HSB4U Chapter 2 – Social Changes
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Social change
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the transformation of culture and social organization/structure over time
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Four Characteristics of Social Change
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1. It happens everywhere, but the rate of change varies from place to place. 2. Social change is sometimes intentional but often unplanned. 3. Social change often generates controversy. 4. Some changes matter more than others do.
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Anthropology's view on social change
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Change occurs slowly
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invention
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Inventions produce new products, ideas, and social patterns.
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discovery
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Discovery is finding something that has never been found before, or finding something new in something that already exists
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diffusion
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Diffusion is the spreading of ideas and objects to other societies, This would involve trading, migration, and mass communication
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mass media's influence on social change
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The \"mass media\" is a vital factor in the speed of social change. IT permits rapid diffusion of ideas, making theses manifest in the private and relaxing environments of the home, where audiences are at their most susceptible
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Sociology's view on social change
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Change is inevitable
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Tension & Adaption
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Another reason social change happens is due to immense tension that eventually requires some for adaptation.
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Environmental factors
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Change can be through the impact of environment factors such as droit and famine. The degree of natural disasters between different countries and regions also lead the different social changes between the countries.
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Economic & political advantages
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International shifts in economic or political advantage also have great impacts on social change. e.g. \"globalization\" plays a major role in our modern society affecting the global economy, political structures and dynamics, culture, poverty, the environment, gender, etc.
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Demographic change
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Change occurs from an increase in the population or human migration between the areas.
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Social movements
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Change can also occur from people joining together for a common cause. This is called a social movement. Social movements are classified according to the kind of change they are seeking.
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The role of values and ethics
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Changing values and ethics in society over time can have a tremendous impact on social change.
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Elite groups
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Groups with a substantial amour of wealth and power may determine which direction social change will take.
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Technology and information
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Internet technology has an enormous impact on the globalization of culture and ideas. It has considerably increased the speed of social change. It is also a valuable tool for social change organizations.
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Psychology's view on social change
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Change occurs at an individual level. It is necessary to change individuals' attitudes before their behaviour can be changed.
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Cognitive Dissonance
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It occurs when our beliefs or attitudes are not in line with our actions or behaviours. Psychologists suggest that the tension experienced with cognitive dissonance can cause an individual to change wither their attitude or behaviour so that they match up.
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Behaviour Modification Programs
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we must move through a number of stages before we can successfully change e.g. Alcoholic Anonymous, Boot Camps.
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1. pre-contemplation
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denial and refusal \"I don't have a problem!\"
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2. contemplation
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questioning occurs at this stage \"Do you think I should do something about the problem?\"
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3. preparation
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investigation or analysis occurs at this stage \"What is this problem doing to my personal well being?\"
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4. action
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involves commitment \"I have to keep going or I will never change\"
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5. maintenance
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begins 6 months after the Action stage. It involves transitioning into a new way of life \"I should avoid people who will drag me back to my old habits\"
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6. termination
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only 20% get to this stage. It involves completion. \"I don't have to work at this anymore, I don't want to go back to my old ways.\"
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Conditions of Social Change
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1. leadership (charismatic leader) 2. modernizing elites 3. a population ready for change
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1. Leadership
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- A charismatic leader is someone who has a large vision, magnetic style, strong popular support, and aspects of extraordinary character. - A charismatic leader places great demands on his followers, promises them rewards for their support, yet maintains a distance between the leader and the led.
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2. Modernizing Elites
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Groups of people who create significant social change and influence the direction in which it goes.
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3. A population ready for change
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- If a population is not ready for the kind change the leader proposes nothing will happen. - Vision must match the \"mood\" of the public. Otherwise no one listen, and the potential leader will be quickly forgotten.
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Impediments to Social Change
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1. traditional cultural values 2. expense
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1. Traditional cultural values
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- Traditional cultural values can sometimes conflict with advances or change in society. - Many societies will make changes to accommodate both traditional and progressional needs.
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2. Expense
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- Some changes might be too expensive - These programs are expensive and the demand for new programs might be declined as a result. - The government can only offer as many programs as the taxpayer is able to finance (i.e. National daycare has been declined).
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Why is there pressure to conform
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- an unwillingness to conform could risk \"social rejection\" - an individual who is deliberately excluded from a social relationship or social interaction is a victim of \"social rejection\" - conformity acts as a scapegoat in order to avoid bullying and criticism from peers
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The effects of conformity
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- chameleon effect - group think
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chameleon effect
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the mimicking of the body language or actions of a person with who we are interaction with or admire or look up to (e.g. Bieber cut)
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group think
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the effects of collective pressure on the decision-making abilities of individual members of a group
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The Asch experiment
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- Solomon E. Asch performed in the 1950s that demonstrated the power of conformity in groups. - \"vision test\": how the remaining student would react to participant answers - examine the extent to which pressure from other people could affect one's perceptions - 1/3 subjects conformed
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Conformity in contemporary society
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- most people conform to the standard values and norms without even realizing they are doing so - some degree of conformity is necessary for societies to function
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Conformity and youth
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- pre-teens and teenagers face many issues related to conformity - pulled between the desire to be seen as unique individuals and desire to belong to a group where they feel accepted (e.g. fashion trend, hair style, music, smoking are all conforming to a social norm)
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Conformity pros
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- encourage polite social interactions and creates predictable behaviours - order and stability are maintained in society as a result - can create a sense of safety - can create a sense of belongingness
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Conformity cons
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- discourage social change - can lead people to resist the temptation to do things differently - can encourage people to accept practices that are wrong or unethical
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Alienation pros
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- spurs reformers into actions as it leads individuals to struggle to challenge the status quo - individuals can become leaders of historic movements in society
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Alienation cons
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- can be so severe that people give up and accept life in the margins of society, in crime or dire poverty - can lead to suicide, drugs or substance abuse
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Asch conformity experiment variations
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1. size of the opposing majority 2. subject's \"ally\"
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LICO (Low-Income Cut-Off line)
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an income threshold below which a family will likely devote a larger share (30%+) of its income on the necessities of food, shelter, and clothing than the average family.
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Technology negative side effects
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1. access to harmful information (e.g. pornography, h-bomb) 2. people are always plugged in (e.g. cell phone) 3. differentiate work & life
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Speed of technology change
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1. faster renewal rate 2. acceleration (faster life) 3. impatience 4. immediate feedback from networks (e.g. emails, texts)
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Future Shock
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dizzy disorientation brought on by the premature arrival of future
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Hyperculture
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the virtues of sacrifice and long-term commitment so essential to effective parenthood, become rare. - deterioration in family relationships - loss of critical thinking
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Overdependence on Technology
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- anxious without tech - isolation - internet addiction - don't back up computer = loose everything
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Techosis
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an overblown dependency or attachment to tech
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Health (Tech Effect on Family)
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Reproductive technologies - more infertile parents are having children - life support machine made parents live longer
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Work (Tech Effect on Family)
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Telecommuting - facilitate a good balance between family life and work commitments, relieving the conflicting pressure
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Home Maintenance (Tech Effect on Family)
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Vacuums, dishwashers - efficiency - more time for family activities - young members of the family can easily share in the workload
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Home Entrainment (Tech Effect on Family)
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TV, computers, DVD - may bring the family together or may represent time away from the family
