Social Change

Social Change is the transformation of culture and social institutions over time.

Sources of Social Change

• Natural environment
• Demographic change
• New ideas
• New technologies
• Government
• Competition and war
• Social Institutions
• Social movements

Some of the big social changes recently:

• Women given the right to vote
• Slavery becoming illegal

Modernization: changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution and industrialization.

4 Characteristics (Peter Berger):

1. Decline of small traditional communities
2. Expansion of personal choice
3. Increase in diversity
4. Future orientation, and growing awareness of time

Post-industrial or postmodern societies are characterized by advanced technologies that radically change society.

Watch: Blockbuster Museum https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kRv9x1N4Z4

Theories

• Cyclical Theory
• Evolutionary Theory

Postmodern theories of Social Change:

• Criticize modernity
• Nothing is fixed or absolute
• No progress or purpose or continuity of values, beliefs and disbeliefs