In: Psychology
Describe and discuss the three processes of social change that were brought about through technology, according to William Ogburn. Explain cultural lag.
According to William Ogburn, technology was the primary driver of social change and progress. He described the following processes to support his idea:
1. Invention: Through invention, new and innovative forms of technology are created. For radical inventions to occur, the society needs to have attained a certain level of knowledge and expertise in the respective field, as inventions can be created only within an existing social framework.
2. Accumulation: This process involves technology change brought about by the rapid invention and adoption of new technology, with the simultaneous disuse of older technology.
3. Diffusion: In this process, an idea spreads from a particular social group to another, or from one area of science to another. In turn, this diffusion leads to an exposure to varied types of inventions, which are then combined to form a new invention altogether.
Please post the ‘cultural lag’ question separately, as we are supposed to answer just one question per post.