Social Change

“ All human beings have to adjust to the social changes that take place after childhood, just as immigrants do when they move to a new country.”▪ Everyone over the age of 40 is an

immigrant....

▪ Margaret Mead

All people over the age of 40 find themselves living in a society that is different from the one in which they grew up.

In Canada we experience social change but not at such a fast pace as in china ( read italics on page 70)

What are some examples of social change here in Canada?▪ Public opinion on smoking▪ Domestic violence▪ Equal rights for gay and lesbian couples▪ Social change can be either positive or

negative

Conditions for Social Change: 1) Leadership:

▪ The emergence of a leader with “ charisma”▪ Characterized by a large vision, magnetic style,

strong popular support, has aspects of extraordinary, superhuman and supernatural character

▪ Places great demands on his/her followers, promises them rewards for their support, yet maintains a distance between the leader and the led

▪ Personally affect the course of history & are remembered for centuries after their deaths

▪ Adolf Hitler, Mao Zedong

2) The role of the Elites:

Modernizing elites: groups of people who create significant social change and influence the direction it goes

NOTE: social change is usually achieved through the interplay of the various modernizing elites, and not a single charismatic leader.

3) A Populace Ready for Change:

The vision of the leader must match the mood of the public

Theodore Newcomb @ Bennington College study ( mid 1930’s) ▪ Determined that the values acquired early in

life stay with us throughout our lives▪ May be able to predict future social attitudes

based on our observations of the present

Questions:

What social attitudes are held by the young people of today?

Based on this, what may the future hold?

More liberal, open and accepting...... Open marriage, community

parenting with no one specifically responsible for the children ( the responsibility is shared by all)