Elements of Social Change “Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott became the epicenter of the civil rights campaign not only because of an individual act of defiance, but also because of social models” (Barrios 2015). While he wasn't the first person to be arrested for breaking Montgomery bus laws, what sparked movements and protests were his relationships within the community. You could say that the relationships he had were the reason for social change. Charles Duhigg mentions some key tools needed for social change, which started the Rosa Parks movement. In order for social change to occur, the elements that must be considered are weak ties, strong ties, peer pressure and social habits. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay According to Duhigg, these four main elements are always included in a process when a movement occurs. Strong bonds are close relationships, especially with people you feel comfortable with. Weak ties are distant connections, which means having an idea of a person, but not knowing them personally. More importantly, weak ties spread information from person to person about new opportunities. Both are relevant in social interactions, extending one's options beyond typical relationships. Peer pressure, often present in communities, also plays an important role in social change as it takes people out of their comfort zone even if people don't realize it. In the Rosa Parks movement, people were forced to support her as the majority were church and volunteer groups. Failure to participate could result in unpleasant feelings, loss of relationships, lower self-esteem, or even loss of social status. Duhigg says, “In adult life, this is how business is done and communities self-organize.” Most people perceive peer pressure as a negative topic, but in large movements this is how social change occurs combined with strong and weak ties. It is also connected to social habits, “behaviors that occur, without thought, in tens, hundreds, or thousands of people, which are often difficult to see when they emerge, but which contain a power that can change the world” (Barrios 2015) . Social habits influence people to do things for different purposes, to come together and give them a chance to display their character and authority. Acquiring and transmitting these social habits by leaders can advance community ownership for the future of a movement. With these tools combined and the right people, it is possible to spark a movement just like the one Rosa Parks created. The effectiveness of each tool varies, but they are all necessary in a movement. Strong bonds are important since they are the relationships that are maintained regularly. They cannot be replaced and take a long time. However, having too many strong ties could make it more difficult to develop knowledge or find new opportunities. In a large movement, it is good to have close social networks and expand so that more people hear about it and get involved. On the other hand, weak ties are essential for creating groups of strong ties and binding them together. They also bring valuable information across networks that can benefit people in groups. For example, you might discover a new job opportunity that you wouldn't hear about from a strong relationship. Also, sometimes, start with strong bonds in smaller groups like Saddleback,
tags