1955/11/01 by Joseph R. Gusfield · 2 citations
Social Sciences · Psychology · #Religion, Society, and Development #Religion and Society Interactions #Indignation #Repeal #Doctrine #Socioeconomic status #Theme (computing) #Sociology #Landlord #Law #Social class #Social movement #Political science #Criminology #Social psychology #Psychology #Demography
paper · doi:10.1086/221733
openalex publication_date 1955/11/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2025/11/06
Analysis of WCTU journals and reports and interviews with current leaders reveal a pattern at variance with theories of an adaptive process in social movements. In pre-Prohibition periods humanitarian reform was the central theme in WCTU doctrine. Temperance was viewed as the solution to problems of underprivileged groups. Since Repeal, the WCTU has ceased to represent dominant social classes, and its doctrine has become the expression of moral indignation toward upper-middle-class life. Analysis of local leadership from 1885 to 1950 indicates a shift toward lower areas of the socioeconomic scale.