Any action aiming to improve the status of an entire group rather than of a few individuals in that group.
Action that promotes the interests of one’s in-group or is conducted in political solidarity.

Question 13

What are the two main barriers to collective action? Explain them.

Answer 13

Socio-structural barriers - favourable political opportunity structure.
Psychological barriers - perceived stability. Legitimacy of social arrangements. Individual upward mobility (leaving group), social creativity, alternative affective loyalties.

Question 14

What is the contact hypothesis?

Answer 14

Allport.

In order to improve intergroup relations, simple contact is nut sufficient - must be optimal.

Question 15

What’s needed for optimal contact?

Answer 15

Equal status contact, co-operative interaction, common goals, support of authorities.

Question 16

Explain what Pettigrew & Tropp showed about intergroup contact.

Answer 16

Reduces intergroup prejudice.

Works even better when Allport’s optical contact conditions are met.

Question 17

How does the contact hypothesis work?

Answer 17

Expectations of rejection + fears about interaction create anxiety.
Anxiety decreases likelihood of contact. Contact decreases intergroup anxiety.
Contact changes perception of out-group. Challenges out-group homogeneity effect. Allows individuals to know out-group better.
Reduces both affective + cognitive forms of prejudice.

Question 18

What are the 4 main forms of contact?

Answer 18

Direct, computer-mediated, extended, imagined.

Question 19

Explain Herek & Capitanio’s study into direct contact.

Answer 19

Attitudes towards gay men + one year later.
Heterosexuals reporting interpersonal contact = more positive attitudes. Findings replicated a year later.
Moderators: contact, number of relationships, closeness of relationships. All have a positive effect.

Question 20

Name some strengths and weaknesses of direct contact.

Answer 20

Strengths: personal experience, can be communicated to others, emotions + beliefs experienced as an active participant.
Weaknesses: has to be positive to induce prejudice reactions, not always positive.

Question 21

Explain Schumann and Klein’s study into computer-mediated contact.

Answer 21

Synchronous text-chat with out-group members + confederate.
CMC reduce negative out-group member’s anonymity + decreased perceived social presence, therefore, less positive evaluations + higher prejudice.

Question 22

What is extended contact and what effects does it have on attitudes?

Answer 22

Seeing an in-group member interacting positively with an out-group member. Vicarious experiences. Actual experience not necessary.
More positive attitudes towards out-groups.

Question 23

Name some strengths and weaknesses of extended contact.

Answer 23

Strengths: can effect many individuals, contact in mass media, social learning, allows for future contact.
Weaknesses: less strong, subject to individual differences, works better if the in-group member contacting the out-group is close.

Question 24

What is imagined contact?

Answer 24

Mental simulation of social interaction. Actual experience not necessary.
Less opportunity for contact.

Question 25

Explain Turner, Crisp and Lambert’s study into imagined contact.

Answer 25

5 minutes imagining you’re with someone gay.

Reduced intergroup anxiety, increase in positive attitudes + out-group variability.

Question 26

Explain the strengths and weaknesses of imagined contact.

Answer 26

Strengths: possible in conflict situation + where contact is difficult, no actual encounter, may show there is no need for negative expectations.
Weaknesses: need engagement in the simulation, not long lasting, less powerful than direct contact.

Question 27

What is an issue with intergroup contact?

Answer 27

Can cause positive effect on attitudes but doesn’t always decrease discrimination.

Question 28

How can you decrease prejudice?

Answer 28

It’s like a habit. Need to be aware of implicit bias and implement strategies to decrease bias.

Question 29

What did Devine et al show about decreasing prejudice?

Answer 29

Intervention group - lower IAT scores. Increased concern.

Control - higher IAT scores in last test. Decreased concern.

Question 30

What effect does intergroup contact have on disadvantaged groups?

Answer 30

Positive contact limits collective action. Vice versa.

Question 31

What effect does intergroup contact have on advantaged groups?

Answer 31

Opposite.
Reimer, Becker: negative contact = more collective action for sexual minority pps. Positive contact = more collective action for minority group’s rights from advantaged group.

Question 32

What is the elaborative social identity model (Drury & Reicher)?

Answer 32

Anonymity in groups = higher group identity = higher conformity to group norms.