Meaning and Nature of Social Change: Social change is the significant alteration of social structures (that is, of patterns of social action and interaction), including consequences and manifestations of such structures embodied in norms (rules of conduct), values and cultural products and symbols. This definition encompasses small scale change, cyclical patterns of change, such as the succession of centralization and decentralization in administrative organizations; and revolutionary change, such as the overthrow of a government. It includes short-terms change in employment rates as well as long-term changes in occupational structures, both growth and decline in membership size of social units; continuous process such as specialization and bureaucratization; and discontinuous processes such as particular technical or social inventions. Factors of Social Change Three Basic Sources of Social Change: Recently, development perspective in analysing social change has come to the fore. Factors in social change–Discovery is an important factor of social change e.g. blood circulation in body. Invention, whether material or social is significant of social change. The introduction of machine technology as a result of the discovery of the new sources of energy has had far-reaching consequences. Social invention such as language, women suffrage, prohibition bring about social change. Cultural diffusion refers to the spread of culture traits from one group to another and it is a two-way process. It involves selection and adaptation of other cultural traits. Exogamous and Endogamous Origin of Change Social change can be the result of the action of endogenous (within) an exogenous (outside) or a combination of both. Acceptance of and Resistance of Social Change Some people resist social change. In the midst of continual technological breakthroughs, some people harbour vested interests (financial or otherwise) in maintaining the status quo. These people lose something in response to social change. For example, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) has lobbied incessantly to prevent clinical psychologists from gaining prescription privileges. Other people may feel insecure about trying to adapt to an everchanging society Economic factors take a hand in resisting social change. Conflict theorists complain that capitalistic systems encourage owners to protect their assets at the expense of workers. Protecting their assets may mean ignoring safety standards or putting pressure on government officials to lessen state regulations. Cultural factors also play a central role in resistance to social change. When technology enters a society, nonmaterial culture must respond to changes in material culture. Culture lag refers to the time during which previous aspects of a society still need to “catch up” to cultural advances. For example, certain religious groups, such as the Roman Catholic Church, promote large families and regard contraceptive methods that limit family size as immoral. In other words, a lag exists between aspects of non-material culture (religious beliefs) and material culture (reproductive technologies). Social movements typically question a culture’s established state of affairs. In the United States today, both the gay rights and feminist movements challenge society’s definitions of “natural order”-that heterosexuality is the only sexual standard and that females should submit to males. Resistance to such social movements remains predictably strong. There may be varied degree of acceptance and resistance to social change depending upon the societal values, attitudes, vested interest, the evident usefulness of innovation etc.
Meaning and Nature of Social Change: Social change is the significant alteration of social structures (that is, of patterns of social action and interaction), including consequences and manifestations of such structures embodied in norms (rules of conduct), values and cultural products and symbols. This definition encompasses small scale change, cyclical patterns of change, such as the succession of centralization and decentralization in administrative organizations; and revolutionary change, such as the overthrow of a government. It includes short-terms change in employment rates as well as long-term changes in occupational structures, both growth and decline in membership size of social units; continuous process such as specialization and bureaucratization; and discontinuous processes such as particular technical or social inventions. Factors of Social Change Three Basic Sources of Social Change: Recently, development perspective in analysing social change has come to the fore. Factors in social change–Discovery is an important factor of social change e.g. blood circulation in body. Invention, whether material or social is significant of social change. The introduction of machine technology as a result of the discovery of the new sources of energy has had far-reaching consequences. Social invention such as language, women suffrage, prohibition bring about social change. Cultural diffusion refers to the spread of culture traits from one group to another and it is a two-way process. It involves selection and adaptation of other cultural traits. Exogamous and Endogamous Origin of Change Social change can be the result of the action of endogenous (within) an exogenous (outside) or a combination of both. Acceptance of and Resistance of Social Change Some people resist social change. In the midst of continual technological breakthroughs, some people harbour vested interests (financial or otherwise) in maintaining the status quo. These people lose something in response to social change. For example, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) has lobbied incessantly to prevent clinical psychologists from gaining prescription privileges. Other people may feel insecure about trying to adapt to an everchanging society Economic factors take a hand in resisting social change. Conflict theorists complain that capitalistic systems encourage owners to protect their assets at the expense of workers. Protecting their assets may mean ignoring safety standards or putting pressure on government officials to lessen state regulations. Cultural factors also play a central role in resistance to social change. When technology enters a society, nonmaterial culture must respond to changes in material culture. Culture lag refers to the time during which previous aspects of a society still need to “catch up” to cultural advances. For example, certain religious groups, such as the Roman Catholic Church, promote large families and regard contraceptive methods that limit family size as immoral. In other words, a lag exists between aspects of non-material culture (religious beliefs) and material culture (reproductive technologies). Social movements typically question a culture’s established state of affairs. In the United States today, both the gay rights and feminist movements challenge society’s definitions of “natural order”-that heterosexuality is the only sexual standard and that females should submit to males. Resistance to such social movements remains predictably strong. There may be varied degree of acceptance and resistance to social change depending upon the societal values, attitudes, vested interest, the evident usefulness of innovation etc.