DEPARTMENT OF GENDER STUDIES

RURAL SOCIOLOGY – GDU 08104

LECTURE 3

CONCEPT OF SOCIAL CHANGE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

The basis behind social change is that all societies are changing at all times. Social change
can be defined as the modification in social systems and their sub-units in terms of their
functioning or structure for a specified period of time i.e. it involves the change in the way
people interact socially, in their structured relationships and in the functions performed by
these relationships.

Social change is the significant alteration of social structures including consequences and
manifestations of such structures embodies in norms values, cultural products and symbols.

2.0 FORMS OF SOCIAL CHANGE

1. Modification in human attitudes and behavior pattern as a result of education for

example, a farmer changing his system of farming as a result of innovation received
from the extension agent.
2. Alteration in social conditions as a result of changes in policies of a social
organization
3. Effecting reforms in major legal and functional systems of a society. Whenever laws
are passed, they call for changes in the way sand conduct of people and which usually
demands for adjustment.
4. Changes in material culture involve the change in the arts and artifacts of cultures. It
is the outwards manifestation of changes in the non material aspects of culture.

3.0 TYPES OF SOCIAL CHANGE

There are different types of changes and it is imperative that the extension should get
acquainted with them so as to know which one to apply for its rural development projects.

3.1 Planned change

Planned change is the one in which deliberate intervention effort is made to alter existing
practice. It entails mutual goal setting by one or both parties. Goals and objectives must be
clear to minimize trial and error. Planned change is used to correct some of the consequences
of unintended or unplanned changes. It is also used in improving the rural system and for
seeking assistance from outside.

3.2 Unplanned/ unintended plan/ natural change

This type of change has no apparent deliberation or goal getting. It involves operations or
activities which human being has no control over. For example, unplanned change may
involve natural disaster such as flood or earthquake which can make people to shift from their
locations to the other.

3.3 Total Change

This type of change is encompassing and comprehensive in nature. It covers all aspect of the
social system such as economic, social, political and so on. This type of change may pose
some difficulties for resource mobilization and ordering of priorities.

3.4 Segmental Change

This occurs in part as opposed to total change above. Resources mobilization is less difficult.
It touches only an aspect of life of the people or a small percentage of people living in a
place, the most important thing to note in this type of change is that the change should be
sufficient enough to make a meaningful impact.

3.5 Coercive change

Coercive change is a change of force. Goal setting is usually done by one side and it is non
mutual. Goal setting may be done by the change agent or government and the beneficiaries
are not involved. The opposite of coercive change is voluntary change whereby people
themselves make a plan for change and such include embarking on self helped projects.

3.6 Immanent change and contact change

Immanent change is that which takes place internally among people without external
influence e.g. when a local blacksmith comes up with a new farm implement. In case of
contact change it occurs when an external person unintentionally introduce a change
(selective contact change) or represents a planned change organization to effect a change
among the people (direct contact change)

3.7 Emulative Change

This is generally associated with formal organization or parastatas with clear cut
superior/subordinate relationship. It can be viewed as an influence through identification.
Change could be brought about sometimes uncourageously through identification and
emulation of power figures by the subordinates as we have in the civil service.

3.8 Technocratic change

This is a type of change that relies on collecting and interpreting data e.g. the researchers or
engineering models.
4.0 SOURCES OF CHANGE

The major sources of social change are through invention, discovery, and diffusion. Others
include religions, urbanization, governmental policies, application of science and technology
and natural physical forces.

 Invention: Is the recombination of existing cultural traits to design a new things and
the rate at which it takes place is directly related to the existing cultural base

 Discovery: Is an act of sharing with others a perception of fact object or relationship

which has always existed but was not known. This method is used to enhance the
cultural base in a society.

 Diffusion: entails the spreading of cultural traits from one group to another. Cultural
diffusion involves both material and non material things and that is facilitated through
the use of efficient technology communication gadgets, interaction facilities,
telephoning and specialists, who are well trained for the diffusion of innovation and
other sources

 Religious institution: Brought changes through formal preaching, indoctrination and

the use of metaphors and phrases to change people from one mode of life to another
and also through the provision of education.

 Government policies: Many changes have been brought about in the society through
governmental policies. The military era promulgate decrees while the civilian era pass
legislative bills which require a major social change to be effected.

 Application of Science and Technology: The patterned daily life in most rural
settlements have changed considerably today as a result of new road construction,
rural electrification and water supply schemes. Many varieties of foreign food and
cash crops have been introduced within traditional farming system and we now raise
and enjoy exotic breeds of livestock as a result of research and improved technology.

 Natural physical forces: These includes natural forces like water flood , erosion, and
fire disaster, erosion and flood have necessitated the relocation of villages while
excessive drought have caused the migration of the entire population within a region.

 Urbanization: the growth of town/cities or urbanization has led to the attraction of

youths and schools leavers aware from rural areas. In the cities there is increase in
populations, in industries, in trades thereby resulting in water and light shortages. This
have called for a tremendous adjustments on parts of urban dwellers
5.0 THEORIES OF SOCIAL CHANGE

There are several theories of social change, for this course however four have been selected
for discussion namely; The Behaviourists, The Psychodynamic, The diffusionist and The
conflict theory

5.1 The Behaviourist Theory

The proponents of this theory are Bandura, Kunkel, Homans and Eisentadt. They draw upon
one or more learning theories to explain change at the individual level. They assume that
individual respond to rewards and punishments which their culture imposes on desirable and
undesirable behaviours. Consequently, individuals over time, learns how to practice those
behaviours which promise rewards and to desist from those that attract punishments. By
manipulating sanctions therefore, behavior can be changed at any time. Social change can
thereby be improved through the wise manipulation of sanctions by the system.

This theory can further be illustrated by the act of giving incentives to the participants in a
programme, the incentives given could stimulate more people into the programme while non-
participants do not benefit from the incentives.

5.2 The Psychodynamics Theory

The proponents of psychodynamics theory are Vegens and Mc Clelland. This theory
emphasizes the man’s internal state and explains behavior terms of his internal
characteristics. Psychodynamics theorists hold that early childhood socialization largely
predetermines future behavior, for instance in a society where children are not taught values
of achievement, their needs for it will be very low in the future. They further suggest new
socialization patterns which would ensure the development of those characteristics that are
favourable to change and modernization

5.3 The Diffusionist Theory

This school of thought views social change as an educational process. The proponents play
less importance on the internal state of individuals and holds that the world society could be
divided into two camps on the basis of the relative modernity or primarily of each segment.

The modern sector is represented by the developed nations who are technologically advanced
countries while the primitive sector is the developing nations who are technologically
backward countries. The theory therefore holds that, for change to occur, modern technology
must be diffused from advanced countries to underdeveloped nations or where they are
lagging, and for the diffusion to be effective, it must include adequate communication skills,
democratization and educational approach. Diffusionist theory is also ethnocentric in nature
in the sense that, it claims western culture to be the criterion yardstick for measuring
development.
It assumes that social change is unidirectional which means that, all societies must go into the
same direction in order to develop. The proponents, such as Roslow therefore, advocate the
diffusion of western economic, social and political institutions to the less developing
countries as necessary conditions for growth. However, today the situation is contrary as the
advanced countries have blocked the advancement of the developing countries and they
themselves have attained her development status only at the expense and exploitation of the
developing nations.

5.4 The Conflict Theory

The Conflict theory identifies causes of change in the institutional arrangements and not in
individual’s internal state or characteristics. It assesses man in the totality of his social
relations and maintains that, gathering small bits of facts (out the individual level) the parts
and aspects of the society can never yield the big truths about social order itself. To them,
economic relations are the source of conflict and conflict the service of change.