CULTURAL CHANGE

Processes and Responses to cultural changes

LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this lesson, you should be able
to:
 Identify the causes or sources of cultural change.

 Describes the process through which cultural

change outcomes.
 Describe the outcomes of cultural change.

 Provide an example of each process and

outcomes.
INTRODUCTION
Culture is:
 Dynamic
 It changes
 It borrows from other cultures

 Adaptive and Relative

 It adapts to changes in the society and evolves to suit
the need of society.
 It is subject to change and at the same time resistant
to change.
 It varies over time and space.
CAUSES/SOURCES OF CHANGE
 Forces within a society.
 Technological/ideological
 Inventions- tools, change in government system, etc.

 Contact between societies.

 Changes in the natural environment.

PROCESSES OF CULTURAL CHANGE
 Diffusion

 Acculturation

 Transculturation/Assimilation

 Interculturation.
DIFFUSION
 “The movement of ideas
and things from one
culture to another”
(O’neil, 2006, p.7).

 It occurs directly or
indirectly as the result of
contact with another
society.
 It can be forced or
voluntary.
 Often when diffusion occurs
the original meaning of a
trait may change.
ACCULTURATION
 The process through which the cultural
patterns of one culture substantially,
through adoption, replaces the traditional
cultural patterns of another society.

 It occurs on a large scale and affects the entire

culture.

 This occurs when two cultures come in contact,

the subordinate culture adopts the ways of the
dominant culture.
TRANSCULTURATION/ASSIMILATION

 The process through which an individual adopts

the new culture of his or her new society.

 The individual may learn the new language and

adopt the cultural patterns of the new society.
INTERCULTURATION
 The process of mutual and symbiotic
exchange of cultural traits and patterns to
create a new or hybrid culture.

 This occurs over a period of prolonged contact.

 Example: Chutney Music in Trinidad

OUTCOMES OF CULTURAL CHANGE
As culture changes the following things occur:

 Cultural Lag

 Cultural Erasure

 Cultural Renewal

 Cultural Retention
CULTURAL LAG
 The failure of certain parts of a culture to
keep up with changes in other related
parts.

 It is often the failure of the non-material culture

to keep up with the material culture.
 The material culture changes rapidly, while, the
non-material culture tends to resist change and
remain fix.
 There is a ‘period of mal-adjustment’ as the non-
material comes to terms with the material.
CULTURAL ERASURE
 Defined as the gradual removal of traditions and
customs from society. Also, the act of neglecting,
looking pass or ignoring the other.

 It is a slow, but noticeable process.

CULTURAL ERASURE
 It is caused by:
 Conflict between traditional and modern ways of
doing things.
 Lack of interest, appreciation and disapproval of by
the younger generation for certain traditions.
 Cultural values and traditions are not taught to the
younger generation.
 Cultural diffusion
 Catastrophic events
 Globalisation
CULTURAL RENEWAL

Refers to efforts to salvage parts of the past

and culture by fashioning new practices
based on the old.

 It is an attempt to preserve cultural heritage

with the aim of raising awareness of the cultural
legacy of the society.

 This is done when the traditions or customs being

neglected are considered to have a lot of value
and meaning.
CULTURAL RENEWAL
Examples
 Dancing of the cocoa

 Mocco jumbie

 Speaking and
teaching of patois
CULTURAL RETENTION
Defined as a deliberate desire to keep
traditions alive so that some groups would be
able to preserve their sense of identity.

Action is taken because:

 The tradition or custom facing erasure is highly
relevant to society.
 There is a need to maintain a sense of belonging
and identity.
 It has economic value.
CULTURAL RETENTION
It is done through:
 Governments attempt to allow each ethnic group
to have national prominence and recognition of
their folkways and traditions.

 Heritage clubs organised and ran by schools and

service organisations .
CULTURAL RETENTION
Examples:
 Celebration of
Emancipation Day
 Celebration of Indian
Arrival Day
 Carricaou Maroon and
Big Drum Festival
 Regatta
CONCLUSION
 Cultural change is caused by several factors,
including; forces within society, changes in the
physical environment and contact between
societies.
 Culture changes through the processes of
diffusion, acculturation,
Transculturation/Assimilation and
interculturation.
 When culture changes, cultural lag, erasure,
retention or renewal can occur.
REFERENCES
 Mohammed, J. (2007). Caribbean Studies for
CAPE Examinations. Oxford: Macmillan
Education.
 Mustapha, N. (2013). Sociology for Caribbean
Students (2nd ed.). Kingston: Ian Randle
Publishers.
 Thompson, K., Lawson-Downer, M., John, A. S.,
& Thomas-Hunte, E. (2017). CAPE Revision
Guide Caribbean Studies. London: Harper
Collins Publishers Ltd.