Question

How does society change over time? Explain at least three causes of societal change. Use examples. (Sociology Question)

Answer 1

Societies may change because of several reasons such as the problems due to the inequality and bad economy.these problems are caused by bad living and working conditions,social classes,and inflation etc.,we can see these problems for extending the industrial revolution and world war one.To fix these issues countries changes many things in how country runs.

An outstanding example of social change, often quoted by evangelicals, is the work of William Wilberforce in seeing British involvement in the slave trade ended. One of the things that is interesting about this example is the way in which it involved shifts in both public opinion and in the attitude of those holding institutional power. Both these shifts were necessary for the big social change of the abolition of slavery to occur.

These are some of the major factors that highlight the causes of social change:

1.New ideas and modification of old ideas in a new context bring wide-scale changes in society. For example, Max Weber established that rationalisation of religious ideas brought about phenomenal change in Protestant world.

2.Demographic change is caused by an increase in birth and decline in death and migration of populations. Change occurs from the demographic transition in society.

3.Social change is also caused by tension and conflict. Structural strain, deprivation, cultural revitalisation have been the major causes of conflict. Again social division based on class, caste, gender, ethnicity, estate, etc. have also been important sources of conflict in society.

4.Social movements are organised efforts of groups of people to bring about deliberate change in the values, norms, institutions, culture relationships and traditions of the society. They also generate new identities and a new perspective.