Social Change

Question 1

What is the history of ‘change’?

Answer 1

1930s - work around notions of civilization processes; liberalist or conservatist
1960/70s - domination of logical positivism
Post 1970s - movement of social betterment

Question 2

What is a liberalist position?

Answer 2

Less tolerant of intolerance and cruelty
For civilization process
Social change positive

Question 3

What is a conservative position?

Answer 3

Desire to maintain status quo and existing structures
For decivilisation process
Social change negative

Question 4

What is a conceptual orientation?

Answer 4

The ideology about preparation for and means of achieving social change

Question 5

What is the ecological approach?

Answer 5

Conceptual orientation
Look at environmental/situational factors contributing to the maintenance of a social problem
Challenges victim blaming

Question 6

What is systems perspectives?

Answer 6

A conceptual orientation
Identifying multiple causes of behaviour and changing through intervention at multiple levels of analysis
Focus on organizational/bureaucratic processes

Question 7

What is empowerment?

Answer 7

A conceptual orientation

Change in the development of strengths instead of describing issues in terms of deficits

Question 8

What is prevention?

Answer 8

A conceptual orientation
Using CP as prevention
(Traditionally focus on psychology as treatment and early detection)

Question 9

What is localization?

Answer 9

A conceptual orientation

Effectiveness of interventions are partly based on the degree to which local factors have been taken into account

Question 10

What is first order change?

Answer 10

Ameliorative
Minor shift within the existing structure
Alters, rearranged, replaces or covers up original issue
‘Treating the victim/symptoms’

Question 11

What is second order change?

Answer 11

Transformative
Change in system itself
Does not assume existing system is correct
Considers roles, relationships, goals, rules, power, governance
‘Changes the system itself’

Question 12

What are barometers of change?

Answer 12

Something that reflects how things have changed
We are often surprised by change
Something jolts us and forces us to realize the change

Question 13

Where does upstream change occur?

Answer 13

At the macrosystems level

Question 14

Where does downstream change occur?

Answer 14

At the individual level

Question 15

What is consciousness raising?

Answer 15

Personal and social transformation

Takes community from no awareness to change, evaluation and practicing best practice

Question 16

What is social action?

Answer 16

Identifies specific obstacles to empowerment of disadvantaged groups
Creates constructive conflict to remove obstacles through direct non-violent action eg. Protesting
Used when social justice is sought
Clear expectation of outcome is critical

Question 17

What is organizational/community consultation?

Answer 17

Professionals work as consultants to take community voiced issues to people who can make the changes
Second order change
Can be disempowering because you have to take issue to higher power
Ecological position fundamental

Question 18

What is community development?

Answer 18

Concerned with increasing tangible and non-tangible community resource
Bring together resources of locality
Economic or political development, improve social or physical environment

Question 19

What is alternative settings?

Answer 19

Helping community issues in different ways/places
E.g. Self help group
E.g. Community garden helps community while making friends and reducing isolation and loneliness
Occurs when dissatisfaction with mainstream supports

Question 20

What are community coalitions?

Answer 20

A community is addressed through the collective actions of a range of community representatives
Requires coordinated effort
May result in participation and change
Why? Diversity, healthy, resources
Why not? Speaking over unheard

Question 21

Why consider change?

Answer 21

Change the context in which the issues emerge to prevent the issue emerging in the first place