1 Chapter 16 Social Change: Looking Toward Tomorrow

2 Overview Processes of Social Change  Collective Behavior Crowds, Mass Behavior, Social Movements  Cultural Change Social Revolutions Technology and Social Change  The Global Village  Cultural Imperialism Video Presentation:  “60 Minutes: Bhutan—Gross National Happiness”

3 Processes of Social Change Social change  Transformation of culture over time Collective behavior  People taking action together toward shared goal Contagion Theory Emergent Norm Theory  Types of Collective Behavior Crowds Mass Behavior Social Movements

4 Processes of Social Change Cultural Change  Invention/Discovery  Cultural Diffusion Spread to new groups  Cultural Lag Lapse between adoption of material and symbolic culture  Cultural Leveling Societies lose uniqueness, become more similar

5 The Four Social Revolutions Revolutions related to inventions  Domestication Revolution Plants and animals  Agricultural Revolution The plow  Industrial Revolution The steam engine  The “Modern Age”  Information or Digital Revolution The computer microchip  The “Postmodern Age”

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10 Technology and Social Change Technological Determinism  Technology drive changes in society Technology  Tools, and skills needed to make or use them Post-industrial or postmodern societies  Characterized by information Growth in media technology  Mass and interactive or “new” media  The digital divide “The Global Village” (Marshall McLuhan)  Ancient communities gathered around campfire Common stories bonded group  Electronic media (TV) as virtual campfire People in separate homes, yet sharing same stories  Virtual communities Not based on geography  Crossing the limits of time and space Crossing cultural boundaries

11 The Global Village

12 Media and Globalization Global media consumption  Whose voices in “the Global Village”? Cultural Imperialism  Western media dominates world market Powerful force in shaping other cultures  May contribute to decline in local traditional values  Freedom of the press seems fundamental to Westerners Others may see one-sided flood of information

13 Video Presentation: 60 Minutes Bhutan: Gross National Happiness

14 Parting shots: Be a conscious person Create positive social change Keep learning … Thank you!