RDT states that individuals need to not only see themselves as being deprived but their entire group identification (social, political, sex, gender, etc). This belief that they are not the only ones suffering helps motivate them to participate in social change.
Emotional arousal plays a big role in motivation as well as the stronger the arousal towards the injustice the more it motivates individuals to act.

Relative deprivation theory (RDT): Collective action theory

SIT believes that individuals in the low-status group are more likely to participate in collective action if they believe that they are unable to reach the high-status group. The position of low-status should be perceived as undeserved. The idea that the inequality or injustice is unstable and thus able to be changed through social movements. These three factors together help create a strong motivation for change. 

Social identity theory (SIT): Collective action theory

This theory believes that the other two theories do not take into account the concerns individuals face in regards to the cost and benefits of participating in collective action. Individuals are more likely to participate in collective action if they believe that they will get something out of it (benefit). The benefit could be money or social in regards to the creation of change. 

Instrumental cost-benefit analysis: Collective action theory

Many studies use different methods as collective action can form in many ways. This can create confusion when comparing studies' results.
Another issue is that a majority of studies and theories focus on the low-status group's point of view. This means that the theories do not account for all of the reasons one participates in collective actions

Issues with the theories: Collective action theories

1. Relative deprivation theory (RDT)
    - perceptions and emotions of group-based injustice
2. Social identity theory (SIT)
    - (politicized) social identification
3. Instrumental cost-benefit analysis
    -  instrumental cost-benefit expectations of available resources 

Albion College

Collective action is the actions/behaviors of a group of individuals working towards the same goal or common objective. The individuals tend to be like-minded in the way that they believe that the completion of their goal(s) will make their life better.

Collective Action

Van Zomeren, M. and Iyer, A. (2009), Introduction to the Social and Psychological Dynamics of Collective Action. Journal of Social Issues, 65: 645-660. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-4560.2009.01618.x

Introduction to the Social and Psychological Dynamics of Collective Action

Social Movement is the collective action of a group of like-minded individuals and/or organizations. The group tends to be closely organized and is focused on creating change according to their ideals. A majority of famous social movements have been focused on creating change and a better place for those who have been marginalized or mistreated.  

Social Movement

Social change is the process in which structures  and features in government change as a result of social movements 

Social change

Collective action theories 

When discussing collective action the low-status group is defined as the group that is at a disadvantage because of the social, political, structural, etc. systems set up and maintained by those who are in the high-status group that discriminates because of a select characteristic.

1. the low-status group needs to have a sense of psychological collective empowerment as that helps elevate the feelings/idea that they can create change. This helps motivate individuals to participate in collective action.


Collective action: Low-status groups

 The high-status group is those who are not disadvantaged as they do not have the negative characteristics.


  -Those who belong to the high-status group tend to engage in oppressive acts. These acts can be something like perpetuating stereotypes, ignoring prejudice, minimizing impact. etc. Members of the high-status group engage in these acts because the acts are normalized through exposure as well as encouraged by other members.


Collective action: High-status groups

Contentious Collective action is when a group of like-minded individuals are working together to achieve a goal. The goal of the group or the process used to achieve their goal is contentious, controversial, or argumentative. 

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