The psychology of social movements

"Within the past twenty-five years we have seen millions of people swept into mass movements, leaving among their unhappy victims kings and emperors, religious and educational institutions, political and economic systems. Although no great wave or revolt has recently engulfed our American culture, the domestic sea has not been entirely untroubled. Social movements of various kinds have recruited many followers but have proved abortive. Whether a person is eager for social change or whether he resists it, he can hardly be complacent at the course of events. He wonders if this country will be caught in the vortex of Fascism or Communism, if some ideology indigenous to American soil will arise to attract multitudes of his fellow citizens. But, after examining history, listening to commentators, reading eye-witness accounts of social movements in formation or in action, the person may still feel that something is lacking. He wants to know more precisely what it is that motivates men to follow an untried leader, what the social environment does to make people so suggestible, what people are thinking about, are puzzled about, and are hoping for when they lose themselves in some cause that seems strange or esoteric to the observer. The present book is an attempt to fill this need. Strictly speaking, the book belongs in the field of social psychology, although the line between social psychology and other areas of psychology is tenuous indeed"--Preface. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved).