Sociological accounts of social movements

Type :

Term papers

Pages :

5 pages

Format :

.doc

Published date :

05/07/2009

Category :

Social studies

Sub category :

Sociology

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Summary :

Introduction
Sociological accounts of social movements
The idea of the rational actor theory
Changes in the study of social movements
Emotion as a powerful sentiment
Conclusion
Bibliography

Abstract

Contemporary sociological accounts of social movements are mainly influenced by the 'new American paradigm' (crossley) arguing that social actors are rational calculators. According to these sociologists, emotions associated with irrationality are opposed to knowledge linked with rationality. It could be said that sociological accounts are neglecting the importance of emotions in the analysis of social movements. Emotions can be positive such as joy, or negative like anger. Jasper divides emotions between affect (hatred, love, solidarity, suspicion or trust), reactions (shame, anger, outrage) or moods (chronic and recurring feelings without direct object : compression, depression, defiance, pride enthusiasm). These emotions can have bodily symptoms and can be experienced inside or outside a social movement. social movements can be considered as collective group seeking to protest and change some aspects of a society such as women's movements or green's movement. sociological accounts intending to understand the dynamics and properties of social movements seemed focused on emotions with the collective behaviour approach but since the 1960s/1970s, the new American paradigm is a counter revolution as far as emotions are concerned. It can be asked if sociologists are not neglecting the role displayed by emotions in social movements' dynamics.