| Social Change

Meaning of Social Change

Change is the law of nature. Nature is always changing and is never restful. Change is present in all societies at all times. A society is not a static phenomenon but rather a dynamic entity. Social changes occur in all the society.

Any alternation or difference or modification that takes place in any object or situation or method may be defined as change, social change may be referred to as a change in human interaction and inter-relating.

Social change is such alteration or occurs in the social organization i.e. structure and function of society. Social change means a change in the system of social relationships.

Definition of Social Change

• Social change is a term used to describe variation in, or modification of any aspects of social processes, social patterns, social interaction, or social organization.
• Social change is meant only such alteration as occurred in social organization that is the structure and function of society.

Based on these definitions, we may conclude that social change refers to the modifications which take place in the life patterns of people. It may concern the change in the network of social relationships. It does not refer to all the changes going on in society. The change in art, language, technology philosophy, etc. may not be included in it. Thus social change will mean variations of any aspect of social processes, social patterns, social interactions, or social organizations.

Factors of Social Change

Internal: Conflict, social problems, revolution, cultural change, etc.

External: Geographical, economic, demography, political, technological, etc.

| Cultural Change

Meaning of Cultural Change

Change in language, dress, music, culture, and traits. Social change is the change as occurs in social organization that is the structure and functions of society.

Social change is a part of the broader category known as cultural change. Cultural change is broader than social change as social change is just part of it. All social changes are cultural changes but all cultural changes need not necessarily be social changes. Cultural change can be called social change when they affect human relation and social organization and cause variation in it.

Definition of Cultural Change

• Cultural change embraces all changes occurring in any branch of culture including art, language, science, technology, philosophy, etc. as well as changes in the forms and rules of social organization.
• Cultural change is the modification or discontinuance of existing ‘tried’ and ‘tested’ procedures transmitted to us from the culture of the part, as well as the introduction of new procedures.

In conclusion, we can say that any changes under the realism of culture are called cultural change. It is dynamic, not static. Therefore, changes in culture are occurring.

Factors of Cultural Change

• Contact between societies (shift from rural to urban life).
• Forces at work within a society.
• Changes in the natural environment.
• Inventions may be either technological or ideological.
• Modification of society through innovation, invention, discovery, or contact with other societies.
• Technological inventions include new tools, energy, sources, and transportation methods.

• A  population change is itself a social change but also becomes a casual factor in further social and cultural changes.