Chapter 21: Social Change Change is everywhere, nothing the same; don't always recognize it, and a) resist change b) resist forces of change c) Don't recognize forces of change In your lifetime: WHAT HAS CHANGED? a) computer tech b) laser tech c) Space-age tech d) war tech SOURCES OF SOCIAL CHANGE Whatever theoretical perspective, all agree that many factors contribute to change: PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT (recall Naomi's lecture). Env changes lead to dramatic changes: a) Weather (agric) b) pollution Population (resources, space,etc) Science/Tech Ideology/norms/values We may agree on factors, but INTERPRETING THEM (that is, providing an EXPLANATION) differs: EVOLUTIONARY PERSPECTIVES: a) natural progession b) "Telos" that pulls us along (Darwin) CYCLICAL PERSPECTIVES: re-occuring waxing and waning, "history repeats," (associated with Spengler and Toynbee)--societies pass through same stages as individuals. FUNCTIONALISM: (biotic metaphor) societies tend toward equilibrium (stability). One source of change (from Ogburn) occurs through CULTURAL LAG: Non-material culture (see handout fr chpt 2) is continually catching up with MATERIAL CULTURE, and provides one (but not the only) source of change. CONFLICT PERSPECTIVES: (SEE EARLIER HANDOUT ON THEORIES): a) every society is always changing b) every society is always experiencing social conflict c) All elements in a society contribute to change d) All societies require constraints on members Marxian view of change is CLASS STRUGGLE SOCIAL CHANGE IN OTHER SOCIETIES Do all societies experience change the same way? Theorists don't think so Two Key theories: MODERNIZATION THEORY: Momentum for growth occurs internally and are enhanced by things like increases in ed, good economy, etc. WORLD SYSTEMS THEORY: View that countries are a POLITICAL COMMUNITY, with CORE countries, SEMI-PERIPHERAL countries and PERIPHERAL countries These are STRATIFIED--peripheral countries are exploited, core countries do exploiting. Markets, economies, politics, etc, are intertwined. WHAT ARE SOME CONCRETE FEATURES OF SOCIAL CHANGE? Chapter 22 - Collective Behavior COLLECTIVE BEHAVIOR a) Rumors b) Fashions, fads and crazes c) Mass hysteria d) Panic e) Crowds (casual, conventinoal, expressive acting) EXPLANATIONS FOR MASS BEHAVIOR a) Converenge theory (same ideas come together) b) Contagion Theory (ideas are "catching") c) Emergent norm theory (stresses many differences) SOCIAL MOVEMENTS a) Reform movements b) Resistance movements c) Expressive movements d) Revolutionary movements e) Terrorist movements "CAUSES" of social movements a) Deprivation theories b) Resource mobilization theories
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