4. THEORIES OF SOCIAL CHANGE.pptx

sociology

1. INTRODUCTION TO THEORIES OF SOCIAL CHANGE

2. INTRODUCTION TO THEORIES OF SOCIAL CHANGE Cyclic theory of social change Linear or evolutionary theory of social change Marxian theory of social change Functional theory of social change Parson’s theory of social change.

3. 1) Cyclic theory of social change: Many of the present thinkers (Spengler,Wilfredo Pareto, Sorokin & Arnold J Toynbee) have proposed cyclic theory of social change. They believe that societies exist at a certain point in a circle of evolution, progress or retrogress through other points in the circle & return back to original or approximately the same position . Spengler believed that each culture has a life cycle of nearly 1000 years . Each culture passes through stages of birth, youth, maturity, old age & death. He presents his cyclic theory of social change in his book ‘ The Decline of the West – 1918.

4. Cont’d… Wilfredo Pareto gave this theory of social change in his book ‘Mind & Society’ which is known as a ‘Theory of circulation of elites’. P A Sorokin has manifested the cultural factors as a main factors in the form of social change . He described it in his book ‘Social & Cultural Dynamics – 1938. To clarify his theory, he has manifested 3 types of culture : 1) Sensate Culture(material or conscious culture) 2) Idealistic culture (Ideal Culture) 3) Ideational Culture (emotional culture)

5. Sequence of cultural change by P. Sorokin

6. Cont’d… He clarified the cycle of these three culture by presenting it in the following form: There is no definite direction of the change that takes place in idealistic culture . In the form this culture, sometimes the mixture of the characteristics of sensate culture and ideational culture takes place in irregular way . Sorokin while giving full details of the crisis of western culture, has clarified that this culture has advanced so far in the direction of sensate culture that today whole of the structure of the society has become ill affected and injured. Every man has become so mad in the search of physical pleasures that human values are being violated openly. In such situation or state, it is compulsory for the western culture to return towards ideational culture .

7. 2) Linear or Evolutionary Theory of Social Change These theories are based on assumption that societies gradually change from simple beginning into even more complex forms . Auguste Comte believed that human societies evolve in a unilinear way- that is, in one line of development . He elaborated the law of three stages of human thought . He believed that each field of knowledge passes through 3 periods or stages of growth namely : Theological stage Metaphysical Stage The Scientific Stage or Positive Stage

8. Cont’d… 1) Theological stage: The primitive persons believes that all phenomena are “produced by the immediate action of supernatural beings”. They feel that everything is done by supernatural power & God is responsible for all bad & good accidents in social life. This stage is also known as religious stage .

9. Cont’d… 2) Metaphysical Stage: It is also known as Rationation or logical stage . Rationalism states that God does not stand directly behind every phenomenon. Reasoning helped man to find out some order in the natural world . This stage emphasizes on rational thinking rather spiritual .

10. Cont’d… 3) The Scientific Stage or Positive Stage: It represents the scientific way of thinking . On the positive stage, man considers the search for ultimate causes, helpless and seeks the explanatory facts that can be empirically observed . According to Comte , man adopts a positive attitude in the understanding of natural and social phenomena .

11. Cont’d… Herbert Spencer identified 4 types of societies in terms of stages of their evolutionary development. 1) Simple Society : This is most primitive society without any complexities & consisting of several families . 2) Compound Society : A large number of above mentioned simple societies make a compound society. This is clan society. 3) Doubly Compound Society : These consist of several clan compounded into tribes or tribal society. 4) Trebly Compound Society : Here, the tribes are organized into nation states . This is the present form of the world.

12. 3) MARXIAN THEORY OF SOCIAL CHANGE Karl Marx was the first philosopher who in the social change presented the role of economic factors in the form of theory with a very vast & detailed manner. That is why this theory of Marx is described as the economic theory of social change. Clarifying his theory of social change, on the basis of economic factors , Marx has stated that every human being needs many more material things such as food, clothes etc. to live upon. In order to meet these needs, an individual brings into use some of the means of production or mode of production .

13. Cont’d… Marx has stated that there are mainly two aspects: 1) Production force / mode of production 2) Relation of production in production system Marx believe that whenever change takes place in the mode of production or technology of production due to new inventions, human knowledge or working skills , then the production system is also changed & this production system changes the believes, thoughts, customs, culture, folkways etc. of society . E.g. When production was done only to meet the needs of consumption, then the production force were in an outdated state. As soon as the objective of production became to earn more benefits, a change began to take place in the production system also.

14. Cont’d… Marx again clarified by saying, “ By now class struggle is the theory of the all societies” . As a result of the class struggle & production system a change begins to take place in the thought & behaviors of the people. The change which takes place in religious beliefs, culture, art, literature, ethics & politics is the result of these beliefs & tendencies. A new social structure is created out of these changes, which is known as sub-structure of the society .

15. Cont’d… Thus, mode of production is that foundation or sub-structure on the basis of which super-structure of society is created . Thus, mode of production brings the changes in the thoughts, ethics, folkways, customs, culture, politics etc. in the society.

16. 4) FUNCTIONAL THEORY OF SOCIAL CHANGE In the middle decades of the 20 th century, a number of American sociologists shifted their attention from social dynamics to social statics or from social change to social stability . Talcol Parson & his followers have been the main advocates of this theory. Parsons stressed the importance of cultural patterns in controlling the stability of society . According to him, society has the ability to absorb disruptive forces while maintaining overall stability . Because it is “ constantly straining for equilibrium or balance ”.

17. Cont’d… The conservative forces of society such as shared norms & value resist radical changes & serve to hold the society together . Between 1940-50s, this theory gained wide acceptance but critics began to doubt his assumptions during 1960. Critics like C. Wright Mills & Lockwood questioned whether a theory of equilibrium & stability was relevant to societies that were in a state of conflict & constant change. Hence, Parsons tries to include social change (1961-1966) in his functionalist model .

18. 5) PARSON’S THEORY OF SOCIAL CHANGE Parsons considers change, “ not as something that disturbs the social equilibrium, but as something that alters the state of equilibrium so that a qualitatively new equilibrium results.” He has stated that changes may arise from 2 sources : T hey may come from outside the society , through contact with other societies. They may also come from inside the society , through adjustments that must be made to resolve strains within the system.

19. Cont’d… Parsons speaks of two processes that are at work in social change. In simple societies, institutions are undifferentiated, that is, a single institution serves many functions . E.g. family performs reproductive, educational, social, economic, recreational and other functions. A process of differentiation takes place when a society becomes more & more complex. Different institutions like school, factory etc. may take over some of the functions of the family. The new institutions must be linked together in a proper way by the process of integration. For Example: New norms must be established in order to govern the relationship between the school & the home. Further, “bridging institutions” such as law courts must resolve conflicts between other components in the system.

20. Cont’d… Evaluation of parson’s theory: The equilibrium theory is strong attempt to both social statics and social dynamics. Still, greater stress is laid on the former. Parson, as an advocate of this theory, concentrated more on institutional changes. Other functionalist such as R.K. Merton and others tried to overcome this limitation.

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