The Process of The Process of ChangeChange

Can We Make a Difference?Can We Make a Difference?

The complexity of change The complexity of change in the social worldin the social world

Social changeSocial change- defined as variations or - defined as variations or alterations over time in the behavior alterations over time in the behavior patterns, culture (including norms and patterns, culture (including norms and values), and structure of societyvalues), and structure of society

Some is controllable, some notSome is controllable, some not Inevitable and ubiquitousInevitable and ubiquitous Can be rapid or gradual and evolutionaryCan be rapid or gradual and evolutionary Change at one level often caused by Change at one level often caused by

changes at other levelschanges at other levels

Change and micro-level Change and micro-level analysisanalysis

Individuals with enough wealth, Individuals with enough wealth, expertise, power by force, or charisma expertise, power by force, or charisma can influence changecan influence change

Organizations can use numerous Organizations can use numerous strategies for change, including strategies for change, including appealing to individuals’ values, appealing to individuals’ values, removing uncooperative individuals removing uncooperative individuals from the organization, etc.from the organization, etc.

Change and meso-level Change and meso-level analysisanalysis

State terrorismState terrorism- terrorism instituted by a - terrorism instituted by a government to control the citizens of its own government to control the citizens of its own or another nationsor another nations

Not necessarily meso-levelNot necessarily meso-level

TerrorismTerrorism- “the use of indiscriminate violence - “the use of indiscriminate violence to cause mass fear and panic to intimidate a to cause mass fear and panic to intimidate a population and advance one’s political goals, population and advance one’s political goals, whatever they may be” (Nolan 2002).whatever they may be” (Nolan 2002).

Meso-level with personal and global implicationsMeso-level with personal and global implications

Change and macro-level Change and macro-level analysisanalysis

Environmental changes caused by one Environmental changes caused by one nation affect the entire world, but most nation affect the entire world, but most nations do not want to change for nations do not want to change for economic reasonseconomic reasons International alliances based primarily on International alliances based primarily on

economic tieseconomic ties

Social change: Processes Social change: Processes and theoriesand theories

Change is triggered by:Change is triggered by: StrainStrain- interior pressures for change - interior pressures for change

e.g., conflicting goals or belief systemse.g., conflicting goals or belief systems

StressStress- exterior pressures for change- exterior pressures for change e.g., the natural environment, population e.g., the natural environment, population

dynamics, leaders or dominant individuals, dynamics, leaders or dominant individuals, technology, the social environment, or major technology, the social environment, or major historical eventshistorical events

Theories of social changeTheories of social change

Symbolic interactionismSymbolic interactionism- humans actively - humans actively construct meaning; re-definitions of situations construct meaning; re-definitions of situations can be powerful impetuses for changecan be powerful impetuses for change

Rational choiceRational choice- a group seeking change - a group seeking change must set up a situation in which new desired must set up a situation in which new desired behavior is rewarded; alternatively, people’s behavior is rewarded; alternatively, people’s perceptions about the perceptions about the advantages/disadvantages of old behaviors advantages/disadvantages of old behaviors can be changedcan be changed

Theories of social changeTheories of social change

Cyclical theories- Cyclical theories- societies go through societies go through cycles similar to the rise and fall of cycles similar to the rise and fall of civilizations or the human life cyclecivilizations or the human life cycle

Toynbee- societies move from passive to Toynbee- societies move from passive to active in response to stresses; a stress will active in response to stresses; a stress will mobilize a society but the activism slows mobilize a society but the activism slows as the change becomes institutionalizedas the change becomes institutionalized

Theories of social changeTheories of social change

Social evolutionary theoriesSocial evolutionary theories- societies move - societies move slowly from simple to more complex formsslowly from simple to more complex forms

Unilinear social evolutionary theoriesUnilinear social evolutionary theories- all societies - all societies progress through the same steps; advancement is progress through the same steps; advancement is desirabledesirable

Lenski- societies progress through four stages Lenski- societies progress through four stages Multilinear social evolutionary theoriesMultilinear social evolutionary theories- simple - simple

societies go through a process of change to societies go through a process of change to become large, complex, technologically advanced become large, complex, technologically advanced societies in a variety of wayssocieties in a variety of ways

Theories of social changeTheories of social change

Functionalist theoriesFunctionalist theories- societies are basically stable - societies are basically stable (held together by shared norms) and composed of (held together by shared norms) and composed of interdependent parts that make the society function interdependent parts that make the society function smoothly; slow change may occur as societies smoothly; slow change may occur as societies become more complex, but rapid change is become more complex, but rapid change is potentially destabilizing and is dysfunctionalpotentially destabilizing and is dysfunctional

Conflict theoriesConflict theories- change is inevitable; conflict - change is inevitable; conflict between those in power and the oppressed will lead between those in power and the oppressed will lead to healthy changes that are useful for societyto healthy changes that are useful for society

Theories of social changeTheories of social change World systems theoryWorld systems theory- all societies have been - all societies have been

influenced (at least indirectly) by capitalisminfluenced (at least indirectly) by capitalism

Core nationsCore nations- economically and politically powerful - economically and politically powerful countries; historically have controlled global decision making countries; historically have controlled global decision making and received the largest share of profits from the world and received the largest share of profits from the world economic systemseconomic systems

Periphery nationsPeriphery nations- countries that provide cheap labor and - countries that provide cheap labor and raw materials for the core nationsraw materials for the core nations

Semi-peripheral countriesSemi-peripheral countries- countries in an intermediate - countries in an intermediate position between core and periphery nations that trade with position between core and periphery nations that trade with both; industrializing, so many core countries expand there or both; industrializing, so many core countries expand there or work as partners with themwork as partners with them

Collective behaviorCollective behavior Collective behaviorCollective behavior- actions that are - actions that are

spontaneous, unstructured, disorganized, spontaneous, unstructured, disorganized, and often violate norms; they arise when and often violate norms; they arise when people are trying to cope with stressful people are trying to cope with stressful situations and unclear or uncertain conditionssituations and unclear or uncertain conditions

Crowd behaviorsCrowd behaviors- forms of collective behavior in - forms of collective behavior in which a crowd acts, at least temporarily, as a which a crowd acts, at least temporarily, as a unifiedunified

Mass behaviorsMass behaviors- individual people communicate - individual people communicate or respond in a similar manner to ambiguous or or respond in a similar manner to ambiguous or uncertain situations, often based on common uncertain situations, often based on common information from the news or on the internetinformation from the news or on the internet

Theories of collective Theories of collective behaviorbehavior

The minimax strategyThe minimax strategy- individuals try to - individuals try to minimize costs and maximize gains; minimize costs and maximize gains; based on rational choicebased on rational choice

Emergent norm theoryEmergent norm theory- collective - collective behaviors often take place in unusual behaviors often take place in unusual situations where norms break down situations where norms break down and new definitions of acceptable and new definitions of acceptable behavior emergebehavior emerge

Theories of collective Theories of collective behaviorbehavior Value-added theoryValue-added theory- key elements are - key elements are

necessary for individuals to join together in necessary for individuals to join together in collective behaviorcollective behavior

Structural conducivenessStructural conduciveness Structural strainStructural strain Spread of a generalized beliefSpread of a generalized belief Precipitation factorPrecipitation factor Mobilization for actionMobilization for action Social controls are weakSocial controls are weak

Types of collective Types of collective behaviorbehavior

MobsMobs RiotsRiots PanicPanic RumorsRumors FadsFads FashionsFashions

Meso-level: Planned change Meso-level: Planned change in organizationsin organizations

Planned change in organizationsPlanned change in organizations Because of modern communication and Because of modern communication and

transportation techniques, the outcomes of transportation techniques, the outcomes of even small changes cannot be fully even small changes cannot be fully predictedpredicted

Planned changePlanned change- deliberate, structured - deliberate, structured attempts, guided by stated goals, to alter attempts, guided by stated goals, to alter the status quo of the social unitthe status quo of the social unit

Models for planning Models for planning organizational change organizational change

Closed system modelsClosed system models- the goal of closed system - the goal of closed system models is to move the organizational closer to ideal models is to move the organizational closer to ideal bureaucratic efficiency and effectivenessbureaucratic efficiency and effectiveness

Human resources organic modelHuman resources organic model- focuses on the internal - focuses on the internal dynamics of a company, taking individual workers into dynamics of a company, taking individual workers into account (e.g., Hawthorne studies)account (e.g., Hawthorne studies)

Human relations approach and the organizational Human relations approach and the organizational development movementdevelopment movement- workers at the organization are - workers at the organization are included in the decision-making process that leads to included in the decision-making process that leads to change; atmosphere is transparentchange; atmosphere is transparent

Models for planning Models for planning organizational changeorganizational change

Open system modelsOpen system models- combine internal - combine internal processes and external environment; the processes and external environment; the external environment provides the external environment provides the organization with inputs (workers and raw organization with inputs (workers and raw materials) and feedback (accessibility of the materials) and feedback (accessibility of the product)product)

The process of planned changeThe process of planned change Organizations must try to avoid conflict to stay Organizations must try to avoid conflict to stay

balanced, but planned change can be beneficialbalanced, but planned change can be beneficial Organizational leaders direct planned changeOrganizational leaders direct planned change

Macro-level change: Macro-level change: Social movementsSocial movements

Social movementsSocial movements- consciously organized attempts - consciously organized attempts outside of established institutional mechanisms to outside of established institutional mechanisms to enhance or resist change through group action]enhance or resist change through group action]

Focused on a common interestFocused on a common interest

Most common in industrial or post-industrial societies where Most common in industrial or post-industrial societies where there are diverse groups that advocate for their own goals there are diverse groups that advocate for their own goals and interestsand interests

Usually begun by individuals outside the power structureUsually begun by individuals outside the power structure

Often stimulate Often stimulate counter movementscounter movements- social movements - social movements against the goals of the original movementagainst the goals of the original movement

Stages of social Stages of social movementsmovements

Preliminary stagePreliminary stage- the context for a movement is set- the context for a movement is set Popularization stagePopularization stage- individuals coalesce their - individuals coalesce their

efforts, define their goals and strategies, develop efforts, define their goals and strategies, develop recruitment tactics, and identify leaders; the social recruitment tactics, and identify leaders; the social movement enters the public arenamovement enters the public arena

Institutionalized stageInstitutionalized stage- the organization gains the - the organization gains the members and funds necessary for changemembers and funds necessary for change

Fragmentation and demiseFragmentation and demise- the group breaks apart - the group breaks apart because the resources may be exhausted, the because the resources may be exhausted, the leadership may be inept or may have lost legitimacy, leadership may be inept or may have lost legitimacy, or the leaders may be co-opted by powerful mainline or the leaders may be co-opted by powerful mainline organizations (this stage does not occur in all organizations (this stage does not occur in all movements)movements)

Conditions for social Conditions for social movementsmovements

A preexisting communication network that allows A preexisting communication network that allows dissatisfied or alienate people to share their thoughtsdissatisfied or alienate people to share their thoughts

The people in the network must share basic values The people in the network must share basic values (and often share similar social statuses or positions)(and often share similar social statuses or positions)

A strain or precipitating event occursA strain or precipitating event occurs

Effective leadership emergesEffective leadership emerges

The people in the movement develop a sense that The people in the movement develop a sense that they can successfully change the systemthey can successfully change the system

Types of social Types of social movementsmovements

Expressive Expressive - focus on changing individuals and saving - focus on changing individuals and saving people from corrupt lifestylespeople from corrupt lifestyles

Social reform Social reform - seek to change some aspect of society, - seek to change some aspect of society, but members generally support the society as a wholebut members generally support the society as a whole

Revolutionary Revolutionary - attempt to transform society, to bring - attempt to transform society, to bring about total change in a society by overthrowing existing about total change in a society by overthrowing existing power structures and replacing them with new onespower structures and replacing them with new ones

Resistance or regressive Resistance or regressive - see change as a threat to - see change as a threat to societal values, so try to protect an existing system or societal values, so try to protect an existing system or part of a systempart of a system

Global transnational Global transnational - focus on large-scale, global issues- focus on large-scale, global issues

Globalization and social Globalization and social movementsmovements

Social movements are arising in response to Social movements are arising in response to the core countries’ mistreatment of periphery the core countries’ mistreatment of periphery nationsnations

Current globalization has damaged the Current globalization has damaged the environment, lessened consumer protection, environment, lessened consumer protection, decreased national sovereignty and local decreased national sovereignty and local control of decisions, and reduced safety and control of decisions, and reduced safety and other protections for workers other protections for workers

Globalization and social Globalization and social movementsmovements

Globalizing from belowGlobalizing from below- efforts by - efforts by common people to fight back; protect common people to fight back; protect workers, defend the environment, and workers, defend the environment, and combat povertycombat poverty

Lilliput strategyLilliput strategy- one tiny individual - one tiny individual cannot fight massive corporations, but cannot fight massive corporations, but many individuals working in tandem canmany individuals working in tandem can

Technology, Technology, environment, and changeenvironment, and change

TechnologyTechnology- the practical application of tools, - the practical application of tools, skills and knowledge to meet human needs skills and knowledge to meet human needs and extend human abilities and extend human abilities

ScienceScience- the systematic process of - the systematic process of producing human knowledge; it uses producing human knowledge; it uses empirical research methods to discover facts empirical research methods to discover facts and test theoriesand test theories

Technology applies this scientific knowledgeTechnology applies this scientific knowledge

Ogburn and social Ogburn and social changechange

Change is brought about by:Change is brought about by: DiscoveryDiscovery- viewing something that has - viewing something that has

always been present in a different wayalways been present in a different way

InventionInvention- combining existing parts, - combining existing parts, materials, or ideas to form new onesmaterials, or ideas to form new ones

DiffusionDiffusion- the spread of an invention or - the spread of an invention or discovery from one place to anotherdiscovery from one place to another

Technology and changeTechnology and change

New technology can improve the lives New technology can improve the lives of those in developing countries, but in of those in developing countries, but in other ways may be deleteriousother ways may be deleterious

The social world is interdependent, but The social world is interdependent, but its parts are often in conflictits parts are often in conflict