Social Change and Development Perspective

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Questions and Answers

What does the process of discovery involve?

Learning or interpreting something new (correct)

The spread of cultural elements between societies

The overthrow of an existing social order

Creating something new from old materials

Which of the following best describes invention?

The creation of new objects or ideas from existing ones (correct)

The violent transformation of a political order

A gradual series of steps leading to social processes

The borrowing of cultural characteristics from another society

How does diffusion operate between cultures?

It requires a complete overthrow of societal structures

It is a force that leads to violent conflict

It strictly maintains the original cultural elements

It is a selective and two-way process (correct)

Which of the following is NOT a factor that leads to social change?

Cultural Preservation Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following factors is NOT associated with terrorism?

The requirement for consent Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes a revolution?

It involves the complete overthrow of the existing political order Signup and view all the answers

Social change resulting from social action is primarily focused on altering what?

Programs and policies of organizations Signup and view all the answers

What is terrorism primarily associated with?

Random acts of violence targeting innocent individuals Signup and view all the answers

What defines a social movement?

An organized effort to propose or resist change in society Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary outcome of war on society?

Organized and armed conflict leading to social transformation Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of development planning?

Assessment and strategizing to address social problems Signup and view all the answers

Which statement regarding social processes is accurate?

They represent a series of steps gradually leading to a result. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes legislative action?

It involves enacting policies and laws. Signup and view all the answers

What does the ideology that seeks to 'free the market and roll back the state' imply?

Reduction of state controls over economic activities Signup and view all the answers

What role do social movements play in relation to the status quo?

They may work against changes to maintain the existing system. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes 'norm-testing' in social action?

Challenging existing norms to evaluate their validity Signup and view all the answers

What does adaptation in the context of Talcott Parsons' functions of society refer to?

The relationship between the system and its environment. Signup and view all the answers

Which function of society involves the coordination of the different parts of the social system?

Integration Signup and view all the answers

Goal attainment in Parsons' theory primarily relates to which aspect of society?

Setting goals and directing social activities. Signup and view all the answers

Which institution is primarily responsible for adaptation according to Parsons?

The economy Signup and view all the answers

What does latency refer to in Parsons' functions of society?

The re-establishment of societal patterns and values. Signup and view all the answers

In Parsons' framework, which function helps in resolving conflicts that may arise within society?

Integration Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following functions is primarily associated with political systems in Parsons’ model?

Goal Attainment Signup and view all the answers

What role do legal norms play in Parsons' theory of integration?

They standardize and regulate social conflicts. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the tool mentioned in relation to international law?

To regulate the welfare of states and subjects of international law Signup and view all the answers

Which category describes the phenomenon when material culture changes faster than nonmaterial culture?

Cultural Lag Signup and view all the answers

In the context of resistance to social change, what leads many individuals to eventually accept changes?

Adaptation despite initial opposition Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of Stage One in Rostow's Modernization Theory?

Dominance of agricultural and primary industries Signup and view all the answers

What is ethnocentrism most closely related to regarding social change?

Belief in the superiority of one’s own culture Signup and view all the answers

What is the likely attitude of people with vested interests toward social change?

They prefer to maintain the current situation despite potential benefits of change Signup and view all the answers

According to Auguste Comte, social evolution progresses through stages linked to what aspects of development?

The evolution of consciousness and human thought Signup and view all the answers

What is a common aspect of resistance to social change?

Opposition is often followed by adaptation Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of social work as defined in the 2014 Global Definition?

Promoting social change and development Signup and view all the answers

Which principle is NOT considered central to the practice of social work?

Profit maximization Signup and view all the answers

What does social change often accompany in society?

Alterations in habits and beliefs Signup and view all the answers

How is social change typically characterized?

As a slow and unnoticeable process for societies Signup and view all the answers

What role do social workers play in societal development?

They are advocates for positive social change Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the opposite of social change?

Social continuity Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect does social work NOT typically focus on?

Political activism without context Signup and view all the answers

What is a possible characteristic of social changes that society may experience?

They can be quantitative or qualitative Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Social Work is both a practice-based profession and an academic discipline aimed at promoting social change, cohesion, and empowerment.
Core principles include justice, human rights, collective responsibility, and respect for diversity.
Practitioners utilize theories from social work, social sciences, and indigenous knowledge to improve well-being and address life challenges.

Defined as qualitative or quantitative alterations in social phenomena, impacting how society is organized and the beliefs of its members.
Societal change can be gradual and subtle, often unrecognized by its members.
Social continuity exists to resist change through established structures (e.g., the Catholic Church).

Discovery, invention, and diffusion are crucial processes:
- Discovery: Learning or interpretation of new information.
- Invention: Creation of new ideas or objects from existing ones.
- Diffusion: Transfer and alteration of cultural traits between societies.

Major forces include:
- Revolution: Sudden and complete overthrow of social or political order using violence.
- War: Organized conflict that leads to social transformations.
- Diffusion: Spread and adaptation of cultural elements between groups.

Change in behavior can lead to long-lasting social consequences.
The pace and path of change often hinge on existing cultural dynamics.
Societies can actively shape how change occurs based on collective decisions.

Social action aims to modify system norms at mezzo and macro levels without altering foundational social structures.
A social movement involves organized collective action to induce change or resist existing norms, often triggered by societal strain.

Development Planning and Legislative Action

Development planning involves strategic actions by stakeholders to solve social issues.
Legislative action refers to creating policies and laws to regulate societal welfare.
International agreements can guide and mediate state interactions based on treaty laws.

Resistance typically accompanies proposed changes, influenced by:
- Ethnocentrism: Belief in the superiority of one's own culture, impeding acceptance of external influences.
- Cultural lag: Rapid changes in material culture while non-material culture evolves slowly, necessitating new customs and laws.
- Vested interests: Individuals may cling to the status quo due to perceived risks of impending changes.

Evolutionary Perspectives: Suggest that human societies progress through a sequence of stages, from simple to complex forms.
Auguste Comte's Model: Identifies three stages of human thought evolution, from superstition to scientific reasoning.
Walt Rostow's Modernization Theory: Proposes five developmental stages for nations.

Talcott Parsons and Structural Functionalism

Attributes social survival to adaptive functions, including:
- Adaptation: Managing the relationship with the environment for survival, essential for meeting physical needs.
- Goal Attainment: Societies set goals and allocate resources; achieved through political processes.
- Integration: Reducing conflict through legal norms, maintaining social systems' stability.
- Latency (Pattern Maintenance): Upholding cultural values through institutions like family and religion.

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Description

This quiz focuses on the concepts of social change and development as they pertain to social work. It includes insights and definitions approved by international social work organizations. Gain a deeper understanding of the evolving nature of social work in a global context.