Chapter Two: Social Change Flashcards
(25 cards)
Social Continuity
The opposite of social change but states change is always occurring and structures in society resist change
Cognitive Consistency
When your behaviour and attitude are the same
If one is different to gain consistency one must change
Cognitive Dissonance Theory
When our behaviours and attitudes are not the same or not consistent
Conformity
When people’s beliefs, attitudes and beliefs are altered by others
Maintaining a certain level of similarity with the status quo creates a sense of belonging
Informational Influence
Our desire to accept information presented by someone we admired
Normative Influence
The pressure to conform for the positive expectations of others
Max Weber
Stated that people provoke social change as a result of isolation
Isolation
Seclusion or lack of human contact
Anomie
A term created by Emile Durkheim that is a description of industrial workers who lack norms or roots to survive
Karl Marx
Believed alienation is a result of two things meant to be together being separated
A result of capitalism
Anarchists
People who act violently against the society that alienated them
Obedience
Not conformity but following the direction of someone in authority
Asch Experiment
Created by psychologist Asch who wanted to test the degree of conformity in groups by taking one participant and placing them in a group with confederates. They all participate in a vision test by matching a stimulus line to another
Forces of Social Change
Geography: Natural lay of the land + natural disasters
External Events: Large scale events impact social change
Technology: Tech advances affect how society acts, communicates, and live
Charismatic Leaders: people with large vision, magnetic style, and gains popular support
Modernizing Elites: small groups of people with a lot of money
Population wanting change: …
Tradition: ….
Expense: ….
Reductionist Theory
Aka the determinist theory Attributes social change to one factor coined by Karl Marx
Technology
The creation of objects or tool that are extension of our natural abilities and alter social environments
Alvin Toffler
Describes “future shock” as the “dizzying disorientation brought on by the premature arrival of the future”
“Click of a mouse” may have a affected our patience skills and cause irritation
Birth of an Industry
Technology = the application of knowledge to produce goods and services for people to work
Automobile Industry = Tools or machine used to make cars
Development of this industry changed the way cars looked and ran (i.e.. From wind, steam, power to gas powered)
One of the largest sectors in Canada started up by Ford (i.e. conveyor belt) it had many spin off industries that created more jobs
Canadian Technology around the World
Bombardier was the first to make the snowmobile as a teenager that was used to travel and deliver through snow terrain by the addition of back wheels and front skis. Also made subways, street cars and so on. Same concepts were used all over the world to transverse on many terrains
New Technology in Banks
Paper trails became obsolete as info was computerized through optic fibre cables. On 1988 Canada became the 6th largest bank to spend $300 million on communication services via telephone. Human tellers are now being replaced by ATMS and people fear the lose of face to face human interaction the computers may be faster and more professional but may have access to personal and government info and may make errors
Automating Industry
The replacement of human labour with that of robots is a highly debated topic. Robots although may not tire, work quicker, accurately and able to work in dangerous environments but they are prone to error and must be maintained.
Transformation of an oilseed
Canola oil originally was used as marine oil in WW2 but now finds a new purpose as an oil and a source of high protein and fatty acids like in margarine.
The Search of New Products
Many people decide what industries sell to us and how products are presented to us. Many American companies have to adapt to be able to make a profit in Canada (i.e. of selling muffins they sell tea biscuits for breakfast)
New products contribute to economic growth
The Telephone
Allowed for faster communication and more innovation. soon telephones became digital and were inputted with computer chips for voice messages and clearer audio. Phones soon became mobile and allowed for texting, Internet access, and calls and much more like apps and games. But made us more dependent on theNd embark on less face to face to face interaction.
