Social Change | Definitions | Characteristics of Social Change.

Social Work Scholar

1 Aug 202205:09

Summary

TLDRThis video delves into the concept of social change, highlighting its inevitability and impact on human interactions. It discusses society's dual tendencies of conservation and progress, emphasizing our innate desire for improvement. The script explores the continuous, temporal, and environmental nature of change, noting its human-driven and unplanned aspects. It also touches on the potential for social change to trigger a chain reaction, affecting various facets of life, as exemplified by shifts in women's rights and societal structures.

Takeaways

🌐 Social change refers to alterations in human interactions and the system of social relationships within a society.
🔍 The term encompasses both desirable variations in social interaction, processes, and organization.
🏛 Society has two tendencies: conservative, which seeks to preserve social heritage, and progressive, which aims for change and improvement.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Human nature includes an innate desire for new knowledge and experiences, leading to dissatisfaction with the status quo and driving social change.
⏳ Social change is continuous and temporal, indicating a sequence over time, and society is in a state of perpetual flux.
🌱 Innovation and the discarding of old behaviors are part of the natural progression of social change.
🌍 Social change is environmental, influenced by geographic, physical, and cultural contexts, which in turn are affected by human behavior.
🤔 Social change involves human aspects and is composed of changing elements within the society.
🛠️ Social change can be planned, influenced by human intentions and programs, or unplanned, such as changes resulting from natural disasters.
📈 The study of social change is objective and amoral, without value judgments attached to the phenomenon.
🔄 Social change can create a chain reaction, where a change in one aspect can lead to a series of changes in other aspects of society.

Q & A

What is the definition of social change according to the video?
-Social change refers to the alterations that occur in social organization, including the structure and functions of society, as well as changes in attitudes, beliefs, and man-made conditions of life.
What are the two distinct tendencies in a society as mentioned in the video?
-The two tendencies are conservative and progressive. The conservative tendency is the desire to preserve social heritage from the past, while the progressive tendency is the desire to change, modify, and improve the existing social heritage.
Why is social change considered inevitable in human society?
-Social change is inevitable because it is a natural law and an instinctive human tendency to seek new knowledge and experiences, leading to dissatisfaction with the existing state of affairs and the desire for improvement.
What does Kingsley Davis define social change as?
-Kingsley Davis defines social change as alterations that occur in social organization, focusing on the structure and functions of society.
How does MacIver and Page describe social change?
-MacIver and Page describe social change as a process responsive to various types of changes, including changes in attitudes and beliefs, as well as changes beyond human control, such as biological and physical aspects.
What are the characteristics of social change mentioned in the video?
-The characteristics of social change include its continuity, temporal nature, environmental context, human involvement, and the potential for being planned or unplanned.
Why is it said that society cannot be preserved in a museum?
-Society cannot be preserved in a museum because it is always undergoing changes and exists only as a time sequence, with continuous flux from the dawn of history.
How does the environment impact social change?
-The environment impacts social change because it provides the geographic, physical, and cultural context within which social change takes place, and these contexts influence human behavior, which in turn can alter them.
What does it mean for social change to be 'human change'?
-Social change being 'human change' signifies that it involves the human aspect, as the composition of society is not constant but changing, with people being the agents and recipients of change.
Why is social change considered an 'objective term' by sociologists?
-Social change is considered an 'objective term' because it describes a categorical process without value judgments attached to it, allowing sociologists to study change without being for or against it.
Can social change create a chain reaction? If yes, how?
-Yes, social change can create a chain reaction, where a change in one aspect of life may lead to a series of changes in other aspects. An example given is the change in rights, privileges, and status of women, which has resulted in changes in family relationships and structures, as well as economic and political patterns.

Outlines

00:00

🌐 Introduction to Social Change

This paragraph introduces the concept of social change, defining it as alterations in human interactions and social relationships. It explains society's dual tendencies towards conservation and progress, with an emphasis on the inevitability of change due to human nature and societal evolution. The paragraph also references definitions by Kingsley Davis and MacIver, highlighting social change as a process responsive to various alterations in human-made conditions, attitudes, beliefs, and beyond human control factors. Key characteristics of social change, such as its continuity, temporality, environmental context, and human involvement, are outlined, emphasizing that social change is neither moral nor immoral but an objective, amoral phenomenon that can lead to chain reactions affecting various aspects of society.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Social Change

Social change refers to the transformations that occur within the structure and dynamics of human interactions and relationships. It is central to the video's theme, illustrating how society evolves over time through alterations in social organization, processes, and attitudes. The script mentions that social change is inevitable and is driven by both conservative and progressive tendencies within society.

💡Conservative Tendency

The conservative tendency is the inclination of individuals within a society to preserve and maintain the social heritage and cultural history of the past. It is contrasted with the progressive tendency in the script, highlighting the balance between maintaining traditions and embracing change for social development.

💡Progressive Tendency

The progressive tendency represents the desire for modification, improvement, and innovation within society. It is depicted in the script as a natural human inclination to seek change, driven by dissatisfaction with the status quo and the pursuit of new knowledge and experiences.

💡Cultural History

Cultural history encompasses the collective past traditions, values, and achievements of a society. The script uses this term to describe what society takes pride in and seeks to conserve, emphasizing the importance of heritage in shaping social identity and continuity.

💡Inevitability

In the context of the video, inevitability is used to describe the unavoidable nature of social change. It is presented as a constant force in both individual lives and society as a whole, suggesting that change is a fundamental aspect of human existence.

💡Curiosity

Curiosity is portrayed in the script as an instinctive human trait that drives the pursuit of new knowledge and experiences. It is a catalyst for social change, as it leads to dissatisfaction with existing conditions and propels individuals to seek alterations and improvements.

💡Social Progress

Social progress is the positive advancement of society, often resulting from social change. The script implies that changes in social situations over time contribute to progress, indicating a forward movement in societal development.

💡Social Organization

Social organization refers to the structure and functions of society, including how its parts are arranged and how they operate. Kingsley Davis's definition cited in the script emphasizes that social change involves alterations in this organization, affecting the way society is structured and functions.

💡Environmental Context

The environmental context in the script refers to the geographic, physical, and cultural surroundings within which social change occurs. It suggests that social change is influenced by and takes place within these contexts, and in turn, human behavior can alter these contexts.

💡Human Change

Human change is the sociological aspect of social change that involves changes in the composition and behavior of individuals within society. The script points out that society's composition is not static but is subject to change, which is a key element of social change.

💡Planned and Unplanned Change

The script differentiates between planned and unplanned social change. Planned change is directed by human intentions and programs, while unplanned change results from natural events beyond human control. This distinction is important for understanding the various forces that drive social change.

💡Chain Reaction

A chain reaction in the context of social change implies that a change in one area can trigger a series of changes in other areas. The script uses the example of changes in women's rights, privileges, and status leading to broader changes in family dynamics and societal structures, illustrating the interconnectedness of social change.

Highlights

Social change refers to alterations in human interactions and interrelations within society.

Society has two distinct tendencies: conservative and progressive.

Conservative tendency involves preserving the social heritage of the past.

Progressive tendency is the desire to change and improve the existing social conditions.

Social change is an inevitable aspect of human society and individual life.

Curiosity for new knowledge and experiences drives dissatisfaction with the status quo.

Social change is continuous and society is in a state of perpetual flux.

Social change is temporal, indicating a sequence over time.

Innovation and modification of behaviors are part of the social change process.

Social change is environmental, influenced by geographic, physical, and cultural contexts.

Social change involves the human aspect, with society's composition being dynamic.

Social change can be planned or unplanned, influenced by human intentions or natural events.

Unplanned change can result from natural calamities like famines, floods, or earthquakes.

Social change is an objective term without moral or immoral connotations.

Studying social change does not involve value judgments, allowing for neutral analysis.

Social change can create a chain reaction, affecting multiple aspects of life.

Changes in women's rights, privileges, and status have led to broader societal shifts.

Social change encompasses economic, political, and familial structures.