Social Change Theories Explained - Leia de Vries

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Social Change Theories Explained - Leia de Vries

Intersectionality

Intersectionality examines the interactions between several types of discrimination, such as race and gender or race, class, and gender. The interplay between different social processes shapes peoples' realities. It encourages understanding of how one's social status (gender, class, race/ethnicity, indignity, disability/ability, and interactions with broader power structures) interacts with these systems (government policies, media, laws, institutions). This considers one's identity and experiences. Instead of ignoring racial and gender inequalities, it chooses to acknowledge them. By making people confront their advantages and disadvantages in society, it promotes change. Also, it promotes change by supporting a more thorough and intersectional approach that takes into account all parts of a person's identity and experiences rather than concentrating on just one.

For example: the Black Lives Matter movement. This movement emerged because of police violence against Black individuals in the United States. It has later been characterized with a focus on the intersectional experiences of Black individuals who face multiple forms of discrimination, such as racism, transphobia, and sexism.

Humanism

According to this belief, everyone is equipped with free will. We can all push ourselves to the limit and achieve self-actualization in the process. According to this idea, which emphasises on the conscious, everyone is skilled at motivating themselves to become better versions of themselves. The needs hierarchy proposed by Maslow fits this notion. The method is upbeat and emphasises humanity's admirable ability to triumph over hardship, suffering, and hopelessness. According to humanistic psychologists, a person's perspective on and understanding of the universe are more significant than objective reality. According to this view, individuals should aspire to be their best selves and should be used for the benefit of society. Overall, society gains since everyone is at their best when society is as well. By encouraging people to confront oppressive institutions and organisations and to oppose the status quo, humanism fosters change. Humanists aim to make society more just and equitable by promoting social justice, equality, and human rights. The pursuit of knowledge and scientific inquiry are also encouraged by humanism, and these pursuits can result in developments and discoveries that spur social change and progress.

For example: Humanism caused social change in the LGBTQ+ community. This theory offers a philosophical and ethical framework for comprehending and promoting the intrinsic worth and dignity of all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. This humanist viewpoint has been crucial in igniting the movement's support and advancing social change.

Cognitive

The main tenet of cognitive theory is that the primary drivers of emotions and behaviour are thoughts. To alter people's behaviour, it employs both positive and negative reinforcement. It reinforces the idea that people gain knowledge from own experiences as well as those of others. This hypothesis has the potential to change society in both positive and negative ways. If people copy terrible behaviour, that is harmful to society. On the other hand, people will imitate someone who is acting in a way that is beneficial to society through modelling good behaviour. That is why the cognitive theory promotes either positive or negative change.

For example (positive) : When you observe that your friends are studying, you get more inspired to do so as well.

Cultural Materialism

An anthropological theoretical framework called "cultural materialism" looks at how culture and material factors like technology, the economy, and the environment interact. It contends that cultural beliefs and practices are impacted by a society's material circumstances. Marvin Harris created cultural materialism in the 1960s as a tool to comprehend how other nations' cultural practices relate to their ecological and economic contexts. The viewpoint of the researcher using this theory will determine whether or not cultural materialism openly promotes social change. While some people use cultural materialism to investigate the variables that lead to social stability and resistance to change, others use it to understand how social change occurs and what factors contribute to it.

For example: The protection of sacred cows in India. Cows are more useful in the fields for agriculture's adaptive strategy, despite the fact that many of us view them as valuable food sources.

Feminism

Feminism strives for gender equality. In examining the nature of gender disparity, it seeks to remove gender norms. Around the turn of the century, the first wave of feminism concentrated on official, governmental injustices. The women's liberation movement, sometimes known as second-wave feminism, first appeared in the 1960s and concentrated on a wider range of injustices, including those in the workplace, family, and reproductive rights. The third wave of feminism is currently criticizing the fact that the earlier two waves of feminism were driven by white women from sophisticated capitalist cultures. This movement promotes change by emphasizing diversity and transformation while focusing on issues like post-colonialism.

For example: Feminism caused Western women to have greater education, the power to decide whether or not to have children, the chance to vote, and a change in employment discrimination. This is a positive social change.

Conflict

In times of conflict, acquiring power is prioritized over a society's structure and operations. The force that ultimately propels social change and advancement is societal strife. Change in power does not occur gradually, but is a result of an abrupt conflict between groups. This social change theory encourages change by encouraging dialogue and inspiring innovation. Firstly, fostering Dialog may offer a chance for individuals or groups to communicate and negotiate. This results in a greater appreciation of one another's viewpoints and a search for a solution's common ground. Secondly, conflict causes change by inspiring innovation. While individuals or groups look for fresh ways to resolve a problem, conflict inspires innovative ideas.

For example: The American Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s promoted social change. Conflict and tension between African American activists and the white establishment, which included police enforcement, elected officials, and business owners, were major features of the movement.

Structural Functionalist

This theory investigates how each component of society contributes to overall stability. Because of its emphasis on structural stability and social order, structural functionalism would be unable to adequately account for social change. Society must provide for people's physical and psychological requirements. Social structures have an impact on how people develop into who they are (and evolve through time) (eg., family, media, organized religion, education, etc.). It acknowledges how numerous organizations throughout society are interconnected and how they are all working towards a common goal. This concept comes from the writings of Emile Durkheim.

For example: Education serves as a vehicle for passing on knowledge, abilities, and moral principles from one generation to the next. Education equips people with the knowledge and abilities they need to participate in the workforce and make a positive contribution to society.