sym 402 Unit 1, Lesson 4 LESSON 1_ INTRODUCTION To SOCIAL CHANGE UY SIAL ANGE TABLE OF CONTENTS: 1.0 OBJECTIVES 1.1 INTRODUCTION To SOCIAL CHANGE 1.2 DEFINITION OF SOCIAL CHANGE 1.3. CHARACTERISTICS OF SOCIAL CHANGE 1.4 PATTERNS OF SociAL CHANGE 1.5 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOCIAL CHANGE AND CULTURAL CHANGE 1.5.1 CAUSES OF CONFUSION 16 SUMMING UP 1.7 ASSIGNMENTS 174 CLASS ASSIGNMENTS 7.2 HOME ASSIGNMENTS 1.8 PossiBLe ANSWERS TO SELF-CHECK QUESTIONS 1.9 REFERENCES AND SUGGESTED FURTHER READING 1.10 Glossary @ scanned with OKEN ScannerINTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL CHANGE ——NTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL CHANGE 1.0 Objectives By the end of this lesson, you will be able to understand and learn about * Social Change. Introduction, Characteristics * Patterns of Social Change * Difference between social Change and Cultural Change 1.1 Introduction to Social Change Change is the perpetual and irrevocable law of nature. Man ts also the part of the Same nature but volatile. Accepting this volatile nature of Society, Maciver said, “The Society is volatile and dynamic.” Long time back, Greek scholar Heraclitus had said “All things are in the flow of change.” Discussion on the matter was continued even after that why and how the human activity change? What do the special form of Soclely which effect change practically? How discovery brings change in society and what are the physical features of discoverer? Does the change pass through the fred direction? What is the direction — whether it is in linear or cycle? Many Guestions of this kind regarding change have been raised and tried to answer them A curiosity arose in man to understand the change. He tried to find the reasons behind the change, to trace the direction took and ways to control it How and why the changes take place, these questions cannot be solved even today An English poet lord Tennyson says, “Changes take place in order to replace old order" @ scanned with OKEN Scannersym 102 Generally, social change refers to those changes that occur in a social realm In the beginning, social scientists had not differentiated evolution. development and social change and they would use these three concepts in the same sense Ogbuin in 1922 , in his book ‘social change’ differentiated these changes for the firs! time Later on, these words were used extensively in sociolagy Some scholars refer to the change in social structure as social change while some refers to the ones in soc relations. The change noticed in the whole social system or in its any part is called Social change. To understand the concept more clearly, some definitions are given below: According to Maclver and Page, “Being sociologists, our special interest clearly lies im the changes occurring in social relations. Only changes occurring in social relations are called social change, by us In his way, they defines social change Purely in sociological outlook and the change occurring in social relations called Social change, because the society is the network of social relations only Kingsley Davis has also defined social change as a totally sociological perspective He writes, "By social change, we refer to only these changes which occur in social organizations /, e. changes occurring in social structure and functions ° The various unit of society such as institutions, groups, communities guilds and statuses are combined together to construct the social structure and they all have different functions. Social structure and the functions of its unit give rise to social organization Davis treats any change happening in social structure and its functions or both as social change. Jenson defines In his own words, “Social change may be defined as the changes in the ways of people's working and thoughts " Scholars such as Ginsberg, Johnson and Raymond Firth have said changes occurring in social structure are called the social change. Ginsberg writes, “By social change, | mean the changes taking place in social structure. For example. the size of the society, design of its various parts or equilibrium or the change occurring in @ scanned with OKEN Scannersym 102 different form of its organization are the social change” according to Jahnison The meaning of social change in its fundamental meaning 1s change in social structure Johnson, further clarifying social change, and said thal changes occurring in soci! values, rewards and institutions, people and their occupations and abilities are the social change. Botlomore includes even those changes in social change which happen in social structure, social institutions or mutual relations among them Jones writes, “social change is that word which 1s used for changes modification in social processes, patterns, inter activities or any change in social structure Merril and Aldridge opine that change occurring in human actions 1s social change He writes, "When human behaviour is in a process of change, then we may say in other words, the social change is taking place" The changes occurring in social structure and functions are social change Social change is not concerned with the changes in behaviours, faith, and values of ‘one or some people but the changes in life style of the majority 1.3. Characteristics of Social Change The characteristics of social change can be classified as follows i) The Nature of social change is sociological: social change is not concerned with the changes in a person's relation with any particular group, institution, caste. or race as it 1s of a personal nature whereas social change is concerned with the whole ‘community or society and the changes to it. Thus, social change sociological, not personal. The change taking place in any unit of the society is not called as social change. ii) Social Change is a Universal Event: Social change is a universal phenomenon which occurs in all time and in all societies. A lot of changes have been taken place since human evolution and the process 1s going on still today and will continue in future. There is no society in human history which has not experienced it and is @ scanned with OKEN ScannerSym too Completely stable No society except may have different speed and f completely alike Thew cultures and Said a replica or the other Changes in some primitive societies were so slow that they led sore o that they did not change People of Ws em nations call the ¢ Changeable sociely Change is an irrevocable law trom which no sccm remained untouched tii) Social Chango is sure and natural We nee social chang: ‘8 natural Change is the law of nature and society being a pa escape from it Many a time, we oppose change nd Changes are sometime well thought out or occur by themselves depending x human needs. situations and requirements w)The Pace of Social Change is Uneven and Comparative t>~ change 's present in all societies, all societies have uneven pace It haroe in modern and western societies As compared to primitive and west Societies It is also uneven in different parts of the same society In india chance « faster in urban than in rural areas and the reason is the difference on te» 3 arch bring about these changes and the pace of these difference may only be gee: & Comparison. Change is also closely related to country. Time and st Pace of change is different in comparison to one country to other one tere and one situation to other Example. change in India in Vedic Times, British times. and modern tenes aed nox have the same because there were difference in circumstances of these perod and the reasons of change “)Social Change is a Complex Fact: Since social change is related to changes Qualities, which is difficult to ascertain, it is a complex fact We cannot essen change in kilograms or metres the changes occurring in physical things or cuhure is @ scanned with OKEN Scannersym 102 Unit 1. Lesson 1 Completely stable. No society is exception of change This 1s possible thal change may have different speed and forms Bierstad! says “No two societies are completely alike. Their cultures and history have such differences that no one can be said a replica or the other. ~ Changes in some primitive societies were so slow that they led some scholars to say that they did not change. People of Western nations call the eastein nations a changeable society. Change is an irevocable law from which no Society has femained untouched Social Change is sure and natural: we see social change in every society and it 'S natural. Change is the law of nature and society, being a part of nature. cannot escape from it Many a time, we oppose Change and dislike it but cannot stop it Changes are sometime well thought out or occur by themselves depending on human needs, situations and requirements Example. change in India in Vedic Times, have the same because there were diffe the reasons of change » Britsh times, and modern times did not ence in citcumstances of these period and @ scanned with OKEN Scannersym 102 Unit 1, Lesson t facets cannot be understood so easily. With the increase in social change, its complexity also increases. vi)Social Change can't be Predicted: It is difficult to predict social change definitely. It becomes very tough to say what changes will occur in caste system United family and marriage in India due to urbanization and industrialization, and what changes will occur in opinions, beliefs, values, ideals etc. of people in future. It does not mean that we cannot predict about social change or there 1s no law governing social change. This just means that changes also occur due to unexpected events Example: for example, we know that industrialization and urbanization in future would dissolve the casteism and joint family, crimes would increase and due to influence of education and new rules Untouchability would reduce and diminish slowly. Yet which type of changes would come and what would be their nature- about this nothing can be said with certainty Wilbert Moore has mentioned the following specialities of social change »)Social change 1s not an exception but a law, which does not mean to say that by social change, every element of social structure changes but it means that change does occur in a part of the social structure. It is fastest at the time of social reconstruction. 1i) Changes in modem societies is more clear and more in number as compared to earlier societies. ii) Through the spread of change may be seen in every aspect of social fe, the pace of change in physical things is faster than in ideas and institutions, iv) The changes which occur naturally affect our ideas and social structure more. v)We can gauss about social change but nothing can be said with certainty Self-check Questions @ scanned with OKEN ScannerSym 102 Unit 1 Lesson 4 State whether the following statements are True or False 1. Change is a and irrevocable law, True / False 2. The meaning of social change is a change inthe structure True / False 3. Change is closely related to time. True / False 4, Social change can be predicted, True / False change in social relations True / False 1.4 Patterns of Social Change 'tis difficult and multifaceted to state continues social change. If we want to truly understand social change, we have to understand its system Different areas have different kinds of change. Maclver and Page have mentioned three different patterns of social change: First Pattern: One pattern of change is that they occur suddenly. In this class, we may keep changes due to inventions and discoveries. Changes of these kinds occur ones, will keep on producing more changes because they will keep on being improved by many people. The inventions of radio, plane, motor car ete. are not only sudden but are important in a qualitative way. These changes keep on occurring till a new instrument is invented. Such changes are called Linear change because they occur in a straight line. Changes in industry are a clear example. Same is the case with changes occurring in science and arts If show this kind of change with a diagram then its nature will appear in vertical upward direction Second Pattern: The second pattern of change is the one which may progress upward for a while and may words fall down after sometime. In other words, the second pattern of change is one in which the change occurs first in upward direction and then in downward direction. It may be said to be a wave-like change The example are changes related to population and economic activities. We see many national and international trade go up and down. Thus, in the case of first pattern, we chee i). @ scanned with OKEN Scannersym 102 Unit 1 Lensan t 1 Sorokin are sure about the direction of change, this is not the case in second patte says that cultural changes occur due to this up and down pattern Third Pattern: This kind of pattern is somewhat close to the second pattern and referred to cyclical pattern Many scholars believe that changes occur in cycle To make it more clear, they cite the example of changes of seasons and the cycle of life and death in humans. They further believe that society and culture to follow this pattern. This pattern is found in human actions, political movements and population Fashion, cultural movements, social values, public behaviour, control Three patterns of change First pattem (linear pattern) - Industral change and scientite growth - Second pattern (See-saw change) a In the ties of economic actvity ana population Third pattem (Cycle change) In the teid of culture, fashion, socia omamentation, control and freedom Freedom etc. too follow it. Thus, changes in society occur in a cycle. but some scholars do not ascribe to this view By a cycle, we mean that we keep on returning @ scanned with OKEN Scanners¥H 102 to the starting point, again and again, which is not the case In actuality we never go back but reforms always take place 1.5 Difference Between Social change and Cultural Change fences with cultural change. Many scholars have not differentiated between the two and use one for the other leading to a misconception about two concepts, whereas. in realty To understand social change, it becomes necessary to understand its diff these two are separate. Since ‘sociely’ and ‘culture’ are different concepts. ther bound to be differences between social and cultural change 1.5.1, Causes of Confusion The main reason for confusion between the two form of changes is that some scholars have defined social changes to extensively that they included the concept of cultural change also. Main among such scholars are Merril and Aldridge Dawson and Gattis. We shall make it more clear by quoting the definitions Definition by Dawson and Gattis: They too have not differentiated between social and cultural change. They writes, "Cultural change is social change only because Whole culture right from its birth, meaning and usage is social only ~ This definition may have two meanings * Cultural change is a part of social change and it does not have separ: existence, + Social and Cultural changes mean the same thing, thus, there is no difference between the two and one may be used in place of the other Both these meanings are faulty. But there are enough changes between these two. The changes occuring in society 's called social change while the change occurring in culture is called cultural change. To understand this fact, one has to differentiate between culture and | Society. Social relations form society which is determined by the individuals status w i mei @ scanned with OKEN Scannersym 102 and role in the society. Making clear the concept of culture, Ogburn states that it 1s made up of man-made physical and non-physical things are fact In this context, Davis writes, by social changes, we mean only those changes which ‘occur in a social organization 1, e Changes in the social structure and function of society. Cultural change include those changes which take place in any branch of society such as science, art, literature, fashion, philosophy etc and the changes the form and the laws of social organization Thus, the area of cultural change is more extensive than that of social change Parsons . making the differences more clear, writes that cultural changes are related to only various values, ideas and symbolic and meaningful systems whereas social change is related to the changes in the interactions between man and society. Making clear this difference, Maclver and Page writes that, social change is different from cultural change Being a sociologist, our obvious concern is with social relations Only the changes related to social relations are social change. Changes in ideology, industry and polity are cultural changes and the changes in social relations, social structure and functions are social changes. Cultural changes, especially changes in physical culture 1s fast as compared to social change. Even though there are differences between them it does not mean that they are not related, rather they effect each other. Changes in culture bring about social change. For example, change in caste system and joint family systems are due to industrialization. Thus social change give rise to cultural changes. The differences between the two are made clear as follows: i) Social change is related to change in social relations whereas cultural changes are related to changes in physical and non-physical of culture il) The boundaries of cultural change are more extensive than social change iii) Social changes are brought on by both natural causes and well thought ideas whereas cultural change is brought about the conscious and planned effort u @ scanned with OKEN Scannersym 102 Unit + Lesson 1 'v) The relations between social change and cultural change are that of the part and the whole as change in different parts of the culture ¥) Social change brings about a change in the social structure whereas cultural changes bring change in different part of the culture v) The speed of social changes is faster than cultural change because change in Social relations, social system and social structure are due to new inventions whereas changes in various cultural parts such as religion, morality, rotes, values and faith are slower wi) The changes in social values mandatorily bring about changes in culture thought Cultural changes do not necessarily bring about social changes, thought it may happen so. Thus, the differences are the relations between cultural change and social change are made clear. 4.6 Summing Up It is clear that social changes are those changes which occur in human relations, behaviours, institutions, rites, status. values, social structures and functions Thus Social change is concerned with the changes in social organization and social relations too 1.7. Assignments 1.7.4 Class assignments ') Describe the characteristics of social change 4) Whats the difference between social change and cultural change? 1.7.2 Home assignments ) What is social change? Explain the patterns of social change 1.8 Possible Answers to Self-check Questions @ scanned with OKEN ScannerYM 102 aon 1.9 Unit 1, Lesson 1 True True True False True References and Suggested Further Reading Maclver,R.M and Page,C.H.1949:Society:an Introductory analysis, Macmillan. New York Ogburn,W.F 1962:Social Change, B. W. Huebsch Inc., New York. Shankerrao,C.N,2005. Sociology: Principles of Sociology with an Introduction to Social Thought, $.Chand Pub.,New Delhi Nagla,B.K 2019:introducing Sociology, Rawat Publication, New Delhi Johnson, H.M. 1982:Sociology-A Systematic Introduction Allied Pub Delhi Moore,Wilbert E 1981:Social Change, New Delhi, Prentice Halll of India Glossary Untouchabilty the state of being an untouchable Casteism the belief in caste system Pattern a particular way in which something happens @ scanned with OKEN Scanner