Meaning of Social Change
Any alternation or modification that occurs in a situation over a time is called social change. It is the change in human interactions and inter-relations. If comes to change there are sources which are greatly responsible for change. The first source is unsystematic and unique factors day or night, climate, existence of people or groups. The second source is systematic factors like if we need sound development there must be a stable and flexible government and system as well as different social organization.
Definition of Social Change
There are some definitions by well-known sociologists
According to Mr. Mohammad Iqbal Chaudhry, It is the reorganization of society in terms of time and place.
Majumdar defined it as a mode or fashion either modified or replacing previous one in the life of individuals or in society.
Horton and Hunt defined it as a change in overall societal structure and relationship of a society.
Social change is the alternation or modification that takes place in a social structure or function of a society. It is the change in both material and non-material culture.
Also Read: Social Control Social Problems
Types of Social Change
Types of Social Change are the following.
- Complete Change. When there is a total change it is called a complete change. It is in status and practices.
- Partial Changes. When the part of a system changes it is a partial change. It is either in status or in practice
- Revolutionary Change. It is a sudden change and is always visible for a short period.
- Evolutionary Change. It is slow change and it exists permanently.
Study of Social Change
The interest of a sociologist in the study of social change is to observe.
- Forms
- Speed (high or slow)
- Cause (Possible factory contributing to change)
- Direction (whether it is positive or negative)
- Control (whether it is balanced or imbalanced)
- Source (Origin)
- Processes (course of action and patterns)
- Resistance (factors working against the growth of change)
- Study of social change Study the previous theories on the subject