Social Change Societies change very rapidly today… changing goods, changing dress, changing ways, changing ideas

Factors that Cause Social Change Values and Beliefs Technology Population Diffusion Physical Environment Wars and Conquests

Values and Beliefs Can have far-reaching effects on societies Ideology- system of beliefs or ideas that justifies the social, moral, religious, political, or economic interests held by a group or society. Social Movement- long term conscious effort to promote or prevent social change.

Technology Technology arises in society through discovery, invention, and advancement.

Population Increases or decreases in population can have massive effects on a society. The everyday life people is impacted by the number of people living in society.

Diffusion Process of spreading cultural traits from one culture to another. Reformulation- process of adapting borrowed cultural traits. Material culture and technology generally move faster than ideas and beliefs.

The Physical Environment Natural disasters and extreme weather force people out changing society Extreme climate and climate shifts Change in supply of natural resources

Wars and Conquests Not as common in present day as in the past. Brings loss of life, destruction of property, and often times economic disaster.

Resistance to Change Ethnocentrism- belief your culture is superior. Cultural Lag- transfer of cultural traits that takes a considerably long time. Vested Interests- a person or government that is satisfied with the way things are might be resistant to change.