Chapter 3 Flashcards
Social change
Transformations in the beliefs, social interactions, practices, organization and structures of society
Force of Change: Physical environment
The habitat where society exists
Climate, weather, vegetation, animal populations and humans all have a ripple effect on society
Natural disasters
Force of Change: population changes
Immigration and emigration have significant impacts on our population
Force of Change: proximity
The proximity of a cultural group to another will affect social change
Societies existing closer to each other will change faster
Force of Change: culture
Collectivist society: individuals dependent on the group. Group comes first.
Individualist society: society that values freedom, personal rights.
Societies attitudes will have a significant impact on the rate of Change. Smaller communities may struggle
Force of Change: technology
Technology drives our society
Changes how we interact with society
Conditions for social change: charismatic leader
Charismatic leader: used to describe someone with a strong vision, widespread support, and charismatic qualities
This leader is needed, motivates others to follow
Promises rewards for their followers, convinces that they will help them
Conditions for social change: modernizing elites
Group of people who create significant social change and direction for where it goes
Conditions for social change: population ready for change
Population needs to be ready for change in order to muster support for the leaders/Change
Alienation
Feeling that one does not share in major social values and goal of society (Marx)
Anomie
Durkheim used this term to describe workers without roots/norms
Lacked identity
Subjective validity
Believing that your values and attitudes are proper - will join group that supports your subjective validity
Milgram
Electric shock experiment
Asch
Conformity experiment
One guy in a group of 7 doing experiments.
He conformed to what they were doing
Evolutionary theory of Change
All societies evolve and become more complex over time
Views change as a positive and beneficial force in society
Cyclical theory of Change
Society changes in cycles, like seasons
Challenge and response theory of Change
Each society faces initial challenges to its physical environment and by internal/external forces aimed at its destruction
Society must respond successfully in order to survive
Functionalist theory of Change
Society is affected by social institutions- new institutions means new norms, roles, and social expectations
Conflict theory of Change
Society changes based on on the dynamic between the rich and poor
Opposing interests are the source of social change
