The Social Psychology of Social Movements

Description

The social movements that Professor Toch examines in this book, originally published in 1966, range from the Black Muslims to food faddists, and the founders of these movements range from Hitler to Joan of Arc. Why do people join social movements? How do such movements serve the needs of their members, and what unique social problems do they cause? What are the typical consequences of membership? What gives rise to social movements, and how can we evaluate them? In The Social Psychology of Social Movements Hans Toch provides answers to ...  Read more... Abstract: The social movements that Professor Toch examines in this book, originally published in 1966, range from the Black Muslims to food faddists, and the founders of these movements range from Hitler to Joan of Arc. Why do people join social movements? How do such movements serve the needs of their members, and what unique social problems do they cause? What are the typical consequences of membership? What gives rise to social movements, and how can we evaluate them? In The Social Psychology of Social Movements Hans Toch provides answers to Content: Part 1: The Nature of Social Movements 1 The Solution of Collective Problems 2 Illusions as Solutions 3 The Benefit of Perceiving Conspiracies 4 Gain Through Community 5 The Exploitation of Predispositions Part 2: The Career of Members 6 The Psychology of 'Seeing the Light' 7 The Consequences of Being a Member 8 The Dynamics of Disaffection Part 3: Determinants and Motives 9 The Motivation to Join 10 Social Movements and Conventional Society 11 The Psychological Evaluation of Social Movements. Index.