SOC 204 REVISION OF EXAMS
NOTE 3
CAUSES OF SOCIAL CHANGE
1. Environmental factor: soil erosion, climate change, drought, flood is some of the environmental
factors of social change. To many scientists, the long-term effects of global warming may lead to
unprecedented worldwide catastrophe.
2. Demographic Factor: The shifting size and shape of the population—globally and locally—is
enough by itself to create change in societies. Society has to continuously change and adjust to
give space for the population that is increasing rapidly
The growth of this segment of our population thus had profound implications for many aspects of
our society even though it was unplanned and “natural.
3. Cultural lag: An important aspect of social change is cultural lag When there is a change in one
aspect of society or culture, this change often leads to and even forces a change in another aspect
of society or culture. However, often some time lapses before the latter change occurs.
4. Social conflicts war and protest: Change also results from social conflict, including wars, ethnic
conflict, efforts by social movements to change society, and efforts by their opponents to maintain
the status quo.
The immediate impact that wars have on societies is obvious, as the deaths of countless numbers
of soldiers and civilians over the ages have affected not only the lives of their loved ones but also
the course of whole nations.
5. Technological factors: In the modern age, technological factors are among the predominant cause
of social change. Technology was a TOTAL change.
NOTE 3
CAUSES OF SOCIAL CHANGE
1. Environmental factor: soil erosion, climate change, drought, flood is some of the environmental
factors of social change. To many scientists, the long-term effects of global warming may lead to
unprecedented worldwide catastrophe.
2. Demographic Factor: The shifting size and shape of the population—globally and locally—is
enough by itself to create change in societies. Society has to continuously change and adjust to
give space for the population that is increasing rapidly
The growth of this segment of our population thus had profound implications for many aspects of
our society even though it was unplanned and “natural.
3. Cultural lag: An important aspect of social change is cultural lag When there is a change in one
aspect of society or culture, this change often leads to and even forces a change in another aspect
of society or culture. However, often some time lapses before the latter change occurs.
4. Social conflicts war and protest: Change also results from social conflict, including wars, ethnic
conflict, efforts by social movements to change society, and efforts by their opponents to maintain
the status quo.
The immediate impact that wars have on societies is obvious, as the deaths of countless numbers
of soldiers and civilians over the ages have affected not only the lives of their loved ones but also
the course of whole nations.
5. Technological factors: In the modern age, technological factors are among the predominant cause
of social change. Technology was a TOTAL change.
