Social Psychology of Protest: A Theoretical Panorama Based on Brazilian Reality

Abstract

This article aims to present the main principles of the social psychology of protest articulating this proposal with collective actions and social movements in Brazil. The social psychology of protest aims to analyze the individuals’ social behavior and its central question is understanding the reasons why people participate or not in protests. Its origins go back to the psychosocial dimension of the classic theories of social movements: societal breakdown theories; resource mobilization theory; political process theory; and new social movements theory. We identified three main motives for the participation of individuals in social movements and protests: instrumentality, identity, and expressiveness and emotions. From these motives we made an analysis that addresses the dimension of the subjects (the demand-side), the dimension of the movements and organizations (supply-side) and the articulation between them (mobilization). In addition to presenting the theory, the text seeks to illustrate propositions of social psychology of protest by using elements of the Brazilian political reality. We understand that the social psychology of protest can contribute to the understanding and action in social movements in the Brazilian and Latin American context by equipping academics, psychologists, and activists.

Keywords:
Social movement; Psychology; Political participation; Collective action