Unit 2: Social ChangeUnit 2: Social Change

What is Social Change?What is Social Change?

Changes in the way society is organizedChanges in the way society is organized

Changes in the beliefs/practices of the Changes in the beliefs/practices of the peoplepeople

Expect enormous political, economic, and Expect enormous political, economic, and social changes to take place in society social changes to take place in society during your lifetimeduring your lifetime

Sample Questions about Sample Questions about Social ChangesSocial Changes

Will the influence of organized religions Will the influence of organized religions grow grow or diminishor diminish??

Will acceptance of alternative lifestyles such Will acceptance of alternative lifestyles such as common-law marriages as common-law marriages increase or increase or declinedecline??

Will we have the Will we have the samesame civil rights in the near civil rights in the near future? future? More? Less?More? Less?

The Study of Social Change The Study of Social Change

Most social changes occur Most social changes occur naturallynaturally, as a , as a result of the multitude of factors operating result of the multitude of factors operating within societywithin society

The Anthropological ApproachThe Anthropological Approach

Focus:Focus:

Change in CulturesChange in Cultures

Occurs gradually; cultures normally do not change Occurs gradually; cultures normally do not change suddenly unless destroyed by another culture.suddenly unless destroyed by another culture.

Focus on Focus on enculturationenculturation: process by which members : process by which members of a culture of a culture learnlearn shared ideas, values and beliefs. shared ideas, values and beliefs.

Anthropological QuestionsAnthropological Questions

What explanations can we use to describe What explanations can we use to describe what causes cultures to change?what causes cultures to change?

Are the findings for one period valid for Are the findings for one period valid for another?another?

Anthropologists –Anthropologists –FactorsFactors Causing Cultural Change Causing Cultural Change

1.1. Change in the society’s Change in the society’s leadershipleadership

2.2. Shift in the social Shift in the social valuesvalues and and normsnorms

1.1. TechnologicalTechnological changes changes

2.2. EnvironmentalEnvironmental changes changes

Anthropology – Anthropology – SourcesSources of Cultural Change of Cultural Change

InventionInvention: New products, ideas and social patterns : New products, ideas and social patterns that affect the way people live.that affect the way people live.

i.e. portable stereo in the 1980si.e. portable stereo in the 1980s

DiscoveryDiscovery: Finding something previously unknown : Finding something previously unknown to a cultureto a culture

i.e. Discovering life on another planet may change i.e. Discovering life on another planet may change the way we think about ourselves the way we think about ourselves

DiffusionDiffusion: Spreading of ideas, methods and tools : Spreading of ideas, methods and tools from one culture to anotherfrom one culture to another

i.e. acupuncture from Asia to Canadai.e. acupuncture from Asia to Canada

The Psychological ApproachThe Psychological Approach

Focus:Focus:

Why Why && How How individualsindividuals change their change their attitudesattitudes ( (what they thinkwhat they think) & ) & behavioursbehaviours ((what they dowhat they do))

Question of persuasionQuestion of persuasion: : i.e.i.e. being being convinced/influenced by a friend vs. a strangerconvinced/influenced by a friend vs. a stranger

Psychological QuestionsPsychological Questions

What factors make behaviour modification What factors make behaviour modification programs successful?programs successful?

Do most people need help changing Do most people need help changing behaviour, or can they be self-changers?behaviour, or can they be self-changers?

The Sociological ApproachThe Sociological Approach

FocusFocus::

Massive shifts in the Massive shifts in the behavioursbehaviours and and attitudesattitudes of groups and whole of groups and whole societiessocieties..

See change as an See change as an inevitable processinevitable process

Major issueMajor issue: Whether social change is : Whether social change is patterned and predictablepatterned and predictable, or , or arbitrary and arbitrary and irregularirregular..

Sociological QuestionsSociological Questions

How does social change come about?How does social change come about?

Reductionist/DeterministReductionist/Determinist: Believe that a : Believe that a singlesingle factorfactor will determine the nature of the social will determine the nature of the social change that takes placechange that takes place

i.e.i.e. Karl MarxKarl Marx – the struggle for – the struggle for economic powereconomic power between competing social groups between competing social groups

i.e.i.e. Feminist sociologistsFeminist sociologists – – patriarchypatriarchy – men – men with power; women trying to capture it. with power; women trying to capture it.

- How can society be structured to serve the - How can society be structured to serve the needs of women as well?needs of women as well?

Sociology – Analyzing Patterns Sociology – Analyzing Patterns of Human Behaviourof Human Behaviour

Human behaviour is generally Human behaviour is generally patternedpatterned & & therefore, therefore, predictablepredictable..

People tend to behave according to People tend to behave according to social social normsnorms (customs, acceptable behaviours, (customs, acceptable behaviours, etc.)etc.)

Sociologists look at the following Sociologists look at the following aspects of social change:aspects of social change:

1.1. Direction of changeDirection of change: Positive? Negative? : Positive? Negative? 2.2. Rate of ChangeRate of Change: Slow? Moderate? Fast? : Slow? Moderate? Fast?

Radical? Gradual? Radical? Gradual? 3.3. SourcesSources: Factors/variables causing change? : Factors/variables causing change?

- - ExogenousExogenous influences (coming from influences (coming from anotheranother society) society)- - EndogenousEndogenous (coming from (coming from withinwithin the the society itself)society itself)

4.4. ControllabilityControllability: Degree to which social : Degree to which social change can be controlledchange can be controlled

Group ActivityGroup Activity

In groups of 4, choose a social phenomenonIn groups of 4, choose a social phenomenon

1.1. How would a sociologist, psychologist and How would a sociologist, psychologist and anthropologist anthropologist approachapproach the social change? the social change?

2.2. What What questionsquestions would each ask? would each ask?

3.3. What What factor(s)/source(s)factor(s)/source(s) would each would each predict to be the predict to be the cause(scause(s) of the change?) of the change?

4.4. What What conclusionsconclusions would each draw about would each draw about the social change?the social change?