Chapter 16, Social Change and
Social Movements
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What is Social Change?
Theories of Social Change
Global Theories of Social Change
Modernization
The Causes of Social Change
Collective Behavior and Social Movements
Diversity Globalization and Social Change
Characteristics of Social Change
1.
2.
3.
4.
Social change is uneven.
The onset and consequences of social
change are often unforeseen.
Social change often creates conflict.
The direction of social change is not random.
Functionalist Theory
of Social Change
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Societies change from simple to complex, from
undifferentiated to highly differentiated division
of labor.
Technology is the primary cause of social
change.
Conflict Theory of Social Change
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Conflict is an inherent component of social
relations.
Economic conflict between social classes is the
cause of social change.
Cyclical Theory of Social Change
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Societies go through a life cycle or life span.
The necessity for growth is the primary cause
of social change.
Cyclical Theory: Three Phases
1.
2.
3.
Idealistic culture - society wrestles with the
tension between the ideal and the practical.
Ideational culture - emphasizes faith and new
forms of spirituality.
Sensate culture - stresses partial approaches
to reality and involves the hedonistic.
Characteristics of Modernization
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Decline of small, traditional communities.
Traditional ties of kinship decrease and society
experiences feelings of uncertainty and
powerlessness.
Decline in importance of religious institutions
and people begin to feel they have lost control
of their lives.
Global Theories of Social Change
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Globalization involves increased
interconnectedness that can erase or magnify
cultural differences.
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Modernization Theory - global development is
a worldwide process affecting all societies
touched by technological change.
Global Theories of Social Change
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World Systems Theory - nations are
members of a worldwide system of unequal
political and economic relationships.
Dependency theory - industrialized nations
tend to imprison developing nations through
trade and debt dependency.
Causes of Social Change
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Collective Behavior
Cultural Diffusion
Technological
Innovation
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Social Movements
Inequality
Population
War
Characteristics of Collective
Behavior
1.
2.
3.
Represent the actions of groups of people,
not individuals.
Involve new relationships that arise in unusual
or unexpected circumstances.
Capture the changing elements of society
more than other forms of social action.
Characteristics of Collective
Behavior
4.
5.
6.
May mark the beginnings of more organized
social behavior.
Exhibit patterned behavior, not the irrational
behavior of crazed individuals.
Usually appear to be highly emotional, even
volatile.
Characteristics of Collective
Behavior
7.
8.
Involve people communicating extensively
through rumors.
Are often associated with efforts to achieve
social change.
Type of Social Movements
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Personal transformation movements
hippie, new age
Social change movements
environmental and animal rights movements
Reactionary movements
Aryan Nation, Right-to-Life
Elements Necessary
for Social Movements
1.
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4.
Pre-existing communication network.
Pre-existing grievance.
Precipitating incident.
Ability to mobilize.
Theories of Social Movements
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Resource mobilization theory - social
movements develop when people can compete
for and gain resources needed for mobilization
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Political process theory - social changes
provide the conditions that spawn social
movements.
Theories of Social Movements
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New movement theory links culture, ideology,
and identity to explain how people in groups
frame events, and how new identities are
forged within social movements.