A Social Psychology Of Protest

An interdisciplinary analysis of protest participation, leading to integrated approaches to the social psychology of protest.

This is an overview of the development of social movements based on current research on movement mobilization and participation. It is an ideal guide to the field for upper-level students studying the development of movement participation in social psychology, sociology or politics. The discussion is illuminated by extensive international examples ranging from women's movements, to right wing extremist groups, to social movements in South Africa. The Social Psychology of Protest addresses the classic problems that have been studied in the field: construction and reconstruction of collective beliefs, the transformation of discontent into collective action, and sustained participation and disengagement. Although the emphasis is on the individual's role, the book also discusses how the dynamics of movement participation are influenced by movement characteristics, multiorganizational fields and political opportunities.

Protest is typically rare behavior, yet the first decade of the twenty-first century has been named the era of protest. Successful protests bring masses to the streets, and the emergence of social media has fundamentally changed the process of mobilization. What protests need to be successful is demand (grievances, anger, and indignation), supply (protest organizations), and mobilization (effective communication networks). Motivation to participate can be instrumental, expressive, and identity driven, and politicized collective identity plays an important role in the dynamics of collective action. This volume brings together insights from social psychology, political psychology, sociology, and political science to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date analysis of protest participation, particularly to the question of why some people protest while others do not. It is essential reading for scholars interested in the social and political psychology of individuals in action.

Why do we protest? What compels us to participate in crowd violence? Can gender discrimination in the workplace be explained in psychological terms? From terrorist attacks to political uprisings, the social problems that have shaped the beginning of the new millenium can be explained using the theories and application of social psychology. Social Psychology of Social Problems does just that, with top international experts examining real-life issues. The book takes the view that if a problem and its origins can be understood, then perhaps it can be prevented from happening again. Social Psychology of Social Problems is required reading for students and practitioners of psychology, social policy and international relations. Provocative and challenging, it will be an essential resource for those who are seeking a deeper understanding of how social psychology can explain our complex world.

Scholars in the area of social action present new theories about this process, fashioning a social psychology of social movements that goes beyond theories currently in use.

This book examines why citizens resort to the often risky and demanding strategy of using disruptive protest when other channels of political intervention appear to be available. It analyzes the relationship between protest movements and the formal political system.; This book is intended for postgraduate and undergraduate sociology and politics students on courses in political sociology, comparative politics and social movements. Also of strong interest within social psychology, social anthropology, contemporary history and social geography.

In recent years there has been a growth of single-issue campaigns in western democracies and a proliferation of groups attempting to exert political influence and achieve social change. In this context, it is important to consider why individuals do or don't get involved in collective action, for example in the trade union movement and the women's movement. Social psychologists have an important contribution to make in addressing this question. The social psychological approach directly concerns the relationship between the individual and society and a number of theories have been developed in the field, particularly by contemporary European researchers. Yet, surprisingly, there has never been, until now, a concerted attempt to bring these various strands of research together in a coherent, detailed presentation of the social psychological approach to collective action. The authors of The Social Psychology of Collective Action review and integrate a number of theories developed in this field as well as presenting their own original research and data. The research discussed in the book ranges over a number of different contexts, with a particular focus on women's groups organizing around issues of gender. Questions addressed include: why do women get involved in women's groups? What part is played by experiences of discrimination in the family and in the workplace? What are the benefits of group involvement? How are feminist activists perceived by others who choose not to get involved? Findings from questionnaires and interviews are integrated with contemporary social psychological theory, especially social identity theory.

This book examines why citizens resort to the often risky and demanding strategy of using disruptive protest when other channels of political intervention appear to be available. It analyzes the relationship between protest movements and the formal political system.; This book is intended for postgraduate and undergraduate sociology and politics students on courses in political sociology, comparative politics and social movements. Also of strong interest within social psychology, social anthropology, contemporary history and social geography.