April Ricah Mae E. Sasam 10/4/2023
1. Social Change Happens All the Time:
●Social change refers to the transformation of culture and social institutions over
time.
●Even seemingly constant aspects of society can change. For example, life
expectancy and taxation have dramatically changed over the past century.
●The pace of change varies among societies, with high-income societies
experiencing significant change within a single lifetime.
●Some cultural elements change faster than others, as seen in William Ogburn's
theory of cultural lag, where material culture (things) changes faster than
nonmaterial culture (ideas and attitudes).
2. Social Change Is Sometimes Intentional but Often Unplanned:
●Industrial societies actively promote various types of change, such as
technological advancements and innovations.
●While change is often intentional, the consequences of these changes are not
always fully anticipated. For instance, the introduction of automobiles led to
significant societal changes beyond transportation efficiency, including
urbanization and safety concerns.
3. Social Change Is Controversial:
●Social change brings both positive and negative consequences, leading to
controversies.
●Capitalists welcomed the Industrial Revolution for its productivity gains and
profits, but workers feared job obsolescence and resisted these changes.
●Current debates about social change include issues related to race, gender, and
sexual orientation, with varying opinions on what constitutes "progress."
4. Some Changes Matter More Than Others:
●Not all changes hold the same significance. Some, like clothing fads, have passing
importance, while others, like the invention of computers, can reshape the world.
●The Information Revolution, akin to previous revolutions like the Industrial
Revolution, has had profound effects on society. Computers have created new
jobs, eliminated old ones, connected people globally, but also raised concerns
about privacy and isolation.
Causes of Social Change:
1. Culture and Change: Social change is influenced by invention (creating new things and
ideas), discovery (noting existing elements), and diffusion (spread of products, people,
and information between societies).
2. Conflict and Change: Inequality and conflict, as identified by Karl Marx, drive social
change, although the model has evolved over time. Social conflicts arising from various
sources, including class, race, and gender, push societies towards change to improve the
lives of working people.
3. Ideas and Change: Max Weber emphasized the role of ideas in social change.
Charismatic individuals can carry messages that transform the world. He also highlighted
how religious beliefs, like the Protestant work ethic, contributed to the spread of
industrial capitalism.
4. Demographic Change: Changes in population patterns, such as declining birth rates and
an aging population, significantly impact social change. Migration within and among
societies also drives change as people move and interact in new ways.
