Sources of Cultural Change in sociology
Following are the sources of cultural change in sociology.
- Discovery
- Invention
- Diffusion
- Acculturation
- Assimilation
Discovery
It is a shared human perception of an aspect of reality which already exists. In other words, It is the noticing of something to which no attention was previously paid, although it existed. According to Linton defines it is addition to knowledge. Some of the example of discovery are custom of marriage, ceremonies of worship etc. Finding facts in research is discovery.
Invention
According to Linton Invention is a new application of knowledge. Making a theory, predicting future events and presenting new social laws are the social inventions. Inventions are called primary by involving the discovery of a new principle, for example, the bow, and secondary involves only the application of a principle already known as a bow to propel arrow and bow-drill used to bore holes.
Diffusion
Cultural traits spread from one culture area to another is called diffusion. Elements of culture are taken up first, by societies, which are close to their points of origin and later by the societies which are more remote or which have less direct contract, is the, principle of diffusion pointed by Linton. Some examples of diffusion of cultural traits and complexes in various societies around the world are given below
Acculturation
This process connotes the transmission of traits from one culture to another over a sufficient time and sufficient traits as to regulate signs of similarity between the two cultures. In this process, two or more cultures come into contact. The intermixture of shared and learned behavior patterns is called acculturation.
Assimilation
It is the result or acculturation. Assimilation is the process of making two contacting cultures identical. In this process, one larger and more powerful culture may engulf small culture. Usually it happens to a minority in a culture. Hence assimilation is the fusion or blending of two previously distinct groups into one.
