SOCIA

L
CHAN
GE
SOCIAL CHANGE
Change is the law of nature

What is today shall be different from

what it would be tomorrow. The social
structure is subject to change.

Government is making a lot of

important changes. Family and
religion will not remain the same in
future because institutions are
changing.
CONCEPT OF
SOCIAL CHANGE
The concept of social change was
introduced by August Comte, a
Frenchman, known as founding
father of Sociology.

Later, the concept of social change

was further refined and developed
by Herbert Spencer, Karl Marx
and a number of other
sociologists.
THE MEANING OF
SOCIAL CHANGE:
The word “change” denotes
to a difference in anything
which is observed over some
period of time.

Social change, therefore,

would mean noticeable
difference in any social
phenomena over any period
of time.
DEFINITIONS OF SOCIAL
CHANGE
According to Mazumdar, “Social change may be
defined as a new fashion or mode, either
modifying or replacing the old, in the life of a
people, or in the operation of a society.”

According to Davis, “Social change is meant only

such alterations as occur in social organization,
that is, structure and functions of society.”
DEFINITIONS OF
SOCIAL CHANGE
According to Jenson, “Social change may be
defined as modification in ways of doing and
thinking of people.”

According to Koenig, “Social change refers to the

modifications which occur in the life patterns of a
people.”

According to Kuku Swami, “Social change is some

change in social behaviour and social structure.”
CONCLUSION FROM
DEFINITIONS:
Based on the definitions, it may be concluded
that social change refers to the modifications
which take place in the life patterns of
people.

It does not refer to all the changes going on in

the society.
NATURE OF SOCIAL
CHANGE:
(i) Social change is universal
phenomenon

Social change occurs in all societies. No society remains

completely static.
This is true of all societies, primitive as well as civilized.
Society exists in a universe of dynamic influences.
The population changes, technologies expand, material
equipment changes, ideologies and values and
institutional structures and functions undergo reshaping.
(ii) Social change is community
change

Social change does not refer to the change in the life of an

individual or the life patterns of several individuals.
It is a change which occurs in the life of the entire
community.
In other words, only that change can be called social
change whose influence can be felt in a community form.
Thus, Social change is social and not individual.
(iii) Speed of social change is not
uniform

While social change occurs in all societies, its

speed is not uniform in every society.
In most societies it occurs so slowly that it is
often not noticed by those who live in them.
Social change in urban areas is faster than in
rural areas.
(iv) Nature and speed of social change is
affected by the time factor

The speed of social change is not uniform in each

age or period in the same society.
In modern times the speed of social change is faster
today than before 1947. Thus, the speed of social
change differs from age to age.
The reason is that the factors which cause social
change do not remain uniform with the change
in times. Before 1947 there was less industrialization
in India, after 1947 India has become more
industrialized.
Therefore, the speed of social change after 1947 is
faster than before 1947.
(v) Social change occurs as an essential
law
Change is the law of nature. Social change is natural
also.

It may occur either in the natural course or as a result

of planned efforts.

By nature, we desire change. Our needs keep on

changing.

To satisfy our desire for change and our changing

needs social change becomes a necessity.
(vi) Definite prediction of social change
is not possible
It is difficult to make any prediction about the exact forms of
social change.
We may say that :
on account of the social reform movement untouchability will
be abolished from the Indian society;
the basis and ideals of marriage will change due to the
marriage laws passed by the government;
industrialization will increase the speed of urbanization, but
we cannot predict the exact forms which social relationships
will assume in future.
Likewise it cannot be predicted as to what shall be our
attitudes, ideas, norms and values in future.
(vii) Social change shows chain-reaction
sequence
A society’s pattern of living is a dynamic system of
inter-related parts.

Therefore, change in one of these parts usually

reacts on others and those on additional ones until
they bring a change in the whole mode of life of
many people.
Industrialism has destroyed the domestic system of
production.

The destruction of domestic system of

production brought women from the home to
the factory and the office.

The employment of women meant their

independence from the bondage of man.

It brought a change in their attitudes and idea. It

meant a new social life for women. It consequent
affected every part of the family life.
(viii) Social change results from the
interaction of a number of factors
Generally, it is thought that a particular factor like
changes in technology, economic development or
climatic conditions causes social change.
This is called monistic theory which seeks to
interpret social change in terms of one single
factor.
But the monistic theory does not provide an
adequate explanation of the complex
phenomenon of social change.
As a matter of fact, social change is the
consequence of a number of factors. A special
factor may trigger a change but it is always
associated with other factors that make the
triggering possible.
(ix) Social changes are chiefly those of
modification or of replacement

It may be modification of physical goods or

social relationships.
For example, the form of our breakfast food
has changed. Though we eat the same basic
materials which we ate earlier, wheat, eggs,
corn, but their form is changed.
Ready-to-eat-cornflakes, breads, omelets are
substituted for the form in which these same
materials were consuming.
THREE BASIC SOURCES OF SOCIAL
CHANGE

The first source is innovation

Inventions produce new products, ideas, and
social patterns. The invention of rocket
propulsion led to space travel, which in the future
may lead to inhabitation of other planets.
The second source is discovery
Discovery is finding something that has never
been found before, or finding something new in
something that already exists.
The third source is diffusion
Diffusion is the spreading of ideas and objects to
other societies. This would involve trading,
migration, and mass communication.
PROCESS OF SOCIAL CHANGE
Change in the experiences of individuals

Change in the attitudes of individuals

Change in the thought patterns of

individuals
Change in the social interaction

Change in the social relations

Change in the social structure

Social Change
REASONS FOR THE
OPPOSITION OF SOCIAL
CHANGE
Fear of unknown
Preservation of power and privilege
Cultural and traditional values
Economic interest
Lack of understanding or Awareness
Fear of losing social identity
Trauma or Negative past experience