Social change is the alterations of functions of social life. Changes occur in social relationships, social processes social patterns, actions and interactions. There changes are brought about by endigenous forces and exogenous forces. It is a change in the society it refers to minor and persistent changes in the social structure of a society.
Factors of Social Change
Social change is brought about by the influence of many factors. They include:
(a) Biological Factors,
(b) Geographical Factor,
(c) Technological Factors, and
(d) Socio-cultural Factors.
Biological Factors
Biological factors can be classified under two categories:
(a) Non-Human Biological Factors (b) Human Biological Factors
(a) Non-human Biological Factors: These include plants and animals. Human beings are dependent on them for food, shelter, clothing etc. They need it for oxygen and other utilities. In the animal world there is the struggle for existence. The struggle is also a result of geographical changes. Man is doing control over the environment.
(b) Human Biological Factors: It affects population, quantity and density of population. The intelligence of human beings had led to their development over other species. Humans are changing all the time due to physical makeup, intelligence and behaviours. Population changes plays an instrumental role in social changes. With the invention of technologies and health care facilities there has been a decline of death rate life expectancy has increased which has brought about social and cultural changes. Migration also results in social changes due to interaction between people of different cultures.
Geographical Factors
Geographical factors have played an instrumental role in bringing about social change. For example, victims of natural disaster have to abandon their community and re-build it again.
Ecological change also affects human beings. If population grows very much in an area they exploit natural resources which leads to social changes. Over exploitation results in social and political conflict.
Technological Factors
Technology has played a vital role in bringing about social change. Magnitude of change varies from the availability of the technology in a particular region. The advert of machine technology brought about significant changes. It brought about changes in the mode of production, relation of production and social organisation. The development of war technology has changed the techniques of war.
The opening of transport networks have brought places closer. Modern medicines have improved health system.
Industrialisation brought about a shift from feudalism to capitalism affecting people relations, religion and other institution.
Socio-cultural Factors
Socio-cultural factors have played a vital role in bringing about social change.
It has been caused by:
(a) Discoveries
(b) Inventions
(c) Diffusion
(d) Social Movements.
● Inter cultural contact has brought about many changes.
● Discoveries have altered society and brought about social change, for example, discovery of America has led to mass scale migration which has resulted in social changes.
● Diffusion is the spread of culture in various groups. This causes social change.
● It takes place between societies through contact. Jazz originated in New Orleans was diffused to various societies and spread in different parts of the world.
● Social movement also played a major role in social change. These movements recreated older social forms which were reactionary in the nature.
● Revolutionary movement is also a kind of social movement. For example, the French Revolution led to the development of democracy and modern civil army
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