Definition of social change

1.  Social change refers to the alternation in society in
terms of value systems, social organization, and
practices.
 The practices which may appear to be a radical
ideas at one moment in history can become a
taken-for-granted norm at another phase.
 Social change can evolve from a number of different
sources, including contact with other societies
(diffusion), changes in the ecosystem (which can cause
the loss of natural resources or widespread disease),
Definition
of social change?

2. Definition
of social change?
 Social change is also spurred by ideological,
economic, and political movements.
 Social change is the transformation of culture
and social institutions over time.
 Examples : the industrial revolution, the abolition
of slavery, and the feminist movement.

3. ASPECTS OF SOCIAL CHANGE
 Sociologists study the process of social change
in following aspects;
 DIRECTION of change----- means whether it is
positive or negative
 RATE of change-------- slow, fast, moderate
 SOURCES of change factors responsible for
change
 CONTROLLABILITY ------ look at the degree to
which the change can be controlled.

4. HISTORICAL BACKGROUNDS
 since the Enlightenment movement of the 17th
and 18th centuries.
 Social thinkers such as
Anne-Robert-Jacques Turgot and the
marquis de Condorcet in France and
Adam Smith and John Millar in Scotland
advanced theories on the progress of human
knowledge and technology.

5. HISTORICAL BACKGROUNDS
Following a different approach,
 French philosopher and social theorist
Auguste Comte
 Auguste Comte advanced a “law of three stages, ,”
according to which human societies progress from a
theological stage, which is dominated by religion,
through a metaphysical stage, in which abstract
speculative thinking is most prominent, and onward
toward a positivist stage, in which empirically based
scientific theories prevail.

6. HISTORICAL BACKGROUNDS
 The most encompassing theory of social
evolution was developed by Herbert Spencer,
 who, unlike Comte, linked social evolution to
biological evolution.
 According to Spencer, biological organisms
and human societies follow the same universal,
natural evolutionary law: “a change from a
state of relatively indefinite, incoherent,
homogeneity to a state of relatively definite,
coherent, heterogeneity.”

7. HISTORICAL BACKGROUNDS
In other words, as societies grow in size, they
become more complex; their parts differentiate,
specialize into different functions, and become,
consequently, more interdependent.
 Karl Marx
Dialectics and alienation
 Emile Durkheim
 division of labor
Etc…………..

8. CHARACTERISTICS OF SOCIAL
CHANGE
 Social change is sometimes intentional and
planned, but oftentimes unplanned.
 It is inevitable, but some societies change
faster than others.
 It is controversial.
 Some changes are more important than others.
 It is a continuous process.
 The consequences of social change are often
unforeseen.

9. Concepts related to Social Change
1. Evolution
 Social evolution refers to a gradual as well as
continued increase in the complexity of
human society. It occurs as a result of the
transmission and utilization of knowledge
gained in each generation.
Family-tribe-large community-society-state

10. 2. Transformation
 Social transformation refers to the
significant large-scale changes in society.
 It refers to the changes in an entire culture
or a social system at a macro level.
Eg. child marriage, sexual abuse, and property
rights

11. 3. Diffusion
 Cultural diffusion is a social process through
which the elements of culture spread from
one group or culture to another.
 Such diffusions can be related to
innovations, ideologies, values, concepts,
knowledge, practices, fashion, material, and
symbols.
Eg. Football, dressing style, feeding style,
dancing…

12. 4. Progress
 Social progress refers to the improvement in
the well-being of the people. It is measured
by various indicators such as quality of life,
education, health care, employment,
income, and political participation.

13. 5. Adaptation
 Social adaptation refers to the adjustments
of the individual or group to conform to the
prevailing social norms and values in a given
cultural, environmental, or societal
condition.

14. 6. Reform
 Social reforms refer to a positive change in
the society. It refers to the social process in
which changes are carried out in the existing
system, mainly improving the condition of
marginalized groups. It is similar to the
concept of progress.

15. 7. Innovation
 Innovation refers to the process of creating
new or advanced ways of doing things. It
could be a product, service, or process which
makes lives better.
 Innovation is important for social change,
as it capacitates individuals and
organizations to develop and implement
new solutions for existing social problems.

16. 8. Revolution
 Revolution is a significant as well as a
historical change that occurs in a society’s
structure, resulting in fundamental changes
in societal arrangements.
 It is often related to a radical overthrow of
the existing political and social system and
replacing them with newly established ones.

17. Forms of Social Change
1. Evolutionary Change
Evolutionary Change refers to a gradual and
continuous change in society. It is also referred to as
‘organic change’. Evolutionary changes take place
because of social, economic, and political changes and
technological advancements.
The shift from primitive societies that are barbaric and
savagery, to complex civilizations

18. 2. Revolutionary Change
 It is a sudden and radical change that is
experienced by society. These changes can be
intentional or unintentional, often sparked by a
crisis or a historical event.
 These revolutions are generally political.
 Revolutionary changes can take place because of
social conflict.
 In some instances, it happens because of the state
of ‘anomie’.

19. The concept of Anomie
 Anomie is a concept introduced by the
classical sociologist Emile Durkheim.
 Anomie is defined as a state of ‘chaos’,
‘normlessness’, or a breakdown of social
norms.
 This condition is caused when individuals
could not handle the lack of social control or
failure of social control, or the lack of
governance, or failure of good governance

20. 3. Reformative Change
 Reformative changes are deliberate, planned, and
gradual changes that aim for social progress. It is
often initiated by social movements, governments,
civil society organizations, or social groups based
on community or ideology.
 Reformative changes bring a positive social
transformation and socialize people to adapt to it. It
is also referred to as ‘ Planned Social Change ‘, and
‘Directed Social Change

21. 4. Reactive Change
 Reactive changes happen as a response to
external forces, such as natural disasters,
economic depression, war, or other related
problems.
 These changes are unexpected, unplanned,
and spontaneous. Reaction changes mostly
occur out of necessity to resolve immediate
social issues and challenges.

22. 5. Proactive Change
 This is an envisioned, planned, and directed
change initiated to create a desired future
state. They are often led by visionary
leaders, reformers, and governing bodies
who have a clear vision of what society
should be like and the ways for achieving
them. It involves creating new social
structures, norms, values, and practices. Eg.
Climate change agreements

23. 6. Analogical Social Change
 This type of change refers to the impact of
technology or innovations on society.
Currently, we are witnessing an unstoppable
analogical social change as the internet and
social media created a massive
transformation in social interaction,
behavior, and relationships.