TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIAL CHANGE

TECHNOLOGY – RAPID FIRE!  You have 2 minutes!  List 15 pieces of technology that has been created in the last 50 years  GO!

TECHNOLOGY  The creation of new tools that extend our natural abilities and alter our social environment  Marshall McLuhan – technology is the extension of the human quality (wheel is the extension of the foot, computer is the extension of the brain)  How many “extensions” have you used in the past 24 hours? To what extent has that technology changed the social environment?

WHAT STARTS CHANGE: INDIVIDUAL OR TECHNOLOGY?  Social Change Theory – examines what factors contribute to the change in the structure of society  Many traditional theories state that change is initiated by the individual and might be in the form of technology as a response  See chart pg 106

THORNSTEIN VEBLEN – AMERICAN SOCIOLOGIST  Veblen pioneered the concept of Technological Determinism – the view that social change is initiated by technology and not necessarily the individual  Why do we hover around our TV? Computers? Cell phones?  Veblen would argue that, although these devices were created for a purpose, they have more profound effect on our lives than we might care to admit  Conspicuous Consumption – publicly demonstrating excessive wealth

Coping with Technological Change  New technologies can improve our society  They can also come with stress/anxiety for us as well!

Problems with New Technology  1. New technology can have negative side effects – health issues, negative influences (I can learn how to make methamphetamine on youtube…)  2. Keeping up to speed with technology  Future shock – dizzying orientation brought on by premature arrival of the future  How might this affect the economy? Family unit? Income?  3. Overdependence on Technology  Technosis – overblown attachment/dependence on technology  Feel “out of touch” when they don’t check their  Phobias-additions?

Cultural Lag Theory  William Ogburn  His theory describes how people deal with change  Technology is integrated into society if it achieves three phases : invention, discovery, and diffusion  Only hindered by resistance  Technology temporarily destabilizes society until it adapts 8

Cultural Lag Theory  1. Invention  Combining elements and materials to form new ones  Can be material inventions or social movements (e.g. Computers, women's rights)  2. Discovery  Discovering reality in a new way  A combination of discovery and the right timing can initiate social change 9

Cultural Lag Theory  3. Diffusion  The spread of discovery from one area to another  Accompanied by acceptance for technology by societies  Does this process accurately describe how technology is integrated into society?  LUDDITE- person who opposes technological advancement- oppose new technology and do what they can to halt its progress 10

Technology and the Family  How has the family been impacted by technology?  If your notes, make a T-chart, outline the pros and cons of how technology impacts the family  Obviously, technology is not going anywhere. How do you/your family cope with this current change in our society? 11

Technology and the Future  Evaluate the impacts of technology on education? Medicine?  How has technology affected other social structures in our society? 12