WarmUp: Review
Open your books to Chapter 3, Section 3
& identify the 6 factors of social change
discussed in that section.
 In your journals, copy & summarize each
of those factors.

Chapter 18.1
Social Change & Modernization
Objectives
 Summarize
the theories that
social scientists have offered to
explain the process of social
change.
 Explain how theories of social
change have evolved.
Social Change
 alterations
in various
aspects of
society
over time
Spengler & Sorokin
CYCLICAL
THEORY
Cyclical Theory of Social Change
views change
from a historical
perspective
 assumes natural
stages of
development
 likely to gain
popularity during
periods of
upheaval

Oswald Spengler
German historian
 deeply troubled by
WWI
 wrote Decline of
the West

◦ asserted that West
was well into
decline in the 1900s
& collapse was
inevitable
Pitirim Sorokin


Russian-American
sociologist
presented 2
extreme forms of
culture
◦ ideational culture:
truth & knowledge
sought through faith
& religion
◦ sensate culture:
people seek
knowledge through
science
Early & Modern
EVOLUTIONARY
THEORY
Evolutionary Theory of Social
Change
 views
change as a process that
moves in one direction – toward
increasing complexity
Early Evolutionary Theories
1800s: believed
that all societies
progress through
the same distinct
stages of social
development
 stages should
improve over time
 justified political &
social conditions in
Europe & U.S.

Modern Evolutionary Theories
 said
that
societies have a
“tendency” to
become more
complex over
time
 attempts to see
why societies
change
EQUILIBRIUM
THEORY
Equilibrium Theory of Social
Change
 built on

functionalist idea
that society
resembles a living
organism
occurs as society
adapts to maintain
stability after a
change in one area;
involves
differentiation &
integration
Marx & Class Conflict,
Dahrendorf & Social Conflict
CONFLICT
THEORY
Conflict Theory of Social Change

change results from conflicts between
groups with opposing interests
Karl Marx & Class Conflict
all human history is history of class
conflict
 most interested in how this occurs in
industrial societies

Ralf Dahrendorf & Social
Conflict

holds that
social conflict
can take many
forms
◦ racial, ethnic,
political,
religious,
labor, gender,
age, etc.
Social Change Through Technology:
Social Media & Climate Change

Participation culture, creativity &
social change
Do you agree with Gauntlett’s assertion that we need
to become more of a “making-and-doing culture” as
opposed to a “sit-back-and-be-told culture?” Why or
why not?
 How do you think technology & social media will
influence social movements of the future?
 Do you think that people will be happier & more
productive if they are engaged in the process of
creating? Why or why not?
 What role will social media play in helping us
transition into a society that has to adapt to new
environmental challenges? What challenges might we
be facing?

CHAPTER 18: CLASSWORK
Page 470: #3-4
 Page 479: #2-3
 Page 480: #1-10 Identifying People & Ideas
 Page 480: #1-6 Understanding Main Ideas
 Page 481: #1-4 Building Social Studies Skills
