Explaining Social Change – Flashcards

Alterations in various aspects of a society over time.

A historical view of social change in which societies are seen as rising and then falling or as continuously moving back and forth between stages of development.

Refers to a type of culture in Pitirim Sorokin's cyclical theory of social change in which people seek truth and knowledge through faith or religion

A type of culture in Pitirim Sorokin's cyclical theory of social change in which people seek knowledge through science.

A type of culture in Pitirim Sorokin's cyclical theory of social change that combines both ideational and sensate characteristics.

According to Pitirim Sorokin's cyclical theory of social change, the principle of immanent change is the natural tendency of a society's structure to swing back and forth between an ideational and sensate culture.

A view of social change in which change is seen as a process that moves toward increasing complexity.

Talcott Parsons's view of social change in which society is likened to a living organism: change in one part of the social system produces change in all other parts as the system attempts to regain balance, or equilibrium.

Theory that views social change as the result of conflicts between groups with opposing interests.

--Alterations in various aspects of a society over time. --Cell phones, laptops, Home Shopping Network. --Explanations for social change: cyclical, evolutionary, equilibrium, and conflict.

-Views change from a historical perspective. -Natural tendency to move through stages of development. Ex. born, mature, decline in age, die. -Change is part of a continuing process. -Oswald Springer- questioned connection between social change and progress. ------Stages of childhood, youth, adulthood, and old age.

-Ptrim Sorokin- all societies fluctuate between extreme forms of cultures. -Ideational Culture --Truth and knowledge found through faith and religion. -Sensate Culture --Seek knowledge through science. -Idealistic Culture --Combination of ideational and sensate. ------External factors (war) can cause dramatic shifts from on culture to another. ------Immanent change- natural social change.

-Change is a process that moves in one direction- increasing complexity. -As individuals adapt to social and physical conditions, society is pushed forward in development. -Differentiate between early and modern social evolutionists.

Early Evolutionary Theories 1800's- societies progress through DISTINCT stages toward complexity. Each stage brings social improvements with the complexities.

Three-stage theory of development. 1. Seek explanation of events through the supernatural. 2. Answers sought through religion. 3. Understand events through science.

-Do not claim the distinct stages of development theory. -Societies have a tendency to be more complex over time. -Change results from many sources and paths. -No assumption that that change always produces progress or that change means the same thing in all societies. -Very important- explain why societies change. Ex.. Lenski and Lenski- changes take place in the economic base and technology sector of a society.

-Parsons- follows functionalist ideas; change in one part of the system produces changes in all other parts. -Social system. -Need to maintain stability. -Disruption to one part causes adjustment of other parts. -System changes by need to create balance or equilibrium. ---Differentiation. ---Integration.

-Change results from conflict between groups with opposing interests. -Involve disputes over power and wealth. Conflict is natural, therefore, change is inevitable. Karl Marx and class conflict --violence is necessary along with revolution/dictator to transform to communism. Ralf Dahrendorf and social conflict --disagrees that class conflict and revolution cause change. --religious, political, racial, labor conflicts can exist. --use of interest groups.

-New technology drives social change. -How? E-communities. -Communication in spite of any possible stereotypes of race, gender, age, national origin, physical appearance, handicaps. -Used for transmission of ideas. -Disadvantages.

-Segregation issues. -1940's-1960's- boycotts, marches, demonstrations to publicize seriousness of problems. -Success of civil rights movements. -Voting Rights Act (1965)- 100 African Americans in office. --1989- more than 6,800 elected officials.