Social ChangeHow our culture has changed over time

Social Change - Jeannette

In what ways has the society/culture at Jeannette High School changed over the past ten years?

How has it remained the same?

Sources of Social Change

What causes social change?

1. Values and beliefs

2. Technology

3. Population

4. Diffusion

5. Physical Environment

6. Wars and Conquests

Values and Beliefs

Ideology – A system of beliefs or ideas that justifies the social, moral, religious, political, or economic interests held by a group or by society

Ideologies often spread through social movements

A social movement is a long-term conscious effort to promote or prevent social change.

What are some examples of social movements?

Social Movement 1

The Prohibition Movement

Social Movement 2

The Women’s Rights Movement

Social Movement 3

The Peace Movement

Social Movement 4

The Gay Rights Movement

Social Movement 5

The Civil Rights Movement

Social Movement 6

The Environmental Movement

Technology

Technology – The knowledge and tools people use to manipulate their environment

Material Inventions:

Computers, Social Media, Twitter

Nonmaterial Inventions:

Political Movements

Religious Movements

Population

Changes in the size of the population will bring changed in culture

New People = New Cultures

What are some common foods that did NOT originate in this country?

Population

How can population affect the economy?

Growing population will stimulate the economy

Declining population will need fewer goods and services

How can the age of the population impact social and cultural changes?

Fewer babies = Less need for schools, rec centers

Diffusion

Diffusion – Borrowing ideas, beliefs, and material objects from other societies

How has technology increased cultural diffusion?

Diffusion

Societies generally adopt material culture and technology more freely than ideas and beliefs

Material Culture:

Tools, Weapons

Ideas and Beliefs:

Government

Religion

Diffusion Works Both Ways

Culture adopted by America:

Pasta from Italy

Sushi from Japan

Golf from Scotland

Diffusion Works Both Ways

American culture adopted by other countries:

American movies

American music

American cars

Soft drinks

Fast food

Physical Environment

The physical environment can encourage or discourage cultural change

Natural disasters (floods, earthquakes)

Natural Resources:

High Fuel Prices

Fuel Shortages

Hybrid Cars

Wars and Conquests

Bring the greatest change in the shortest amount of time

Property destroyed/rebuilt

Advances in technology

Changes in economy

Changes in government

September 11, 2001

Resistance to Change

Resistance #1 – Ethnocentrism

Change that comes from outside a society is often met with strong resistance

People tend to believe that their own ideas and ways of doing things are the best

Extreme ethnocentrism can make cultural change difficult or even impossible

Example: Only buying American products

Resistance to Change

Resistance #2 – Cultural Lag

Cultural lag – Some traits change rapidly, some traits take more time

Material culture changes faster than nonmaterial

Why do we have a summer break?

Children were needed to work on farms

Farming has decreased…summer breaks still exist

Resistance to Change

Resistance #3 – Vested Interests

Resistant to changes that threaten their standard of living

An imperfect present is better than an unknown future