The nature of social and cultural continuity and change

Question 1

Definition of ‘evolutionary’ change

Answer 1

Can occur due to ideological, cultural shifts, technological innovation, external sources, such as environmental conditions, acculturation, westernisation or cultural diffusion.

Slow and incremental changes toward human rights, women’s rights etc.

Question 2

2 example of evolutionary change

Answer 2

Example: Environmentalism
Has brought ‘sustainability’ into social consciousness across the world
Zero net emission

Example: Demographic Change
Few generations to see the effects of social change and alterations on population composition, characteristics and structure
- Ageing population, decreased fertility rates, secularisation, increased life expectancy

Question 3

Transformative change definition

Answer 3

Transformative change is profound and permanent. Often triggered by technology, social movements, rebellions or revolutions. This type of change is irreversible

Question 4

Examples of transformative change

Answer 4

Women’s suffrage

Social and economic transformation due to world wars

Rapid modernisation programs adopted in developing countries E.g. Open Door Policy

Socio-political movements E.g. Chinese Cultural Revolution

Question 5

Individuals and groups may resist social change for a variety of reasons, including:

Answer 5

• Pace of innovation
  e.g. frustration at the frequent release of updated IT products and software versions. The change is too quick for them to cope
• Differences in beliefs, values and attitudes
  e.g. the denial of legally recognised same-sex marriage. The change does not align with their core beliefs and values

Question 6

The belief that one’s own perspective, ideas, experiences and beliefs are superior.

Examples:
Threat to power
Social movements that resists social change

Answer 6

Ethnocentrism. The change may challenge their core beliefs and values, which makes them feel threatened

Threat to power, President Donald Trump refused to concede defeat after Joe Biden won the US Presidential Election in 2020

Ku Klux Klan

Question 7

China’s example of resisting to change
- Nail House

Answer 7

Building and expanding cities
- Demolition of existing homes, neighbourhoods and villages, which don’t fit the urban future

Stigmatised as ‘selfish’ for trying to protect their own interests, at the expense of the greater good for their neighbour and the wider public
- Poster from Guangzhou which reads ‘To protect the interest of homeowners, never surrender to nail houses.’

Question 8

Micro-level change impact upon the lives of individuals

Answer 8

Altering family structures
e.g. due to changing work patterns and higher cost of living.

Family patterns have changed - DINK

Question 9

Meso-level change impact upon the lives of groups

Answer 9

Localisation → response to globalisation, when a community tailors certain ideas and practices to suit its local context
e.g. Disneyland Hong Kong - adopting Chinese customs, work practices and aesthetics

Question 10

Macro-level change impact upon the lives of groups
- Examples

Answer 10

Fall into the following categories: sociological, technological, environmental, economic and political

AI, climate change, empowerment of women, mass migration and d urbanisation.

Question 11

Modernisation and westernisation on social and cultural continuity and change
CAUSES

Answer 11

• Technology
• Immigration
• Media
• Global economy
• Cultural transmission

Question 12

Secularisation definition
Example in China

Answer 12

Secularisation is when societies move away from strict adherence to a region, along with its organisation’s norms, beliefs, regulations and places of worship

1966 Cultural Revolution in China, many historic sites, museums and religious artifacts were destroyed as religion and the ‘old ways of thinking’ condemned a hindrance to equality

Question 13

Modernisation through family theory + China example

Answer 13

William J Geode developed a theory that family norms are shaped primarily by the level of modernisation

In China, this means changing gender roles, couples living independently, women delaying childbearing and being challenged by patriarchal structures

Question 14

Example of Westernization China

Answer 14

Metropolitan areas of China such as Guangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing appear to have embraced Westernisation

Among young, urban Chinese fast food, Western music and video games have gained momentum

Question 15

STEEP Examples
Five most important factors to consider when looking at predicting the future and strengthening strategic planning.

Answer 15

Socio-cultural
- Status of women

Technological
- Internet access

Environmental
- Climate change

Economic
- Industrialisation

Political Process
- Democratisation

Question 16

What Linear Change is

Answer 16

Change is cumulative, non-repetitive involves the transition from small, homogeneous culture to large societies with a high degree of structural differentiatio

Question 17

What Cyclical Change is
The stages

Answer 17

The cyclical theory implies that change is repetitive and that change happens in cycles.

1. Youth – when societies are vigorous, innovative and institutions and leadership are being established.
2. Middle age – where societies grow and prosper. Institutions are well organised.
3. Maturity – where the society enters the process of decaying and governments have less of a hold on its citizens as individual thought and civil unrest occurs. Institutions are no longer stable.

Question 18

What Dialectical Change is

Answer 18

Dialectical patterns are a combination of the previous two patterns, making a spiral pattern where short-term repetitive change, but long-term directional change, are evident; they are mostly linked to functionalism
For example, political changes in Australia.

Question 19

Theorist of Conflict Theory
Criticism

Answer 19

Karl Marx

Portrays a negative view of society
Neglects social stability
Does not account for incremental change
Is not applicable because modern western nations have completely avoided the communist revolution

Question 20

Theorist of Evolutionary Theory
Criticism

Answer 20

Auguste Comte

Assumes a very linear process of social change
Believes that post-industrial societies are superior to ‘primitive’ societies
Describes social change rather than explaining how and why it occurs

Question 21

Theorist of Functionalist Theory
Criticism

Answer 21

Emile Durkheim

Emphasizes social stability rather than social change
Does not acknowledge the major role of individuals and their actions in social change

Question 22

Theorist of Interactionalist Theory
Criticism

Answer 22

George Mead

Focuses narrowly on one-to-one interaction
Does not attempt to explain macro-level social changes or changes to norms and culture
Ignores the effect of social forces and institution on individual interaction

Question 23

Conflict theory argument

Answer 23

• A social hierarchy emerges that effectively creates distinct classes based on wealth, power and prestige
• Karl Marx said that peace will only come to society when the powerful are able to dominate the proletariat in an efficient manner.
• Social change unavoidable and occurs periodically
• Change is cumulative, developmental and usually permanent.

Question 24

Evolutionary theory argument

Answer 24

• Change from agrarian, rural groups into industrialised, modern societies
• Family structures becoming smaller and more complex.
• Linear direction of change.

Question 25

Functionalist theory argument

Answer 25

• Change to either production, distribution or coordination will force others to adapt in order to maintain a stable state society.
• Social change is annoying and upsets the equilibrium and threatens the mutual interdependence of the people
• Each part is like an organ. Individual parts can’t survive on their own.

Question 26

Interactionalist theory argument

Answer 26

Interactionism explains social change as people striving to exchange notions with each other, shaping who they want to become as individuals within a society.

Society is based upon the interactions of individuals in society