Processes of Processes of ChangeChange

Chapter 15Chapter 15

Why Do Cultures Change?Why Do Cultures Change?► Much change is unforeseen, unplanned, and undirected. Much change is unforeseen, unplanned, and undirected. ► Changes in existing values and behavior may also come about due Changes in existing values and behavior may also come about due

to contact with other peoples who introduce new ideas or tools. to contact with other peoples who introduce new ideas or tools. ► This may even involve the massive imposition of foreign ideas and This may even involve the massive imposition of foreign ideas and

practices through conquest of one group by another (below). practices through conquest of one group by another (below).

Spanish conquest of the Inca

How Do Cultures Change?How Do Cultures Change?► The mechanisms of culture change include The mechanisms of culture change include

innovationinnovation, , diffusiondiffusion, , cultural losscultural loss, and , and acculturationacculturation..

► InnovationInnovation is the discovery of something that is is the discovery of something that is then accepted by fellow members in a society.then accepted by fellow members in a society.

► DiffusionDiffusion is borrowing something from another is borrowing something from another group. group. SyncretismSyncretism is a form of Diffusion. is a form of Diffusion.

► Cultural loss Cultural loss is the abandonment of an existing is the abandonment of an existing practice or trait, with or without replacement.practice or trait, with or without replacement.

► Repressive ChangeRepressive Change People don’t always have People don’t always have the liberty to make their own choices and the liberty to make their own choices and changes are forced upon them by some other changes are forced upon them by some other group, in the course of conquest and colonialism. group, in the course of conquest and colonialism. Subcategories include: Subcategories include: Acculturation, Ethnocide, Acculturation, Ethnocide, GenocideGenocide

InnovationInnovation► The ultimate source of The ultimate source of

change: some new change: some new practice, tool, or principle.practice, tool, or principle.

►Other individuals adopt Other individuals adopt the innovation, and it the innovation, and it becomes socially shared.becomes socially shared.

► Primary innovations are Primary innovations are chance discoveries of new chance discoveries of new principles (i.e. the wheel).principles (i.e. the wheel).

► Secondary innovations are Secondary innovations are improvements made by improvements made by applying known principles applying known principles (i.e. the Iphone).(i.e. the Iphone).

Acceptance of InnovationAcceptance of Innovation

►Depends partly on its perceived Depends partly on its perceived superiority to the method or object superiority to the method or object it replaces. it replaces.

►Also connected with the prestige of Also connected with the prestige of the innovator and recipient groups.the innovator and recipient groups.

InnovationInnovation

► The earliest discovery that firing clay vessels makes them The earliest discovery that firing clay vessels makes them more durable took place in Africa/Asia as in these more durable took place in Africa/Asia as in these Badarian pottery examples from pre-dynastic Egypt Badarian pottery examples from pre-dynastic Egypt (Above), probably when clay-lined basins next to cooking (Above), probably when clay-lined basins next to cooking fires were accidentally fired. Later, a similar innovation fires were accidentally fired. Later, a similar innovation took place in the Americas.took place in the Americas.

Cultural InnovationsCultural Innovations► Once one’s reflexes Once one’s reflexes

become adjusted to become adjusted to doing something one doing something one way, it becomes difficult way, it becomes difficult to do it differently. to do it differently.

► Thus, when a North Thus, when a North American visits one of American visits one of the world’s many left-the world’s many left-side drive countries side drive countries (about sixty) such as (about sixty) such as Great Britain (or vice Great Britain (or vice versa), learning to drive versa), learning to drive on the “wrong” side of on the “wrong” side of the road is difficult.the road is difficult.