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Timothy Leary And The LSD Movement Summary

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Timothy Leary and the LSD Movement A social movement can be defined as a dynamic phenomenon; the situation that is observed to exist/happen is in a state of flux. A vital analysis on social movements necessitates a proper theoretical perspective, that being an interactionist perspective as it provides a useful dynamic mode of analysis. A “temporal and developmental perspective” is also necessary in the sense that it greatly enhances the valuable analytic tools found within certain structural concepts. Robert Merton’s deviance typology/social strain theory states: social structures may pressure citizens to commit crimes. So, not ONLY must we identify the strain factors in initiation of the movement, but also identify the strains that have developed, giving shape and direction to the movements history. It has been discussed that public reaction may drive movements into revolution vis-a-vis the larger society. Although, there have been attempts to deal with the dynamics involved, as well as attempts to study facets of movements, it should be noted that ideologies may shift as a result of the interaction between the movement and the larger society. The social movement analyzed here, is the effort by Timothy Leary (and others) and his ultimate goal to obtain the freedom to use drugs that expand consciousness. However, the analysis of Timothy Leary’s social movement, is problematic for other social movements because existing studies have not sought to delineate interactive

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