social change Flashcards
what are the agents of change?
- geography
- external events
- technology
- charismatic leadership
- modernizing elites
- people wanting change
how is geography an agent of change?
- The natural lay of the land can affect how societies develop
- Bodies of water, mountains, flatlands all affect the way a society develops
- Natural disasters can also change a society (floods, earthquakes)
how are external events an agent of change?
- Events can occur on a large scale affecting an entire
nation or several nations. - These events play a large role in changing societal behaviour.
- Includes any civil or world wars
how is technology an agent of change?
- Technological developments can grossly affect how a society lives, communicates, and acts.
- We receive information quickly and communicate in different ways
- Technology also affects architecture and the development of land
how is charismatic leadership an agent of change?
- These leaders have a large vision; magnetic style; popular support; and often promise rewards
- They can be good leader or bad leaders
how is modernizing elites an agent of change?
Small groups of people with much wealth create significant social change and influence the direction in which it goes
how are people wanting change an agent of change?
- This occurs when a population is ready for change and, most often, protesting for it.
- Undesirable conditions, such as economic depression, social discontent, oppression, injustice or inequality
what are the impediments of change?
- traditional values
- little cross-cultural interaction
- those in power maintaining the status quo
- lack of education/technology
- expense
how are traditional values an impediment to change?
- Ideals and values are passed from generation to generation in the home, school and society at large.
- Religious beliefs maintain norms and values.
how is little cross-cultural interaction an impediment to change?
Low exposure to other cultures, practices and ideals reduces exogenous(external) influences
how are those in power maintaining the status quo an impediment to change?
- Workers staying employed at low wages/power
- Leaders staying in power
- Religious leaders as intermediaries between God and man
- “The rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer”
how is lack of education/technology an impediment to change?
- Limited learning and exposure to practices and ideals
- Looking at things the same way
how is expense an impediment to change?
- Economic change and investment required
- Social change may require new institutions, systems and order
- The price of social change, such as social programs, might be too high for society to be willing to support.
is social change always occurring?
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
what is the opposite of social change?
social continuity
