Culture in Mind

Chapter 7 wraps up the book’s main findings and highlights our main theoretical conclusion: The interplay between the mind and social interactions helps explain the process behind sustained commitment. But what does our conclusion imply for the study of social movements and activism more generally? We begin by emphasizing the necessity to bring the mind back in all its complexity. Second, we argue for the need to take into account considerations regarding the interpretative dimensions of social networks. Third, we advocate a better integration of culture in the study of social movements, as this places an emphasis on the role of culture in shaping a person’s mind, and ultimately provides for finer theories of mobilization. Finally, as with any research, this study faces limits; we expose these in this final chapter, providing us with the opportunity to suggest avenues for further research.