“All change is not growth, as all movement is not forward”: How, When, and Why Social Movements Change Over Time

This chapter discusses how social movements change in their intensity, goals, and the types of actions they employ to champion their cause. Specifically, we draw upon research in social psychology and cognate disciplines to understand (1) why commitment to a cause can falter versus persist over time; (2) when and why some social movements adopt more radical tactics versus persevering with conventional political tactics. Our analysis focuses on how experiencing political success and failure, and state-level attempts to repress social movements and change, give rise to these changes. We finish by discussing how these changes can potentially lower bystander support for the cause, and ways that social movements may overcome these obstacles moving forward.