NAME-SAIF ALI

CLASS-B.ALL.B(SF)
FACULTY- LAW
BATCH-2017-22
ROLL NO. – 49
SUBJECT- SOCIOLOGY

TOPIC
SOCIAL CHANGE

SUBMITTED TO- PROF. RASHID SIR

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The success and outcome of this assignment goes to lots of people who helped me
while executing this project and i extremely privileged to have got this all along the
completion of my project

I extremely thankful to my contract professor Mrs RASHID sir to gave the opportunity
to have this project in my will and giving us all support and guidance in completing
the project.
 INTRODUCTION
Social change is the significant alteration of social structure and cultural patterns through
time. Social structure refers to persistent networks of social relationships where interaction
between people or groups has become routine and repetitive. Culture refers to shared ways of
living and thinking that include symbols and language (verbal and nonverbal); knowledge,
beliefs, and values (what is “good” and “bad”); norms (how people are expected to behave);
and techniques, ranging from common folk recipes to sophisticated technologies and material
objects. Sociology began in the late 19th century as an attempt to understand the emergence
of the modern world. The earliest sociological thinkers—August Comte, Herbert Spencer,
Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, and Max Weber—all tried to understand the human
implications of two great transformations that produced the modern world: urbanization and
industrialization. They shared a vision that the study of human societies and change could be
understood in a general way, rather than as the accumulation of the accidents of history. Like
other foci of study in sociology, the study of social change has macro and micro components,
and they have waxed and waned in popularity over the course of the 20th century. Work prior
to World War II focused almost exclusively on macro components and causes of social
change, but work after World War II, in the 1950s and 1960s, focused on micro/social-
psychological sources of social change. More recently, there has been considerable
movement toward reconciling agency and structure in explanations of social change.

To a extent the classical founders of sociology (Marx, Weber, Durkheim, and others) were
students of social change. This bibliography focuses on classic 20th-century works that have
shaped the study of social change and have broad influence. This is also (at best) a partial list.
Ogburn 1922 represents pre–World War II American thinking on the relationship between
social structure and culture in producing social change. Smelser 1962 builds on Ogburn’s
observation that social change is driven by cultural and structural contradictions. Olson 1965
and Tilly 1978 address reasons why social change via collective action is difficult and
unpredictable, even in the face of obvious injustice and oppression. Lenski 1966 provides a
comprehensive, theoretical synthesis of the development and maintenance of social
stratification. Bell 1973 and Habermas 1975 foresee the end of Fordist industrial production
and the economic and cultural developments that would be labeled “post-industrial society,”
and Huntington 1997 views cultural differences or “civilizations” as one key to understanding
late-20th-century global conflict and change. Social change is a significant, lasting alteration
in a society's culture, values, norms or behavior, especially as it relates to the goal of making
the world a more equitable, stable place. Examples include the abolition of slavery, the
industrial revolution, women's suffrage and civil rights, among others.

Social movements arise from deep-seated tensions between those who have power and those
who don't. Unlike many changes in business, social change is always contested. That's
because it necessitates challenging the prevailing wisdom of the day to present an alternative
vision for the future. That future might be articulated in words or manifested as a grassroots
resistance to the status quo. Either way, social change breakthroughs don't come easily. They
need ardent supporters who'll seek opportunities and work through obstacles far into the
future. But first, it's important to understand the process of social change.
Type of Social Change:
From the ensuing discussion it appears that social change can be categorised to two types:

(1) Evolutionary Social Change

(2) Revolutionary Social Change.

(1) Evolutionary Social Changes:

Evolutionary changes occur in course of a long period slowly and gradually and through
evolutionary process. Such changes are not very drastic or remarkable. They proceed
gradually like the process of conditioning and people learn to adjust with such changes
gradually.

During our school and college days we were wearing saree and nobody then could dream of a
married any a women wearing even Salwar and Kameez. We also used to put veil on our
head, after marriage. I remember after my marriage in 1960,I used to put veil on my head for
35 years while in job and at home as well.

But this system has changed gradually. Now what about girls, married women is Orissa also
wear Salwar Kameez, various other western dress and normally do not put veil on their head.
This practice has been gradual and it has also been accepted by parents, relations in laws and
other members of the society.

So much so that when today a girl attends, college wearing a saree others around look at her
with raised eyebrows. Even some of her friends start joking at her calling her ‘Chudaa’.
means, old fashioned.

Using lipstick and going to beauty parlours were considered as taboos so for women in Orissa
some decades back. But now even college going girls including many women teachers go to
school and colleges using various kinds of make-up. This is not considered a taboo now.

Gradually people have adjusted to such evolutionary changes may be due to urbanization and
western influence. Some years back while I was in Government job and went to Delhi to
attend a meeting, one of my lady colleagues who was also attending the same meeting wanted
to go to a beauty parlour on our wayback to hotel.

She also asked me to join her. But she was astonished when I told her that I have never
visited a beauty parlour even when I was young and I would not like to do it now.

Though I as a member of the society have accommodated to certain social changes which I
consider beneficial or may be not harmful, I do not accommodate to those changes which are
harmful for our society for our social values, culture and finally our conduct in the society.
Still many people are there is the society who follow me.

People are able to adjust better with evolutionary social changes as the process is slow and
gradual and hence easy to adjust. We also find today many male members wearing pants and
shirts while sitting in Puja which was not acceptable several years back.
Use of Jeans and T. shirts in place of half pants and shirts have become common sights in
schools and colleges, in public life and members of the society have gradually coped with
this.

Even old and aged people of India are now found wearing such westernised dresses without
any conflict or guilt feeling, since society has gradually accepted it. Similarly women going
for higher education, studying in coeducational institutions, do join army, navy and airforce,
for becoming pilots, going to space to join politics, doing various jobs which were earlier
meant for men only.

Doing various jobs outside the domestic front, which were not acceptable several decades
back for women is now accepted. Husbands in Indian society doing domestic chores which
were not acceptable hundred years back have become common practices to-day in Indian
societies. This has been possible due to gradual, evolutionary social change. This change has
not occurred instantly, suddenly, abruptly.

Earlier many people did not pay tax, but now people have developed the mind set to pay tax
considering it as legal and are paying tax voluntarily. These are simple examples of important
evolutionary changes which occur gradually within sufficient time perspective.

(2) Revolutionary Changes:

It is the opposite of evolutionary change. When the changes in various sectors of our social
system occur suddenly, drastically and sufficiently so as to differentiate it from gradual, slow
change, it is called revolutionary social change.

The change in other words is great in degree, remarkable. The changes are such that they
change the whole social order and the course or style of living, conduct and concept of do’s
and donts. They are a matter of kind which occur due to some movement, revolution war,
rapid technological changes, due to sudden change in social events.

They occur very quickly and within a short period or short duration. Let us take some
examples. The changes in social structure and social system which occurred after various
famous revolutions like the French, the Russian, the Chinese and the American Revolution
and more recently the revolutionary changes that occurred or are still occurring in various
Afro-Asian countries occur due to revolutions and movements India’s freedom movement or
revolution for independence from ‘British Raj’ is a case of revolutionary movement.

Besides India’s small or big movements to eradicate the evils of colonialism, caste and class
system economic disparity, tribal life style, superstition, to fight against suppression and
oppression, are valid examples. Introduction of widow marriage, abolition of child marriage,
and Satidaha Pratha, acceptance of intercaste and inter religion marriage are to some extent
examples of revolutionary change.

In short, those remarkable and drastic changes which occur in the social system of a country
or society in a very short span of time are possible due to revolution and movements big or
small. Such drastic changes not only change the life style of people in a society, they also
transform the relationship between individual across countries including within the countries.
Various cross cultural studies lead to support this observation. Attitude change is an
important example of the effect of social change which may happen either due to
evolutionary or revolutionary change.

Because of various social changes attitude of people also change towards the social system. It
is therefore rightly viewed that man is not only an agent, but also a target of social change. In
short, man is indispensable in bringing social changes as well as is influenced by the same
social changes.

He makes or changes the society where he lives and is again influenced by such a changed
society. Social activities who fight against dowry system and are able to pass a law in that
regard are also influenced by the abolition of dowry system. When their sons and daughters
get married they cannot claim or give dowry.

Characteristics of Social Change:

When either evolutionary or revolutionary changes take place in the social system one lives,,
observable changes take place in the social values, customs, traditions, cultural heritage, age
old beliefs, style of living, dress, attitude, superstitions stereotype, way of conducting oneself
in the society, process of socialization and overall behaviour of its members.

Thus the chief characteristics of social change is the change in various areas of the social
system where man is born, grown and dies. Such changes influence his attitude towards
various stimuli, values, faiths and beliefs, his emotions and sentiments, his moral and
religious standard, his conscience and super ago.

The characteristics and nature of social change influence a mans Id, ego and super ego, his
entire psycho physical system, his mental and physical characteristics, and his overall nature,
conduct, response and behaviour in the environment in which he moves, such as his family,
neighbourghood, his response to social members, and how he reacts to them.

When remarkable difference is observed in ones attitude towards widow marriage, towards
dishonesty, towards various cultural conditions, towards unwed motherhood, single
parenting, divorce, infanticitis, family planning, girl child, legalized abortion and population
control, we say that social change has occurred.

Further such changes in the attitude and values of a person should be more or less durable,
relatively permanent and whole heartedy acceptable and practised by a majority of the
society. A social change must continue for a considerable period. When certain social orders
are “out” and in their place new or alternative social orders arc “in”, when such changes are
perceivable we say that there has been social change.

However such acceptances of the change by a few members would not be called social
change. If a few accept the changes and majority oppose it, it gradually disappears and people
will again go for the old values and customs. Sometimes it is found than when majority
people experience that the changed social system does more harm than good, they again go
back to the old social order.
Ayurvedic medicine and yoga which were used and practiced by most people during the
ancient time and were given up in between have now again become very popular and people
are again taking their help to get cured and keep oneself sound and fit.

Man being the prime motivator of social change, social change cannot be given shape without
the human being. Majority of the people ultimately have to conform the social change for its
continuity and durability.

Factors Influencing Social Change:

Social change do not occur automatically. Certain factors do influence social change.

(i) Social Movement and Social Revolution:

(ii) A social movement originates when either people are discontent and unhappy
with the existing social system or social order, when people try to establish a
new order of life or a new style of living or when the social system is established
in a condition of unrest.

According to Blumer (1946) social movements derive their motive from dissatisfaction with
the current form of life and also from wishes and hopes for a new scheme or system of living.
According to Turner and Killian (1957) a social movement is a collective acting with some
continuity to promote changes or resist a change in the society or group of which it is a
part.Then, what social movement exactly means? A social movement refers to collective
efforts to establish a new order of life which ultimately brings changes in the existing social
system of that society, state or country.Movements organised by minority groups initially
may be accepted and practised by people collectively. Heberice (1951) holds that a social
movement basically attempts to bring about fundamental changes in the social order
particularly in the basic field of property and labour relationships.Currently the law to
properly rights to Hindu Women has changed, specially due to the active efforts of various
women organisations in India who are pushing their movements for women empowerment.
Women in India and in many parts of the word arc still considered as socially disadvantaged
and economically weak.They are still exploited by their male counterparts and even powerful
women members at the domestic front. Domestic violence has been rampant in India as
surveys show. Therefore various women organisations have started movements to give
women their right to property, right to work, right to earn right to birth right to economic
independence, right to education and finally right to live dignifiedly.

The repeated and frequent rise in social movements in a country hints at the discontentment
and unhappiness with the existing social order. The purpose of such revolutions is to bring
changes in the existing social order which are considered evil and discriminative by the
members of the society.

Cameron is of the opinion that a social movement occurs when a fairly large number of
people band together in order to alter or support some portion of the exiting culture or social
order.
Human Rights movements among the African-Americans in the United States serve as an
example. In India even several Human Rights Organisation are starting movements to change
the existing attitude of the higher socio-economic groups towards their lower counter parts.

Similarly the right to information is a kind of human right which has been constitutionally
legalised in India and abroad serves a fine example of change in social order and social
system.Keeping in view the purpose of social change Sherif and Sherif have given the
following comprehensive definition of social movement.According to them A social
movement consists of a pattern of attempts over time prompted by a state of common unrest,
discontent or aspiration shared by large number of individuals to bring about change in, to
establish, the maintain or to suppress a definite scheme of human relations and values
through pronouncement, literature, meetings and direct collective action, (e.g., rallies,
boycotts, marches, strikes, insurrection etc.).A social movement may be initiated by
suffering, tortured, neglected and humiliated persons who are whole heartedly dissatisfied
with the existing social order. Initially the pattern of social movement erratic, being half
hazard and unorganised may be started by a few.

But gradually over time, it takes a concrete shape and large numbers of people come forward
to participate. Subsequently, it becomes more organised and coordinated. It has a formal
leader irrespective of the fact whether finally it is successful or not.The Narmada Dam
Movement is a small social movement which till to-day has not taken a successful shape. But
no doubt, it is a social movement initiated for the benefit of some farmers of the area who
have been affected directly or indirectly by the construction of the dam.

.(ii) Common Motivation:

In order to make a social movement successful there is a need to coordinate local attempts
and to make a comprehensive formulation of the causes of discontentment, the purpose and
forms of action to achieve the goal. A social movement breaks down without a leader with
leadership qualities and its success also depends upon the co-ordination and cooperation of
the affected members.

A social movement which is the basic cause behind social change stands on its motivational
base.

There; must be a single motive common to all participants on which the social movement can
stand firmly such as causes like woman’s right to vote and property, woman’s empowerment,
widespread dissatisfaction of landless people, defects in the existing land reform rules,
dissatisfaction over inadequate working conditions, the right to information or civil rights,
equal opportunity to every citizen irrespective of caste, creed, community or property, etc.

(iii) Common Need:

Common motivation originates from common need. When a particular social movement
includes several spheres of living like change in working condition, right to vote, right to
earn, right to information etc. it will fight for broad changes in social system either through
evolutionary or revolutionary method.
Interested participants of the social movements are usually those who are directly affected by
the existing social order. But sometimes social and human rights activities take leading part
in social movements without being directly affected.

Revolutionary movements help immensely in achieving social change quickly. The scope and
rate of social changes are culminated and accentuated through such revolutions which involve
the need of large number of people, has a firm and dedicated leader who can fight in an
organised and coordinated manner.Need for social change is a powerful factor of influencing
and bringing social change. If there is no need to be dissatisfied with the existing social
system or social order, an evolutionary or revolutionary social movement cannot start.

Just as need is the mother of invention and motivation, similarly it is the mother of all social,
political and religious movements. Thus need works as a powerful cause of social change.
The need may be of various types like, economic, political, religious, social, psychological or
biological.The need based on the dissatisfaction over caste system, economic disparity,
discrimination in social states, discrimination in facilities available to various racial,
communal religions linguistic and social economic groups, backward classes, minority
groups, and discrimination over reservation policy leading to dissatisfaction among the
affected group.

A strong need or needs based on proper realization, proper planning and proper organisation,
work as the back bone of any social movement either major or minor. If the need is not value
oriented and is weak, the group will gradually disintegrate and the movement will finally lack
cooperation and strength.Hence need for social change is one of the powerful factors which
goads the movement towards the direction of achieving the goal or ideology. A common need
helps in inducing a common motivation which further pushes the desire to take forward the
social revolution or movements as the case may be.A women who has experienced the pangs
of suffering and evil effects of child marriage may start a movement against child marriage.

Similarly, a leader of the landless labourers who himself is landless and has suffered due to
this disadvantage, would feel the greater need of a movement for allotment of land to needy
landless labourers. The stronger is the need, the greater is the motive for a social change and
the higher is the success rate.

(iv) Long Standing Suffering due to Suppression and Oppression:

This factor influences a lot any social movement aimed at social change based on a single or
number of issues.Suppression by the higher socio economic class of the lower socioeconomic
group, suppression of the low caste by the high caste, by the high rank employees of its low
rank counterparts, rejection of the genuine demands of the various socially economically and
psychologically disadvantaged class, and many more problems of a caste and class based
society, racial and communal feeling produce the urge for social change.People who have
been suppressed from generation to generation initially tolerate and remain silent. But
gradually they revolt when their limit of tolerance is crossed. At such a cross road some
people start a movement and provide leadership.They discuss with others of the same group
having similar needs and form a group. Gradually the number increases as more and more
people join the band. The movement becomes more organised, strong and collective and
finally takes the shape of a social movement.Many people of Africa, India and other Asian
countries including various tribes who have been subjected to a lot of humiliation, prejudice,
torture and inhumanity at least open their month and start revolting like a volcanic irruption.
(v) Impact of Communication:

Many social changes are influenced by various electronic and mass medias like TV, Radio,
news paper etc. These agents highlight the woes and sufferings of needy people and
encourage a change in the social order. People who read papers, listen to Radio or view
television; people who are educated are influenced. They actively or passively directly or
indirectly participate in the process of social change.These medias make the common man
aware of their problems, their rights and demands. Their clouded mind is lighted through
their information. Modern day information technology has helped a lot in this regard.These
knowledge’s and information’s provoke them to join a movement or fight for their cause
wholeheartedly. Through the mass media people come to know what is happening where and
accordingly they also start joining the band.Similarly through participation in group
discussions, person to person or face to face communication and contact a lot of information
is received. The feedback through this technique is so strong that people are highly motivated
to fight for a social change or accept it.

Though man is a target of social change, he is not however, a passive agent in any of the
social changes. A social change to be durable must need the active participation and genuine
willingness to participate is the decision making process. Otherwise the social change will be
temporary and mingle or fade with time.

It cannot sustain if force is used to accept social change. People are to be convinced through
communication that such a social change is necessary for his better standard of living and
good social, moral and emotional life. All social changes to be durable need the involvement
of man himself, need changes in the participant himself, in his outlook, attitude,
commitments identifications, realizations etc. It a man preaches one thing and practices
another social change will not be possible.The man has first to follow and implement the
yardsticks of social change on himself and his family, before trying to apply it on others. This
can be achieved through various means of communication which can convince him to change
his attitude and outlook.

.(vi) Education:

Notwithstanding the fact that education is a means of communication, education is discussed

here separately as a means of social change because of its specific importance. Educated
people are more conscious and aware of the positive and negative points of any social
system.Since education provides knowledge and knowledge increases mans outlook as well
as rationality and judgement, education acts as a very powerful force of social change. With
the rise in the percentage of educated people in the population it is seen that people have been
more conscious of the social evils and are fighting for a change. Hence the importance of
education cannot be under estimated is social change.

(vii) Technological Changes: Technological changes including various inventions also

influence social change. Urbanisation and work culture etc. are influenced by a technological
society. In the 21st century when man is entering the space huge and making huge
technological advances, the social order of that country is bound to change.Technological
advances do influence the life style, way of living, conduct and day-to-day behaviour of a
person becomes more urbanised
 CONCLUSION
The causes of social change are diverse, and the processes of change can be identified as
either short-term trends or long-term developments. Change can be either cyclic or one-
directional.

The mechanisms of social change can be varied and interconnected. Several mechanisms may
be combined in one explanatory model of social change. For example, innovation by business
might be stimulated by competition and by government regulation.

To the degree that change processes are regular and interconnected, social change itself is
structured. Since about 1965 there has been a shift in emphasis from “structure” to “change”
in social theory. Change on different levels—social dynamics in everyday life and short-term
transformations and long-term developments in society at large—has become the focus of
much attention in the study of society.