Intro to Challenge & Change Flashcards
What is SOCIAL CHANGE?
Defined as “transformations in the beliefs, social interactions, practices, organisation, and structures of society.”
ANTHROPOLOGY; Definition
- Study of the human species and its origins
- Development of language and culture
PSYCHOLOGY; Definition
- Study of the human mind
- Behaviours, emotions, cognitive processes, and personality
SOCIOLOGY; Definition
Study of society and social behaviour
PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION; Definition
Qualitative research in which the researcher interacts with the researchees in studying their culture.
QUALITATIVE DATA; Definition
- description and comparison
- information expressed in words or actions
- considered more objective
QUANTITATIVE DATA; Definition
- numbers
- closed questions
- considered more objective
QUALITATIVE DATA; Examples
interviews, observations
QUANTITATIVE DATA; Examples
surveys, lab-based observations
MACROSOCIOLOGY
The analysis of large scale groups, social systems, and social structures. (eg, political systems, religious institutes, economic systems, etc…).
PARADIGM SHIFTS
Paradigm: a model or pattern which exists in the world, until a new paradigm shifts the belief system. When a new set of ideas are strong enough to affect the ways both individuals and societies see reality, the resultant changes are called a “paradigm shift”.
PARADIGM SHIFTS; Examples
Galileo’s heliocentric model, green compost bins.
EXTERNAL FACTORS AFFECTING CHANGE
Physical environment—climate, weather, vegetation, animal populations, humans—all affect the environment. When there is change in this, it causes a ripple effect on everything else.
What causes POPULATION SHIFTS?
- Wars
- Famines
- Natural disasters
- Political instability
What does PROXIMITY cause?
- Inter-cultural contact
Exchange of ideas between cultures is high in a globalised world, as is the resulting change
COLLECTIVIST STRUCTURE
- conformity, unity, cooperation
- everyone works for the good of society
INDIVIDUALIST STRUCTURE
- social behaviour guided by personal rights/freedoms
- everyone works for the good of themselves
What are the THREE STRUCTURAL LEVELS?
Infrastructure, Structure, and Superstructure
INFRASTRUCTURE
- How people attend to their basic needs; technological, economic, and demographic factors of a culture.
- Basis for the two other levels.
- Changes in infrastructure will influence organisation and ideology of a culture.
STRUCTURE
- How the culture is organised;
- political systems, laws, families
SUPERSTRUCTURE
- The ideology of a culture;
- beliefs and values
CULTURAL MATERIALISM; Definition
- Development of culture determined by physical materials and economic activity
- Cultural change occurs within the three levels (infrastructure, structure, and superstructure)
Who invented CULTURAL MATERIALISM?
Marvin Harris
FUNCTIONALISM; Definition
- Beliefs exist and function to meet the needs of a societal majority
- Change occurs by consensus, based on norms
