Concepedia

Frame Alignment Processes, Micromobilization, and Movement Participation

David A. Snow, E. Burke Rochford, Steven Worden, Robert D. Benford

American Sociological Review · 1986 · 6.4K citations · 51 references

TL;DR

Frame alignment is a necessary, interactional, and ongoing condition for participation in social movements. The study seeks to deepen understanding of mobilization by proposing frame alignment as a bridge between social psychological and resource mobilization perspectives. By extending Goffman's frame analysis and conducting field research on religious, peace, and neighborhood movements, the authors identify four frame alignment processes—bridging, amplification, extension, and transformation. The paper presents several theoretical and research implications arising from these processes.

Abstract

This paper attempts to further theoretical and empirical understanding of adherent and constituent mobilization by proposing and analyzing frame alignment as a conceptual bridge linking social psychological and resource mobilization views on movement participation. Extension of Goffinan's (1974) frame analytic perspective provides the conceptualltheoretical framework; field research on two religious movements, the peace movement, and several neighborhood movements provide the primary empirical base. Four frame alignment processes are identified and elaborated: frame bridging, frame amplification, frame extension, and frame transformation. The basic underlying premise is that frame alignment, of one variety or another, is a necessary condition for participation, whatever its nature or intensity, and that it is typically an interactional and ongoing accomplishment. The paper concludes with an elaboration of several sets of theoretical and research implications.

References

51

The Social Construction of Reality

Daniel M. Rose, Peter L. Berger, Thomas Luckmann · Modern Language Journal · 1967

+3

13.9K citations

The Logic of Collective Action: Public Goods and the Theory of Groups.

Sidney C. Sufrin, Mancur Olson · Industrial and Labor Relations Review · 1966

+5

11.8K citations

Resource Mobilization and Social Movements: A Partial Theory

John D. McCarthy, Mayer N. Zald · American Journal of Sociology · 1977

+13

7.1K citations

Threshold Models of Collective Behavior

Mark Granovetter · American Journal of Sociology · 1978

5.9K citations