11 Questions
Social change refers to transformations that alter the roles and status of people as well as the structure and organization of society and its institutions. It is the transformation of culture and social structure over time. Cultural change, on the other hand, refers to the dynamic process in which the living culture s of the world change and adapt to external or internal forces. Sources of Social and Cultural Change There are a variety of factors that serve as catalysts for social, cultural, and political change. Certain processes drive the society into change. Innovation: the process of introducing new ideas, things, and methods in society. It leads social change when new ideas begin to spread throughout a society through diffusion. Course Module An example of significant social change caused by technology is the introduction of mobile phones. When it was first introduced in the 1990s, many people believed that it was not going to be as popular as landlines and mail due to its expensiveness and bulky design. But with technological innovations come the introduction of compact and more affordable mobile phones, which the society immediately accepted. Diffusion: the spread of certain elements from one group to another in society. An idea, object, or process is introduced and becomes widely accepted in society, causing social change. Aside from technology, social change was also brought by the spread of new ideas, ideologies, and views. One great example would be the recognition of women’s rights. During the Industrial Revolution, the emergence of factories led to the need for greater workforce, and so women were being hired as well as men. This gave women the greater role in the workplace as well as in the society, as they are no longer confined to housework. This led to more relevant events in history, such as the recognition of women’s right to suffrage and their right reproductive health. Acculturation: refers to the process in which individuals and groups learn aspects of a culture that is not their own. Immigrants, for instance, have to learn the language prevalent in the country they live in, and adapt to a different lifestyle. Assimilation: the process in which the individual or group fully adopts another culture, often leading to the loss of their native culture. Social contradiction: a process that takes place when two social groups or classes are so different that a compromise between them is impossible. In Conflict Theory, the structure of the society consists of the contradicting capitalist and working classes. Contradiction can occur when ne.
Social stratification refers to the division of large social groups into smaller groups based on categories determined by
economics
Social stratification gives rise to inequality in
society
The society is a hierarchy of individuals with varying access to or control over basic
economic resources
In sociology, there are three different theoretical perspectives which can be used to further examine
social stratification
Members of the society are distinguished by their membership in and relation to social groups and
categories
Functionalism is a theoretical perspective that examines how various aspects of society contribute to ensuring its stability and continued function. Functionalists believe that each aspect of society is essential, and that social stratification is based on the intrinsic value of social activities or roles.
functionalism
Conflict theorists often based their ideas from the works of Karl Marx. According to Marx, social stratification is influenced by economic forces. Moreover, relationships in society are defined by the factors of production. Society is divided between two classes: the bourgeois (capitalists who own the factors of production such as resources, land and businesses) and the proletariat (workers that provide the manual labor needed for production.
conflict theory
On the other hand, the ______ belongs to the lower classes, lacks power and influence, and the ones that experience more hardships. The inequalities in the society are the reason workers experience alienation, isolation, and misery due to their social status. It is the inequalities brought about by social stratification which leads to conflict among social classes.
proletariat
Symbolic interactionists believe that social stratification is a system that groups people together, as it causes individuals to interact with others within their own social class.
symbolic interactionism
Closed systems impose rigid boundaries between social groups and limit interactions among members who belong to different social groups or occupy different levels in the social hierarchy. Closed systems tend to resist change, particularly in social mobility of its members Open systems, on the other hand, are based on achievement.
closed systems
Explore the factors and catalysts for change in societies, and learn to identify new challenges faced by human populations in contemporary societies. Gain insights into how human societies evolve and adapt to political, cultural, and social changes.
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