Social Phenomena

We explain what social phenomena are and what their characteristics are. In addition, we give you some current examples.

social phenomenon animal abuse
Social phenomena are a way of managing the events that occur in a society.
Summary of Contents

What are social phenomena?

Social phenomena are those events, trends or reactions that take place within a given society and that are evidenced through the modification of collective behaviorwhether from a more or less representative group or from the entire society. Each social phenomenon reflects the specific way in which a society organizes and structures its reactions to the objective and subjective conditions of life. That is, it is a way of managing and assimilating the events that occur in a society, very often to promote change.

In this way, social phenomena can be of diverse nature and respond to different types of factors. When talking about social phenomena, we try to understand in a systematic or contextual way the decisions made by a group.

Therefore, many different events can be considered social phenomena, as long as they have sufficient relevance for society as a whole. A massive protest, a low participation rate in elections or the mass emigration of a sector of the population are examples of different social phenomena.

The study of this type of phenomena corresponds to sociology, social psychology and other related disciplines.

Key points

  • Social phenomena are events, events or trends that significantly modify collective behavior.
  • They can be due to subjective and cultural as well as economic and historical factors.
  • They occur unexpectedly and can alter the conditions of daily life.
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  • See also: Social processes

Characteristics of social phenomena

social phenomenon occupation wall street
Social phenomena often break into everyday life.

Social phenomena can be very diverse, making it difficult to find universal characteristics. However, from a general point of view, they are characterized by the following:

  • They are actions, gestures or collective tendencies.
  • They depend on their historical and cultural context.
  • They can burst into everyday life without warning.
  • They are subjective and relative, since they have to do with the way of thinking of the group.
  • They generally respond to the social imaginary, that is, to the way in which society represents or relates to itself.
  • They tend to deviate from or go against the established norm.

Examples of social phenomena

social phenomenon consumption
The forms of consumption can be considered social phenomena.

Some examples of social phenomena are:

  1. Mass migrations.
  2. Civil rebellions.
  3. The expansion of a religion in a certain society.
  4. Political polarization.
  5. Consumer trends.
  6. The spontaneous emergence of a popular organization.
  7. Strikes and protests.
  8. The growth or decrease in crime.
  • See also: Social actors

Current social phenomena

social phenomenon religion
The rise of evangelical churches in some countries is a social phenomenon.

Some examples of recent social phenomena are:

  • The massive emigration of Venezuelan citizens to countries in the region. Almost 8 million people left the country between 2017 and 2024.
  • The political rise of ultraconservative parties in Europe. Several countries in Europe are experiencing the arrival of conservative political sectors to power.
  • The polarization of American society. Since Donald Trump's first government, United States society has been sharply divided between his detractors and his followers.
  • The increase in evangelical parishioners in certain regions of the world. In various countries in Latin America, Asia and Africa there has been a growth of different evangelical churches in recent decades.
  • Declining birth rate in China. China's population has begun to shrink, due to the shortage of females due to birth control policies.
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References

  • Busquet, J., Calsina, M., Medina, A. and Flaquer, L. (2020). 262 key concepts of sociology. UOC.
  • García, R. and Scaglia, H. (2020). Psychology. Social phenomena. Eudeba.

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