Chapter 23, Social Change Key Terms

Social change Alteration of social interactions, institutions, stratification systems, and elements of culture over time.   Microchanges Subtle alterations in the day-to-day interaction between people.

  Macrochanges Gradual transformations that occur on a broad scale and affect many aspects of society.   Unidimensional evolutionary theories Argued that societies follow a single evolutionary path from simple to highly-differentiated, or from “primitive” to “civilized”.

  Multidimensional evolutionary theory (Neoevolutionary) Gives a central role to technology as responsible for change, but focused on other relationships among institutions as well. Cultural diffusion The transmission of cultural elements from one society or cultural group to another.

Globalization The increased interconnectedness and interdependence of different societies around the world. Modernization theory States that global development is a worldwide process affecting all societies touched by technological change that has made societies more homogeneous in terms of differentiation and complexity.

  World systems theory Argues that all nations are members of a worldwide system of unequal political and economic relationships that benefit the developed and technologically advanced core nations at the expense of the less technologically advanced and less developed non-core (peripheral) nations. Core nations Nations, such as the United States, England, and Japan, that produce goods and services both for their own consumption and for export.

Noncore nations Nations situated in Africa, Latin America, South America, and parts of Asia. These nations occupy lower positions in the global economy, thus showing a stratification of the global economy. Cyclical theory Theories of social change that invoke patterns if social structure and culture that are believed to recur at fairly regular intervals.

  Dependency theory Maintains that highly industrialized nations tend to imprison developing nations in dependent relationships rather than spurring the upward mobility of developing nations with transfers of technology and business acumen. Modernization A process of social and cultural change that is initiated by industrialization and followed by increased social differentiation and division of labor.

Gemeinschaft A state characterized by a sense of fellow feeling, strong personal ties, and sturdy primary group memberships, along with a sense of personal loyalty to one another. Gesellschaft A social organization characterized by a high division of labor, less prominence of personal ties, the lack of a sense of community among the members of society, and the absence of a feeling of belonging.

Other-directedness The behavior of the individual is guided by the observed behavior of others and is characterized by rigid conformity and attempts to “keep up with the Joneses”. Inner-directedness The individual is guided by internal principles and morals and is relatively impervious to the superficialities of those around her or him.

Tradition-directedness Strong conformity to long-standing and time-honored norms, practices, and styles of life.