Social Change

Social Change

Definition: may refer to the notion of social progress or sociocultural evolution or paradigmatic change or social revolution or social movements. Sociocultural evolution: The idea that society moves

forward by looking from different perspectives and arguing a certain point of view.

Paradigmatic: When society shifts from one point of view or way of thinking to another (eg. Feudalism to capitalism).

Social revolution: In order to change the foundation of a society, a large uprising must occur.

Social movement: When the “people” within a society begin to advocate change.

Anthropology

According to an anthropologist, social change happens because of… Invention: new innovations that change the way cultures

function Discovery: finding information that changes a culture that

was previously unknown Diffusion: distribution of ideas and information between

cultures Acculturation: blending of certain beliefs and customs

between 2 cultures after close interaction over timeAcculturation can occur in 3 ways:• Incorporation• Directed change• Cultural evolution

Acculturation terms

Incorporation: It can be freely borrowedDirected change: It can be unavoidable; when

one culture overtakes another and suppresses its people

Cultural evolution: View that cultures develop due to common patterns in ways that are predictable

Psychology

Questions a psychologists might ask about social change… What can people do to effectively change their

behavior? Can an individual change their behavior themselves or

do they need outside influences? Are friends a positive or negative factor in helping a

person change? Strangers? Does the media mould a person? How can the behavior of a person who is mentally ill

be changed?

Psychology terms

Cognitive consistency: the want to avoid conflict and confrontation

Cognitive dissonance: when one person has two conflicting ideas or beliefs at the same time

Operant conditioning: consequences or rewards to enforce a desired behavior Video link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy_mIEnnlF4 Classic conditioning: two stimuli are repeated

until the idea of one is linked to the other Video link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhqumfpxuzI

Sociology

Questions a sociologist might ask about social change… How does social change occur? How can society be reformed to cater to the needs of

all people? Can all people in society work together to bring about

social change or is it necessary that it be enforced by a specific group?

How much change can a society endure?

Sociology terms

4 aspects of social change: Direction of change: whether the change is positive or

negative for society (eg. Right vs. left wing) Rate of change: whether the change is gradual or

rapid (eg. Social revolution vs. social movement) Source of change: whether the change is exogenous

(outside influence) or endogenous (inside influence). Controllability: how much of an effect the change has

on people in society.

Sociology terms

Tension (Adaptation theory): When a part of society diverges from the rest and causes a disturbance.

Accumulation: Humans gathering increasing amounts of knowledge and technology – this leads to change

Diffusion of innovation: an innovation is developped and becomes mainstream (integrated into society)