Social Change Flashcards
What is the theory of linear change?
The idea of linear change is foundational to evolutionary theory and is unidirectional. It is the idea that change is both cumulative and non-repetitive, meaning society moves exclusively “forward” towards the ideal.
What is the theory of cyclical change?
The theory proposes that change is repetitive and, as the name suggests, cyclical. Often used to explain the rise and fall of civilisations, as well as economic and political cycles. It is most often linked to conflict theory.
What is the theory of dialectical change?
It is a combination of the linear and cyclical change theories, which sees history as something akin to a spiral - cyclical, but still moving in an overall direction with a visible trend
Define
Conflict Theory
- Society as a collection of social groups aligned on economic lines.
- There is a wealthy ruling class (bourgeoisie) and a working class (proletariat).
- Social groups who are at the lower end of the spectrum are dominated and oppressed by the economically dominant classes.
- The ruling class derives it’s power from owning and controlling resources.
- The struggle for power and control of resources reaches a breaking point, at which time the revolution will occur and the working class will overthrow the ruling class.
- Social theorists have broadened the notion of conflict to go beyond class structures so that conflict can now be observed around personally morality, religious beliefs, gender and age.
Crticisms of
Conflict Theory
- Portrays a negative view on society
- Neglects social stability
- Overemphasizes tensions and divisions
- Does not account for incremental change
- Relationship between groups are more complex
- Does not acknowledge that social change is possible without revolution
- Situations that exist where subordinate groups control the interactions are ignored.
Define
Evolutionary Theory
Assumes that societies will reach newer and higher levels of development over time, and change is progress.
Every society supposedly develops over time a passes though the same linear processes of change:
1. Hunter gatherer societies- considered very simple, nomadic groups, gender division of labour.
1. Agricultural societies- more secure food supplies, subsistence living.
1. Industrial societies - mass production, rise of capitalism and complexity.
1. Post industrial societies- dominance of the service sector, importance of technology.
Crticisms of
Evolutionary Theory
- Assumes all societies follow the same path
- Believes that post industrial societies are superior
- Adopts an ethnocentric view of the world
- Equates change to progress and more civilised consumer driven western society
- Does not account for globalisation, or cultural diffusion.
Define
Functionalist Theory
- Social norms and values are the rules that govern social life. Each has a function.
- Society is held together by solidarity and agreement about what is good and worthwhile. People are cooperative and bring about social order.
- In simple societies, there are fewer institutions. A complex society accepts that there are differing institutions, and each institution has a different role.
- Each institution works collaboratively with others to maintain stability. In a health society, the parts work together to form a stable state called dynamic equilibrium.
- Social processes have manifest (intended consequences) and latent (unintended consequences) functions. The undesirable consequences are called dysfunctions.
- The interdependence of institutions means that if one institution fails, the other parts of society must adapt to a new form of stability. Dysfunctional institutions will cease to exist
- Change comes through consensus, but social change is a hinderance to the development of any society and is viewed as undesirable.
Crticisms of
Functionalist Theory
- emphasises social stability rather than social change
- explains slow institutional change but cannot deal with rapid change
- does not deal well with economic or technological change
- does not acknowledge the major role of individuals and their actions in social change
- ignores conflict and negative functions, e.g. divorce in the institution of family, which is a naturally occurring feature of society that can bring about change
Define
Symbolic Interactionism
- People help shape the world.
- Individual act accordingly to their interpretation of their world.
- Society consists of organised and patterned interactions.
- People look for patterns of interactions between individuals
- People attach meaning to symbols such as words and music that require interpretation.
- People act towards things on the basis of the meanings they ascribe to those things. The meaning of these things is derived from social interaction.
- People adjust their behaviour depending on the actions of other.
- Negotiation among members of society creates temporary, socially constructed relations that remain in constant flux despite relative stability in the basic framework governing those relations.
- People play many different roles when interacting and they may change approach depending on the situation. These analysis means that sometimes the roles can be seen as very scripted while at other times, people must improvise.
Criticisms of
Symbolic Interactionism
- Difficulty in remaining objective because research is often conducted by interviews and participant observation
- Overemphasis on the individual and not much focus on social structures
- Narrow focus on one to one interaction
- Does not attempt to explain macro-level social change nor changes to norms and culture
- Ignores the effect of social forces an institutions on individual interactions
