Unit 2: Social Change

What is Social Change? Changes in the way society is organized Changes in the beliefs/practices of the people Expect enormous political, economic, and social changes to take place in society during your lifetime

Sample Questions about Social Changes Will the influence of organized religions grow or diminish? Will acceptance of alternative lifestyles such as common-law marriages increase or decline? Will we have the same civil rights in the near future? More? Less?

The Study of Social Change Most social changes occur naturally, as a result of the multitude of factors operating within society

The Anthropological Approach Focus: Change in Cultures Occurs gradually; cultures normally do not change suddenly unless destroyed by another culture. Focus on enculturation: process by which members of a culture learn shared ideas, values and beliefs.

Anthropological Questions What explanations can we use to describe what causes cultures to change? Are the findings for one period valid for another?

Anthropologists – Factors Causing Cultural Change 1. Change in the society’s leadership 2. Shift in the social values and norms 1. Technological changes 2. Environmental changes

Anthropology – Sources of Cultural Change Invention: New products, ideas and social patterns that affect the way people live. i.e. portable stereo in the 1980s Discovery: Finding something previously unknown to a culture i.e. Discovering life on another planet may change the way we think about ourselves Diffusion: Spreading of ideas, methods and tools from one culture to another i.e. acupuncture from Asia to Canada

The Psychological Approach Focus: Why & How individuals change their attitudes (what they think) & behaviours (what they do) Question of persuasion: i.e. being convinced/influenced by a friend vs. a stranger

Psychological Questions What factors make behaviour modification programs successful? Do most people need help changing behaviour, or can they be self-changers?

The Sociological Approach Focus: Massive shifts in the behaviours and attitudes of groups and whole societies. See change as an inevitable process Major issue: Whether social change is patterned and predictable, or arbitrary and irregular.

Sociological Questions How does social change come about? Reductionist/Determinist: Believe that a single factor will determine the nature of the social change that takes place i.e. Karl Marx – the struggle for economic power between competing social groups i.e. Feminist sociologists – patriarchy – men with power; women trying to capture it. - How can society be structured to serve the needs of women as well?

Sociology – Analyzing Patterns of Human Behaviour Human behaviour is generally patterned & therefore, predictable. People tend to behave according to social norms (customs, acceptable behaviours, etc.)

Sociologists look at the following aspects of social change: 1. Direction of change: Positive? Negative? 2. Rate of Change: Slow? Moderate? Fast? Radical? Gradual? 3. Sources: Factors/variables causing change? - Exogenous influences (coming from another society) - Endogenous (coming from within the society itself) 4. Controllability: Degree to which social change can be controlled

Group Activity In groups of 4, choose a social phenomenon 1. How would a sociologist, psychologist and anthropologist approach the social change? 2. What questions would each ask? 3. What factor(s)/source(s) would each predict to be the cause(s) of the change? 4. What conclusions would each draw about the social change?