SOCIAL CHANGE

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Bataller
Enerio
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 SOCIAL CHANGE
 It is a change in social relations or change in the accepted social
customs or change in social structure and social institutions etc
and for this change so many factors such as geographical,
economic, cultural, psychological, educational and natural etc
are responsible.
 All societies are involved in a process of social change, however
this change may be so subtle and slow that society is hardly
aware of it
 Sociologist Max Weber claimed that one of the most important
components of social change was a LEADER with CHARISMA
(large vision, magnetic style, strong popular support and
extraordinary character). This leader places great demands on
his or her followers, promises rewards for their support .
 Sociologist Samuel Eisenstadt
claimed that in most societies,
there exists one or more
MODERNIZING ELITES, groups
of people who create significant
social change and influence the
direction it goes
NATURE OF SOCIAL CHANGE

 Social change is a continuous process

 Social change is a universal phenomenon
 Social change is an essential law
 Social change is a community change
 Social change can not be predicted
 Social change is a result of many factors
 Social change is not necessary a progress
 Social change can be the result of conscious and unconscious
efforts
 Nature of Social change is different in different societies
GLOBAL THEORIES OF SOCIAL
CHANGE

 Globalization involves increased interconnectedness that can

erase or magnify cultural differences.

 Modernization Theory - global development is a worldwide

process affecting all societies touched by technological change.
CAUSES OF SOCIAL CHANGE

 Collective Behavior
 Cultural Diffusion
 Technological Innovation
 Social Movements
 Inequality
 Population
 War
FACTORS THAT LEAD TO SOCIAL CHANGE

Sociologists have identified some major factors that lead

to change. They include the following:
 CULTURAL
 Social and the cultural aspects are closely interwoven. Thus, any
change in the culture (ideas, values, beliefs etc.) brings a
corresponding change in the whole social order.
 Socio-cultural changes are also brought about by people from
other cultures all over the world.
ECONOMIC

 Economic influences, the most far-reaching is the impact of

industrialization. It has revolutionized the whole way of life,
institutions, organizations and community life
 POLITICAL
 State is the most powerful organization which regulates the social
relationships. It has the power to legislate new laws, repeal old
ones to bring social change in the society
TECHNOLOGY
Technology includes knowledge and hardware that are used to
achieve practical goals.
 The appearance of new technology is generally a sign that social
change will soon follow.
 The computer revolution brought about technological change at
an astounding rate.
 People receive their information more quickly now, can
communicate in different ways
 REVOLUTION AND WAR
 Revolution and war are related factors that lead to social
change.
 A revolution involves the sudden and complete overthrow of an
existing social or political order, and is often accompanied by
violence.
 War is organized, armed conflict that occurs within a society or
between nations
THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES ON
SOCIAL CHANGE
 Functionalism depicts societies as relatively stable.
 Following a major change, these integrated systems seek a new
equilibrium.
 Conflict theory states that social change is the result of struggles
among groups for scarce resources. Societies are unstable
systems that are constantly undergoing change.
 Symbolic interactionism identifies decreasing shared values as a
source of social instability.
 THE FUNCTIONALIST PERSPECTIVE
There are two functionalist theories of social change based on the
concept of equilibrium.

 When used by sociologists, equilibrium describes a society’s

tendency to react to changes by making small adjustments to
keep itself functioning and in balance.
 A society in change moves from stability to temporary instability
and back to stability. This is
a dynamic, or moving, equilibrium.
 THE CONFLICT PERSPECTIVE
According to the conflict perspective, social change is the result of
struggles among groups for scarce resources.
 As these conflicts are resolved, social change occurs.
 Karl Marx wrote that “without conflict, no progress: this is the law
which civilization has followed to the present day.”
 Sociologist Ralf Dahrendorf believes that social change comes
from a multitude of competing interest groups–political,
economic, religious, racial, ethnic, or gender-based. Society
changes as power relationships among interest groups change.
SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM
 According to symbolic interactionism, human beings interact
with others on the basis of commonly shared symbols.
 The nature and frequency of social interaction are affected by
the extent to which people share meanings.
 As shared interpretations of the world decrease, social ties
weaken and social interaction becomes more impersonal.
SOCIAL MOVEMENTS
The social movement is the most highly structured, rational, and
enduring form of collective behavior whose goal is to promote
social change. The following defining elements characterize
social movements:
 a large number of people
 a common goal to promote or prevent social change
 structured organization with commonly recognized leaders
 activity sustained over a relatively long time period
PRIMARY TYPES OF SOCIAL MOVEMENTS

 A revolutionary movement attempts to change a society totally.

 A reformative movement aims to affect more limited changes in
society.
 A redemptive movement focuses on changing people
completely.
 An alternative movement seeks only limited changes in people.
ACTIVITY

1. It involves increased interconnectedness that can erase or magnify cultural

differences.
2-3. Give at least 3 reasons of social change
4-7.What are the 3 theoretical perspective on social change
8. It is the most highly structured, rational, and enduring form of collective behavior
whose goal is to promote social change.
9-10 (True or False)
9. Social change can be the result of conscious and unconscious efforts
10. Social change is a continuous process