Social Change Flashcards
What is the history of ‘change’?
1930s - work around notions of civilization processes; liberalist or conservatist
1960/70s - domination of logical positivism
Post 1970s - movement of social betterment
What is a liberalist position?
Less tolerant of intolerance and cruelty
For civilization process
Social change positive
What is a conservative position?
Desire to maintain status quo and existing structures
For decivilisation process
Social change negative
What is a conceptual orientation?
The ideology about preparation for and means of achieving social change
What is the ecological approach?
Conceptual orientation
Look at environmental/situational factors contributing to the maintenance of a social problem
Challenges victim blaming
What is systems perspectives?
A conceptual orientation
Identifying multiple causes of behaviour and changing through intervention at multiple levels of analysis
Focus on organizational/bureaucratic processes
What is empowerment?
A conceptual orientation
Change in the development of strengths instead of describing issues in terms of deficits
What is prevention?
A conceptual orientation
Using CP as prevention
(Traditionally focus on psychology as treatment and early detection)
What is localization?
A conceptual orientation
Effectiveness of interventions are partly based on the degree to which local factors have been taken into account
What is first order change?
Ameliorative
Minor shift within the existing structure
Alters, rearranged, replaces or covers up original issue
‘Treating the victim/symptoms’
What is second order change?
Transformative
Change in system itself
Does not assume existing system is correct
Considers roles, relationships, goals, rules, power, governance
‘Changes the system itself’
What are barometers of change?
Something that reflects how things have changed
We are often surprised by change
Something jolts us and forces us to realize the change
Where does upstream change occur?
At the macrosystems level
Where does downstream change occur?
At the individual level
What is consciousness raising?
Personal and social transformation
Takes community from no awareness to change, evaluation and practicing best practice
What is social action?
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
What is organizational/community consultation?
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
What is community development?
Concerned with increasing tangible and non-tangible community resource
Bring together resources of locality
Economic or political development, improve social or physical environment
What is alternative settings?
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
What are community coalitions?
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
Why consider change?
Change the context in which the issues emerge to prevent the issue emerging in the first place
