Sociology

PROJECT REPORT
on
Social Change &
Social
Transformation
(under the guidance of)
Dr. Anupam Bahri
UILS, PU

(submitted by)
Pravesh
73/17
UILS, PU
 Sociology

Acknowledgement
I am using this opportunity to express my gratitude to everyone who supported
me throughout the course of this project. I am thankful for their aspiring
guidance, invaluably constructive criticism and friendly advice during the
project work. I am sincerely grateful to them for sharing their truthful and
illuminating views on a number of issues related to the project.

I express my warm thanks to Dr. Anupam Bahri for his support and guidance.

Thankyou!
 Sociology

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................4
Social Change.............................................................................................................................6
What is Change?....................................................................................................................6
Definition of Social Change...................................................................................................6
Nature of Social Change........................................................................................................7
Factors of Social change........................................................................................................8
Social Transformation..............................................................................................................10
What is Social Transformation?...........................................................................................10
Social Transformation in Individual....................................................................................11
Social Transformation in Social System..............................................................................11
Ascribed Status Versus Achieved Status.............................................................................12
Culture and Globalization....................................................................................................12
Steps in Social Transformation............................................................................................12
Bibliography.............................................................................................................................14
 Sociology

INTRODUCTION
Social change is a phenomenon that is constantly encountered in our daily lives. This is
because the society we live in is itself changing all the time. The concept of social
transformation is very closely linked to social change. Sometimes the two terms are used
interchangeably.

Sociologists have been trying to answer and explain, in main, three basic questions of social
change. First, the question of whether social change is good or bad; second, the causal factors
of social change; and third, the impact of social change to society. Modern sociology helps’
us understand and provide with explanation the complex set of changes that societies
experience in the process of human history.

There are a number of ways in which social change has been understood and defined. It can
be attributed to differences in perceptions and perspective of the concept and variation in
labelling weight age to the idea and nature of social change.

However, it is generally agreed among sociologists that the focus in the discourse of social
change is the aspect of occurrence of significant alterations in the organisation and/or
structure and functions of social life rather than the regular, short term, and predictable
reoccurrences.

A working definition of social change incorporates the aspects of significant changes in the
various patterns of social relationships social processes, social patterns, action and
interaction, the rules of relationships and conduct (norms), values, symbols and cultural
products. The concept of social change also refers to variations over time in both the material
and non-material aspects of culture.

These changes take place both from within the societies (endogenous forces) and from
without (exogenous forces) that is brought about by external forces. The concepts of social
transformation social change are closely interlinked. Social transformation is a relatively
novel term that has gained some popularity in the recent decades in the discourse of the social
sciences. In fact, social transformation is a radical form of social change. It is a rather sudden
change of a society and/ or state, usually with a larger scale, through agents such as
 Sociology

revolution. The concept signifies the idea of a particularly deep and far-reaching change that
alters the way of life of the people within a limited span of time.

However, social change is essentially concerned with minor and persistent changes in the
social organisation and/or social structure of a society such as changes brought about in the
patterns of family, marriage, and educational institution. Social change as connoting both the
persistent changes (social change) and the radical and abrupt changes (social transformation)
unless specific mention is made.
 Sociology

Social Change
What is Change?
Change means differentiation in anything observation over sometime. If we feel that there's
come alteration we call it changes. It this change is in contest to social structure, institution
etc, i.e. social context then it is social change.

According to Fictor, "Change means variations from previous state or mode of existence".

Change is an universal phenomena i.e. it is a law of native. There's always a change in nature.
Society is a part of nature & so society also changes & static society is unthinkable. Society is
on the wheel of change, which may occur due to various factors (like demography, ideas etc.
If there is any change in Technology etc there's change in society) out the change varies in
speed & farm.

In some places the change is rapid whereas in other places it may be slow. These days due to
industriation & urbanization the change is rapid as compared to earlier times. The form may
be economic, political, social (instriation) religious (instriation), change in any part of society
affects all the other parts of society. Eg. An individual is the fundamental unit of society &
there's change in the life of the individual which is called evolutionary process of social
change (birth to death). This is a slow process.

Definition of Social Change

The following are some of its definitions:

(i) Jones. “Social change is a term used to describe variations in, or modifications of, any
aspect of social processes, social patterns, social interaction or social organisation.”

(ii) Mazumdar, H. T. “Social change may be defined as a new fashion or mode, either
modifying or replacing the old, in the life of a people, or in the operation of a society.”

(iii) Gillin and Gillin. “Social changes are variations from the accepted modes of life;
whether due to alteration in geographical conditions, in cultural equipment, composition of
 Sociology

the population or ideologies and whether brought about by diffusion or inventions within the
group.”

(iv) Davis. By “Social change is meant only such alterations as occur in social organisation,
that is, structure and functions of society.”

(v) Merrill and Eldredge. “Social change means that large number of persons are engaging in
activities that differ from those which they or their immediate forefathers engaged in some
time before.”

These were some definitions of social change.

Nature of Social Change

The main characteristics of the nature of social change are as follows:

(i) Social change is a universal phenomenon: Social change occurs in all societies. No
society remains completely static. This is true of all societies, primitive as well as civilized.
Society exists in a universe of dynamic influences.

The population changes, technologies expand, material equipment changes, ideologies and
values take on new components and institutional structures and functions undergo reshaping.
The speed and extent of change may differ from society to society. Some change rapidly,
others change slowly.

(ii) Social change is community change: Social change does not refer to the change in the
life of an individual or the life patterns of several individuals. It is a change which occurs in
the life of the entire community. In other words, only that change can be called social change
whose influence can be felt in a community form. Social change is social and not individual.

(iii) Speed of social change is not uniform: While social change occurs in all societies, its
speed is not uniform in every society. In most societies it occurs so slowly that it is often not
noticed by those who live in them. Even in modern societies there seems to be little or no
change in many areas. Social change in urban areas is faster than in rural areas.

(iv) Nature and speed of social change is affected by and related to time factor: The
speed of social change is not uniform in each age or period in the same society. In modern
 Sociology

times the speed of social change is faster today than before 1947. Thus, the speed of social
change differs from age to age.

The reason is that the factors which cause social change do not remain uniform with the
change in times. Before 1947 there was less industrialization in India, after 1947 India has
become more industrialized. Therefore, the speed of social change after 1947 is faster than
before 1947.

(v) Social change occurs as an essential law: Change is the law of nature. Social change
also is natural. It may occur either in the natural course or as a result of planned efforts. By
nature we desire change. Our needs keep on changing. To satisfy our desire for change and
our changing needs social change becomes a necessity. The truth is that we are anxiously
waiting for a change. According to Green, ‘The enthusiastic response of change has become
almost a way of life.”

Factors of Social change

1. Demographic factors – Population plays an important role in society it there is change

in the composition of pop there is change in society by composition we mean the
structure i.e. sex ratio. For balance in society the sex ratio should be 1:1 and if there is
change in the ratio there is change in society if there are more females than the status
& position goes down (because in Polygene more wives & the hubby now their status
goes down). In the other case the females position rises. The bride –price increases (in
the tribunal society).
Age group – childhood, adulthood, old age. If the population of children is most then
increase of population will be slower. If adults more than there will be rapid change in
society cause they are the most regulative. In case of old more there is conflict in
society they don't wish for change.
Marital status in production of children. If girls are married young there will be over
population & he health is also in danger. Status of women becomes lower. And if at
too late a stage – a girl is married fertility is less. Changes in demography – Birth rate
& Death rate. Higher birth rate creates a lot of problems. Malthus theme of population
 Sociology

– Economics. Over population-poverty unemployment increases. Death – rate – man

– power decreases.
Immigration & Emigration – 1 is coming into country, 2 – going out of the country.
Causes cultural problems leads to over population. 2 – Brain – drain is the problem.

2. Natural factors – now native affect society – National calamities, floods, epidemics
affairs society in its social relationships structure. People become selfish as during
scarcities they are more bothered feeding themselves.

3. Technological factors

a. Mechanization & social change – machines bring about this gave women the
chance to work gave rise to women's tib.
Unemployment & such problems arose these affected cottage industries.

b. Urbanization – changed job opportunities.

Transport gave rise is social contacts. Communication gives rise to greater
awareness & is beans of recreation too.
Atomic Energy & change

4. Cultural Factors: Concept of cultural tag by w.f Ougbourn book – social change
brings change. He says material & non – material change. Usually non-material can't
cope up with material changed & gives rise to cultural lag.
Change in values ideas & custom's changes society (Habits).
In handbook of Sociology, he said if may so happen that material behind education,
unization etc., too brings change in marriage system etc.
Marxian theory of social change i.e. Technological Deterministic theory. On
interpretative theory – change according to him is inevitable & a continuous process.
He has given more important to the economical factors. He says if there is change in
economy the only tractor my (changes of demography etc affect the individuals) there
is change in society – change n the production system i.e. change in technology
because it is due to change in technology that these's change in production that's why
his theme is called technological data. Two change in production system. Has two
aspect productive forces & productive relations – this is due to change in technology
productive apparatuses, labour & production experience & labour still ? productive
faces. Productive relations ? Capitalists & labourers (master & slaves).
 Sociology

Social Transformation
What is Social Transformation?
Social transformation refers to the process of change in institutionalized relationships, norms,
values, and hierarchies over time. Social transformation refers to the process of change in
institutionalized relationships, norms, values, and hierarchies over time. It is the manner in
which society changes due to economic growth, science, technological innovations, and war
or political upheavals.

Social transformation affects people’s interactions and lifestyle. Regarding individuals, social
transformation refers to the process of altering the social status of one’s parents to resemble
their current status. During this process of transformation, one moves from an ascribed status
to an achieved status.

Social transformation implies a fundamental change in society, which can be contrasted with
social change viewed as gradual or incremental changes over a period of time. Social change
has been the subject of a good part of sociology from Ibn Khaldun of the fourteenth century
to Immanuel Wallerstein in the twenty-first century.

Sociology of development is a field of study in sociology that primarily deals with issues of
development and change in what is euphemistically called the global South, or in the past as
developing countries. Studies of social transformation encompass a wide range of
institutional and cultural changes in society throughout history. The modalities, causes and
consequences of social change have been contemplated by philosophers and sages from time
immemorial. The observation of Heraclitus (c. 535 BC – 475 BC) that ‘you cannot step twice
into the same river’ captures the essence of the constancy of change. Change is eternal.
Although the idea of social change is more or less universal, sometimes there are
disagreements on the directionality of change as with the mechanisms of change.
 Sociology

One definition of social transformation is the process by which an individual alters the
socially ascribed social status of their parents into a socially achieved status for themselves.
However, another definition refers to large scale social change as in cultural reforms or
transformations. The first occurs with the individual, the second with the social system.

Social Transformation in Individual

This is different from social reproduction and social mobility because instead of looking at
the intergenerational mobility or the measure of the changes in social status which occur from
the parents' to the children's generation, social transformation focuses on how an individual
can alter the class culture to which they feel aligned. One socially transforms in three steps:
by associational embracement, associational distancing, and the distinct presentation of self.

Social transformation is considered an interpersonal negotiation because it requires that the

individual have their social position be validated by others for transformation. It is a
reciprocal relationship in which people have to be embraced and correctly identified with the
cultural expectations of their particular class membership. This is the only way that persons
can move from their own ascribed status to a new achieved status.

Social Transformation in Social System

Social transformation in this context requires a shift in collective consciousness of a society
— local, state, national or global — so that reality is refined by consensus. This often
happens by external stimulus and sometimes intentionally. Scientific discoveries have
triggered many social transformations throughout our history as have religious and royal
edicts.

Cities which have reinvented themselves serve of examples of conscious transformations of a

social type resulting in reinvigorated and revitalized populations, economic prosperity and
restored civic pride. Some countries have achieved these intentional social transformations,
one such example being South Africa in 1994 when it ended apartheid.

Social transformations are such when they sustain over time where attitudes and values are
held in a completely new context (or paradigm) based upon different assumptions and beliefs.
 Sociology

Ascribed Status Versus Achieved Status

An ascribed status is the social status into which a child is born. For instance, there are people
born into wealthy families while others are born into families with low-incomes. In the
United States, gender and racial differences form a basis for people’s ascribed statuses.
Ascribed status is the social status a person is given when he or she is born into a status from
birth and assumes the class role later in life.

On the contrary, an achieved status refers to the status that one acquires as a result of their
education, merit, and abilities. Examples of achieved status include doctors, professors,
criminals, and researchers. A person’s status determines their behavior. The other forms of
class identification include family background, tastes, interests, cultural refinement, and self-
identification. Achieved status is acquired based on merit, skills, and actions. Examples of
achieved status include being a doctor or even being a criminal—the status then determines a
set of behaviors and expectations for the individual.

Culture and Globalization

Today, social transformation is evidenced by two significant concepts, namely culture and
globalization. Culture refers to the distinct way of life of a particular group of people. It
differs from one society to another depending on their geographical locations, literacy levels,
advancements in technology, and political environments. Culture includes the beliefs, morals,
laws, customs, and art related to society. On the other hand, globalization refers to the
standardization of education policies, trade, ideas, music, art, and lifestyle around the world.
The integration of cultures has occurred so much that the world is now known as a global
village.

Steps in Social Transformation

There are three steps involved in the social transformation which include associational
embracement, associational distancing, and presentation of self. Associational embracement
refers to an individual’s verbal recognition and acceptance of the group they wish to join. An
example of such verbal recognition is when an aspiring law student chooses the college that
 Sociology

they would like to join to pursue their Law Degree studies. Associational embracement may
either be proactive embracement or retroactive embracement. Associational distancing, on the
other hand, involves separating oneself from people who do not match their desired social
identity. Social transformation involving the presentation of self-demands that one’s looks
pass for their desired social status. Therefore, people become careful about their speech and
clothing to belong to certain statuses. Embracing the dressing patterns and the speech styles
of the status they desire to be a part of makes individuals “look the part.”
 Sociology

Difference between Social

Change & Social
Transformation
Social Change and Social Transformation are two concepts of Sociology. The concept of
Social Change is referred when there are minor changes in the society or there are some
changes in an existing society. Any change in the family structure, social rituals, politics, or
any day to day change is considered as Social Change. For an example, the Section 498A of
the Indian Penal Code, talks about the cruelty by the Husband or Relatives of husband,
regarding the Concept of Dowry. So before this provision the concept of Dowry was very
much prevalent in the Indian Society but due to this Penal provision there is a decline in the
cases of cruelty on women. This is an example of Social Change. Dowry was a custom in
Hindu Marriage system but there is a change in this concept, this is what social change is, any
change in customs, family structure.

Moreover, recent developments like Triple Talaq Judgement it changes the social structure of
marriage in Muslims in India. The LGBT Judgement is also leads us all to a social change in
the society. All these minor changes in the society and culture of the society are part of Social
Change. The Concept of Social Change refers to the variations over time in both the material
and non-material aspects of culture. These changes take place both within the societies and
from without that are brought by external forces. The change in the pattern of family,
marriage, and educational institution are part of social change.

The concept of Social Transformation is very closely linked to social change. Sometimes the
two terms are used interchangeably. Social transformation is a relatively new term that has
gained some popularity in the recent decades in the discourse of the social sciences. Social
transformation is radical form of social change. It is more abrupt change of a society/or state,
usually with a larger scale, through agents such as revolution. The concept connotes the idea
 Sociology

of particularly deep and far-reaching change that alters the way of life of people within a
limited span of time. The concept has occupied significant space after Second World War.
The literal meaning of the term is “changing form or appearance or character or alter out of
recognition”.

In a very clear definition social transformation is defined as Holistic change in the structural
society. For example, Change from feudal society to industrial society after the industrial
revolution in the early 19th century. Then later in 20th century change from monarchy to
Democratic society and Republican society in the world. Social Transformation was seen in
India in 1950, where there was transformation in the type of rule from British rule to
Democracy. Also in the 1990s there was beginning of Modernisation in India. So in very
simple words when there is change in the system fully, or in larger context change in the
world then it is called as Social Transformation, whereas the minor changes of day to day life
are considered as Social changes.
 Sociology

Bibliography
Books
1. Rao, C.N. Shankar, Principles of Sociology with an Introduction to Social
Thought, New Delhi: S Chand and Company Limited
2. Bhushan, Vidya and D.R. Sachdeva, An Introduction to Sociology,
Allahabad: Kitab Mahal Agency
3. Lemert, Charles, Social Theory, Jaipur: Rawat Publications
4. Lambat, Dr. S. R. and Dr. S.S. Ralhan, Introduction to Sociology, New
Delhi: Commonwealth Publishers
5. Haralambos, M and R M Heald, Sociology: Themes and Perspective,
New Delhi: Oxford University Press.

Websites