6.2.3 Factors of social change (2024)

The major causes for social change are cultural factors, technological factors, biological factors, population factors, environmental factors and psychological factors.

These factors are discussed below

1. Cultural factors :

The social and cultural factors are so interwoven. All cultural changes involve social changes. Culture gives speed and direction to social change. The field of social change is limited in comparison to the field of cultural change.

2. Technological factors :

Technology affects society greatly. Technology changes society by changing our environment to which we intern adapt. This change is usually in the material environment and the adjustment we make to the changes often modifies customs and social institutions. In this way, the increased usage of new machines, methods, new sources of energy due to discoveries have made far-reaching consequences in the society. Similarly the development of communication technology in the modern era has greator impact on the society. The explicit effects of technological advances are labour organizations, division of labour, specializations, improved production and productivity, value addition to products, fast nature of life etc. In the modern era, technological factors are one of the predominant causes for social change.

3. Biological factors

Biological factors have some indirect influence upon social change. By biological factors, the mean the factors that determine the number, composition, the selection and the hereditary quality of the successive generation. The changes in population in both number and composition have effect on society. In addition to this biological principles of natural selections and struggle for survival are constantly producing alterations in the society.

4. Population factors

Changes in quality and size of the population affect the social organisations as well as the customs and traditions, institutions, associations etc., in a society. Increase/decrease in population, a change in the ratio of men and women, young and old have an effect upon social relationships. Decrease or increase in the population has an immediate effect upon economic institutions and associations. The ratio of men to women affects marriage, family and the condition of women in society.

5. Environmental factors

The geographists have emphasize that the impact of geographical environment upon human society. It is belived that alternation in the climate is the sole cause of evolution of civilisation and cultures. Floods, earthquakes, excessive rain, drought, change of season etc. have significant effect upon social relationships and these are modified by such natural occurrences.

6. Psychological factors

The cause of social change is the psychology of man himself. Man, in general, is a lover of change, is always trying to discover new things and is always anxious for novel experiences. As a result of this tendency, the traditions, customs, etc. of every human society is perpetually undergoing change. New customs and methods which replace the old traditional customs are being formed. However, the old customs are respected but time demands change and adaptation to changing conditions.

In addition to this, appearance of new opinions, thoughts etc. also cause social change. For example, changes in the attitude towards dowry, caste system, female education etc. have resulted in widespread social change. Similarly social changes are introduced by the advent of great thinkers as M.K. Gandhi, Karl Marx etc.

6.2.3 Factors of social change (2024)

FAQs

6.2.3 Factors of social change? ›

Ans: Demographic, technological, cultural, political, economic and education are some of the major factors of social change. changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times.

What are the three factors of social change? ›

Ans: Demographic, technological, cultural, political, economic and education are some of the major factors of social change. changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times.

What are the 3 processes of social change? ›

Conflict, competition, and cooperation

Group conflict has often been viewed as a basic mechanism of social change, especially of those radical and sudden social transformations identified as revolutions.

What are the three social changes? ›

The three traditional ideas of social change—decline, cyclic change, and progress—have unquestionably influenced modern theories. Yet because these theories are not scientifically determined, they fail to make an explicit distinction between decline and progress.

What are the three important sources of social change? ›

Major sources of social change include population growth and composition, culture and technology, the natural environment, and social conflict.

What are the 3 important social factors? ›

We can group these factors into three broad categories – discrimination, population and culture.
  • Discrimination: In societies all around the world, certain groups are discriminated against. ...
  • Culture: Culture can have hidden effects in business, trade and development.
  • The limits of cultural interpretations.

What are the three 3 factors of cultural change? ›

Three of the reasons why culture can change include the discovery and technological innovation, contact with other cultures and environmental changes.

What are the three principles of social change? ›

The principles of agency, access, and action offer a new framework to design for the complexity of these wicked problems, for the inequities between the under- and well-served and the cultural context in which they live. It is only with a new mind-set that we can truly design for social change.

What is an example of a social change? ›

Well-known examples of such change have resulted from social movements in workers' rights, civil rights, women's rights and LGBTQIA+ rights, to name just a few. Relationships have changed, institutions have changed, and cultural norms have changed as a result of these social change movements. That's pretty heady stuff.

What are the 3 theoretical perspectives of social change? ›

Sociology includes three major theoretical perspectives: the functionalist perspective, the conflict perspective, and the symbolic interactionist perspective (sometimes called the interactionist perspective, or simply the micro view).

What are the types of social change? ›

While social change can come from all parts of life, there are two main forms or types of social change: evolutionary and revolutionary. Evolutionary changes may be more natural than revolutionary ones.

What are the three agents of social change? ›

We will focus on four agents of change that social scientists recognize: technology, social institutions, population, and the environment.

What are the four main causes of social change? ›

We've mentioned that four key elements that affect social change are the environment, technology, social institutions, and population.

What are the 5 factors of social change? ›

Social change occurs due to various factors such as demographic, technological, cultural, political, economic and educational. These factors often act in concert resulting in changes either in a serial manner or something in parallel too.

What are three important processes for social change? ›

Social change refers to new behaviors that have long-term and relatively important consequences. Discovery, invention, and diffusion are the major social processes through which social change occurs. Important agents of social change are technology, population, the natural environment, revolu- tion, and war.

What are the three basic societal changes? ›

What were the three basic societal changes that sparked the sociological perspective? Industrial technology, explosive growth of cities, new political change. The sociological perspective was developed in the areas where: the greatest changes were taking place.

What are 3 elements of the social conditions of society? ›

We can distinguish three main components: (1) the shared set of norms, values, beliefs and attitudes, (2) the created and used artefacts, and (3) the people as constitut- ing members of the society (see figure 3). These three elements relate to each other in a closed loop. ...

What are the 3 factors affecting social policy? ›

Name three groups or factors that can influence social policy. Any three groups or factors are acceptable from the following: government departments, political parties, pressure groups (also known as interest groups), global organisations, public opinion or pressure, and sociological research.

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