Sociological Theories Sociological Theories about Social Changeabout Social Change

Sociological TheoriesSociological Theories

Ideas about Social Change came later than the Ideas about Social Change came later than the other two disciplinesother two disciplines

Structural-Functionalism was the main focus of Structural-Functionalism was the main focus of Sociology during the early 20th centurySociology during the early 20th century

Looked more at social structure rather than Looked more at social structure rather than social changesocial change

Tried to identify which social institutions Tried to identify which social institutions influenced societyinfluenced society

Seeking EquilibriumSeeking Equilibrium In early 20th century – when Social change happened it was the result of process of tension & adaptation

Tension & adaptationTension & adaptationTension & adaptation When one part of the social system changes tension arises between that part and the rest.

Tension can’t last forever so...members of society will seek to reduce tension by adapting other aspects of society

Can you think of any examples of Tension & Can you think of any examples of Tension & Adaptation?Adaptation?

What kind of social change is What kind of social change is taking place here?taking place here?

What kind of tension & adaptation is happening What kind of tension & adaptation is happening here?here?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nzbq7iBvhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nzbq7iBvoJsoJs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_1367610913&feature=iv&src_vid=Nzbq7iBvoJs&v=TOBvGFvsgEc

Theoretical ModelsTheoretical ModelsAccumulation Growth as a result from human knowledge from generation to generation

Diffusion of innovationsDiffusion of innovationsA new development emerges onto society Can be knowledge, belief, fashion or thousands of other new developments

Diffusion of innovationsDiffusion of innovations Two things influence the spread (diffusion) of new innovations into society Who adopts it Who speaks in favour of it

Diffusion of innovationsDiffusion of innovations

Leading Early Leading Early SociologistSociologist Immanuel Wallerstein

Focus on the natural international trade and economics

Challenged the idea that many nations remained poor do to lack of effective leadership

Argued that it was capitalism that made western nations rich not colonialism

Countries in Western Europe were in the core of the capitalism system and therefore became rich

Countries that exported resource and had little to no economic investment into the country are referred to as on the periphery and remained poor

Poorer countries that make some economic improvement are referred to as on the semi-periphery

Leading early SociologistLeading early SociologistDorothy SmithSpecialized on communication patterns and the technologies that they rely on

CommunicationCommunication People tend to communicate better with people they have something in common with - discourse

Smith examined the difference in the ways we communicate depending on groups we are with. For example, how do we communicate with those at school versus those at work?

Dorothy SmithDorothy SmithSmith argued that the effects of certain discourse limited women’s position in society

What are these images What are these images communicating?communicating?

Textual discourseTextual discoursePeople communicate ideas and values through symbols, movie roles , paintings, photographs....

Textual Discourse & Textual Discourse & Social ChangeSocial Change

Smith argued it is important to understand textual discourse when trying to engineer social change.