Social change is when a society alters the order of its existence and functionality. It can be an alteration in the structures, institutions, practices or behavior, and is part of sociocultural evolution. It can alternatively be a political or economic motivation, rather than cultural or moral.
An example of social change would be the decrease in church-goers in the UK. Now only around 1 million, out of 60 million people, attend church on a regular basis, suggesting a move away from the comfort that religion provided, either due to a shared disaffection, a change in the way life is experienced, or maybe to improved education rendering people more critical and cynical.
Social change doesn't have to be a big shift though. Social change could be a community realization that recycling is important, or it could be a community supporting the idea of same-sex marriage; something minor, something controversial. If it is a change in the way the society, even in a community sense, operates then it is a social change.
There are main theories as to social change. Hegelian's argument is that one social force meets its opposite and it results in conflict, before a new outcome is determined and then the process is repeated. Marxism claims that there will always be clashes, because of the class differences, thus hinting that Communism is the logical outcome.
Thomas Kuhn argues that change only occurs, even when the current option is undoubtedly poor or even bad, when a better option is proposed.
The Heraclitan and Daoist theories both take a similar line of thought in that they believe social change has to occur else it will become stagnant and society will collapse. Change is integral to life and growth they suggest.
An example of social change would be the decrease in church-goers in the UK. Now only around 1 million, out of 60 million people, attend church on a regular basis, suggesting a move away from the comfort that religion provided, either due to a shared disaffection, a change in the way life is experienced, or maybe to improved education rendering people more critical and cynical.
Social change doesn't have to be a big shift though. Social change could be a community realization that recycling is important, or it could be a community supporting the idea of same-sex marriage; something minor, something controversial. If it is a change in the way the society, even in a community sense, operates then it is a social change.
There are main theories as to social change. Hegelian's argument is that one social force meets its opposite and it results in conflict, before a new outcome is determined and then the process is repeated. Marxism claims that there will always be clashes, because of the class differences, thus hinting that Communism is the logical outcome.
Thomas Kuhn argues that change only occurs, even when the current option is undoubtedly poor or even bad, when a better option is proposed.
The Heraclitan and Daoist theories both take a similar line of thought in that they believe social change has to occur else it will become stagnant and society will collapse. Change is integral to life and growth they suggest.
