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“ All human beings have to adjust to the
social changes that take place after
childhood, just as immigrants do when they
move to a new country.”
▪ Everyone over the age of 40 is an immigrant....
▪ Margaret Mead
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All people over the age of 40 find themselves
living in a society that is different from the
one in which they grew up.
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In Canada we experience social change but
not at such a fast pace as in china ( read italics
on page 70)
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What are some examples of social change
here in Canada?
▪
▪
▪
▪
Public opinion on smoking
Domestic violence
Equal rights for gay and lesbian couples
Social change can be either positive or negative
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1) Leadership:
▪ The emergence of a leader with “ charisma”
▪ Characterized by a large vision, magnetic style, strong
popular support, has aspects of extraordinary,
superhuman and supernatural character
▪ Places great demands on his/her followers, promises
them rewards for their support, yet maintains a distance
between the leader and the led
▪ Personally affect the course of history & are
remembered for centuries after their deaths
▪ Adolf Hitler, Mao Zedong
Modernizing elites: groups of people who
create significant social change and influence
the direction it goes
NOTE: social change is usually achieved
through the interplay of the various
modernizing elites, and not a single
charismatic leader.
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The vision of the leader must match the
mood of the public
Theodore Newcomb @ Bennington College
study ( mid 1930’s)
▪ Determined that the values acquired early in life stay
with us throughout our lives
▪ May be able to predict future social attitudes based on
our observations of the present
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What social attitudes are held by the young
people of today?
Based on this, what may the future hold?
More liberal, open and accepting......
Open marriage, community parenting with
no one specifically responsible for the
children ( the responsibility is shared by all)