INTSOCI/3T-AY2011-12 MJ.

SEE-SAN JUAN
CULTURAL CHANGE

The culture of a society is constantly evolving to fit new situations.

Evolution - a gradual development from simpler forms of life, art, technology, social organizations
to a more complex form.
Social evolution - the long, complex process of change and interaction by which cultures
gradually develop.
War can create an almost instantaneous change and can shift the focus of societys interest,
wealth/money and energy towards a single changewinning.
Postwar societies will certainly and substantively differ from the prewar condition. Some of the
changes will be the result of the opponents war effort; others will be the result of interaction with
members of other societies.

Rate of Change:

The rate of social change varies depending on the time/era they occur; but it has gradually gained
momentum through the course of human social development. Generally speaking, in the early times,
cultural/social change started slowly.

Factors contributing to an increased rate of change:

Certain factors have been especially important in contributing to an increased rate of change.
Examples would include:

1. Development of agriculture growing of crops forced people to settle in permanent dwellings

that subsequently led to the growth of towns and cities.
2. Invention of writing facilitated the recording and transmission of human knowledge (as human
knowledge increased, the rate of accumulation also accelerated)
3. Invention of printing
4. Rise of modern science
5. Industrial revolution the industrial revolution represented a shift in the methods of production;
it entailed the replacement of hand tools by machines and power tools and initiated the
movement away from small-scale agriculture to the large-scale industries.
6. Technological advancements, specifically the development of transportation and communication
the use of satellite transmission to simulcast events and ideas all around the world while they
are actually taking place or being formulated.
o With the acceleration of technological change, interaction among cultures also increases.

Factors causing cultural change:

1. Technological development. Technological development begins with discovery and invention

Discovery is learning something about the physical or social environment that was not
known before (ex. the explorers discovery of islands, continents; the scientists discovery of
the laws of motion and gravity, social scientists discovery of the interesting differences
between the cultures of preliterate people, etc.)

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Invention is a new way of doing something; or a new object or mechanical device

developed to serve some specific purpose.
o Material invention: lawn mower, airplane, vacuum cleaner, etc.
o Non-material: crop rotation, credit practice, alphabet and the system of writing, etc.

Note: an invention is really a special kind of discovery, and hence no sharp line can be drawn
between the two. We can call the making of fire by striking together flint stones either a
discovery or invention. All mechanical inventions involve the discovery that materials
combined and used in certain ways will produce certain desired results. Inventions bring
about changes in technology, and in modern societies technological change has been a
powerful force behind social change (ex. computer technology and how it changes the
lifestyle and culture of the people).

2. Cultural diffusion the spread of cultural traits from one social group to another.
Not all elements found in the culture of a given group were invented or developed within that
group. In most cases, the greater part of the content of any culture has been
borrowed/assimilated from other cultures.

Cultural diffusion is an extremely important factor in social change. Societies that are
isolated from outside contacts tend to be static, while those that can readily communicate
with other groups constantly acquire new cultural elements.

Contact does not always lead to cultural diffusion. (Ex. Amish society has maintained its
separate cultural identity despite significant contact with mainstream US culture, through the
careful nurturing and has shunned many modern technological developments)

3. Ideas and ideologies - Social change may also be initiated by new and practical ideas that may
result to discovery and inventions; and which eventually become accepted and recognized as
part of the cultural pattern (ex. a new type of dance, a new gadget, equality, etc.)

However, not all ideas are of this type. Some represent important changes in social attitudes and
basic social values that may in time gain powerful holds on minds of the people (ex. concepts of
liberty, fraternity, equality, etc.). Often they come to represent hopes and aspirations that can be
approached in a variety of ways, though they can never be fully realized.

Once these ideas become established in the society, they become a powerful force for continuing
social change in directions that are thought to lead toward their realization or what we call as
Ideology. (ex. Karl Marx and the socialist ideology; John Maynard Keynes and his economic ideas,
etc.)

Ideology - an organized system of ideas for remodeling society so as to bring it closer to attaining
its ideals and aspirations. We may regard it as a composite of ideas, values and emotions.
Sometimes, those who believe in an ideology often support it with religious or even political
fervor. (ex. fascism, communism, socialism, democracy). Every ideology has its system of values,

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more importantly, a proposition to organize society according to a somewhat different pattern

(usually something difficult if not totally impossible to achieve).

4. Collective action - Most social changes take place gradually and are not planned and carried out
by a central agency. At times, important social changes may also be brought about by planned
group action.

Group action usually means government action, because the government is the only agency that
can make and enforce rules that in theory apply to the entire social group. (Ex. Communist
leaders drastic measures in an attempt to create societies based on Marxs communist
ideology)

In democratic societies, social changes can be realized through planned governmental action
only if the action has the support of the people (Ex. EDSA people power). Such social changes
planned out by government are usually embodied in legislation that is designed to meet/address
social problems.

But legislation has also its limitations. To be effective in promoting social change, it must reflect
the established beliefs of the people or it must change those beliefs relatively quickly.

If legislation violates what the majority of the citizens believe to be their just rights and privileges.
It has little chance of success.

5. Geography and climate. When people live in a given region over a long period of time, they
become adjusted to the local conditions of geography and climate (ex. Badjaos and their
dependence on marine resources as source of living and livelihood).

But changes in the natural environment can and do occur, and thus may require radical cultural
adjustments (Ex. droughts, earthquakes, the exhaustion of important natural resources, climate
change, etc.)

Factors stabilizing culture:

The various factors of social change lead to a dynamic, continually altering society. Change and
culture will often conflict, with culture providing strong resistance to social change.

1. Stability of social norms. In spite of the high value that some industrial societies place on so-
called progress, human beings appear to be basically conservative.

The human mind and personality are so constituted once people acquire certain beliefs,
attitudes and patterns of behavior, they have difficulty changing them.

2. Habit - ways of behaving that have been learned so well that they can be carried on without
conscious attention. Once acquired, they are difficult to change because they become part of the
individuals personality.

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Chief reason for the persistence of conventions, mores and social institutions is that they
become largely habitual for all members of the social group.

3. Value attachment. Another reason for the persistence of conventions, mores and institutions is
that we and our groups attach values to them.

When we believe that established patterns of behavior have high moral value, and when they
arouse in us strong emotions, these patterns become resistance to change.

Note: Social change of any importance, even though favored by the majority, are likely to meet
opposition from many individuals and groups with vested interest.
Vested interest - a privilege or advantage that an individual enjoys because of the status quo,
which is the existing state of affairs. (ex. influential politicians would do anything to remain in
power; sex education and divorce issues meeting opposition from the Church).

Social change vs. social stability

Many of the things we value in our society(ex. our high standards of living)could not have
been brought about without a receptive attitude toward social change, simply because all change
produces new situations.

But if change occurs very rapidly it may create new problems for which we are unprepared.
Instead of creating/introducing a better world, it can bring on periodic crises and give people a
constant sense of uncertainty and insecurity (cultural lag).

Every social group feels the need for some degree of stability. If stability is to be maintained,
change in our basic institutions must be gradual. It must take place by evolution rather than
revolution.

Key points to remember:

Change in itself is neither good nor bad. It only means that old situations are being replaced by
new ones.

Evolution has more definite implications than change. (Gradual development)

Whether change is desirable is actually arbitrary. From one perspective, change may signify
progress, but from another perspective, it could mean regressive change.
o Change cannot be seen as progress unless we know what life goals are and how those
changes help us meet those goals. Apparently, views of what life goals are differ among
societies, hence, views of whether social evolution is progressive also differ.

Any given culture is the result of too many factors to be explained adequately by any simple
formula. One thing is sure: Change is inevitable. Relationship of human beings with their
environment is dynamic ; and this dynamic relationship produces change.