SH1661

Cultural, Social, and Political Change

Sources of Change in Society
· Innovation is the social creation and institutionalization of new ideas, products, processes, or structures.
Example: Technological Advancement
· Diffusion is the spread of innovations from one (1) social setting to another. It occurs when one (1) group
borrows something from another group such as norms, values, food, clothing, and other innovation.
Example: Visibility of K-POP culture in the Philippines
· Assimilation is the process where some of the “majority community’s” (dominant community) cultural
aspects are absorbed in such a manner that the home cultural aspects get mitigated or lost.
Example: English-only policies in some schools.
While acculturation is a process where the cultural aspects of the “majority community” are adapted
without losing the traditions and customs of the “minority community”.
Example: The use of ethnomedicine despite the spread of western biomedicine.
Though acculturation and assimilation differ in subtle ways, both of them still describe cross cultural
effects on both minorities as well as majorities in societies that are multi-ethnic and multi-cultural in
nature.
· Social Contradictions and Tensions may include inter-ethnic conflicts, class struggle, armed conflict,
terrorism, protests, gender issues, etc.
Example: There are still leftists (rebels) to the government.
The struggle of LGBT community to be fully accepted in society.
Effects of the Changes in Society
· Change our mode of living and lifestyle – The advancement of technology enables people to live in
greater security and comfort than ever before.
· Development – It is viewed as an important indicator of the importance of the quality of life of a people in
a particular society.
· Modernization – This is the far–reaching process by which a society moves from traditional towards the
characteristics of most developed societies.
Theories on Changes in Society
· Evolutionary Theory – It implies that societies evolved from the simple and primitive to the more complex
and advanced form.
· Conflict Theory – It suggests that societies progress as oppressed groups struggle to improve their lives.
· Cyclical Theory – It suggests that every society is born, matures, decays, and eventually dies.
· Structural Functionalism Theory – It believes that society is a balanced system of institution.
Things We Can Do
· Weigh the advantages and disadvantages of the changes in society – Think first before doing something
or going with the flow of changes in the society.
· Adapt instead of resist – Cope with the changes happening in the society to survive.
· Stand firm with your principles – If you think some changes in the society does not fit your ideals in life,
hold on with your principles. It doesn’t mean resisting, it only means you are choosing what’s best for
you.

References:
Baliao, Maria Elisa D. & Cristabel Rose F. Parcon. (2011). Society and culture in a changing world. Quezon
City, Philippines: Rex Printing Company, Inc.
Difference between acculturation and assimilation. (2012). Retrieved from
http://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-acculturation-and-vs-assimilation/
11 Handout 1 *Property of STI1
Page 1 of 1