Page 249 - DSOC201_SOCIAL_STRUCTURE_AND_SOCIAL_CHANGE_ENGLISH

Social Structure and Social Change

Notes he proposed that they alternate or fluctuate between two cultural extremes: The “sensate” and the
“ideational’.
The sensate culture stresses those things which can be perceived directly by the senses. It is practical,
hedonistic, sensual, and materialistic. Ideational Culture emphasises those things which can be
perceived only by the mind. It is abstract, religious, concerned with faith and ultimate truth. It is
the opposite of the sensate culture. Both represent ‘pure’ types of culture.
Hence no society ever fully conforms to either type. Without mentioning the causes, he said that
as the culture of a society develops towards one pure type, it is countered by the opposing cultural
force. Cultural development is then reversed moving towards the opposite type of culture.
In brief, too much emphasis on one type of culture leads to a reaction towards the other. “Societies
contain both these impulses in varying degrees and the tension between them creates long-term
instability”. Between these types, of course, there lies 9 third type ‘ideastic’ cultures. This is a
happy and a desirable blend of the other two, but no society ever seems to have achieved it as a
stable condition.
Sorokin’s theory has not been accepted by the sociologists for it portrays his prejudices and probably
his disgust with the modern society. His concepts of ’sensate’ and ‘ideational’ are purely subjective.
His theory is in a way speculative and descriptive. It does not provide an explanation as to why
social change should take this form. Thus, the cyclical theories, in general are not satisfactory.
Self-Assessment

1. Answer the following questions:
(i) Sociology helps us to:
(a) understand the complex set of social change in the society.
(b) resist social change.
(c) promote social change in the society.

(ii) Evolutionary theories view social change as:
(a) decay (b) progress
(c) anti-society
(iii) Cyclical theories assume that society:
(a) passes through one stage. (b) passes through a series of stages.
(c) passes through no stage.
(iv) Structural-functional theories believe that society is a balanced system of institutions. (Tick
the correct answer) Yes / No
(v) What is social change? Answer in about two lines.
11.7 Summary

• Social change is a universal phenomenon that takes place in our lives. Social change is generally
understood as the process of occurrence of significant alterations in the organization and/or
structure and functions of social life. Social transformation is considered as a form of social
change that occurs in a radical and abrupt manna.
• There are various approaches for understanding social change. Evolutionary theories hold the
view that all societies pass through a similar sequence of developmental stages until it culminates
in some final stage. They see social change as progress and growth that is good for the society.
Cyclical theories assume that societies pass through a cycle of chages-grow, reach a peak of
development and then decay- and repeats the cycle again the same pattern.
• Structural-functional theories view that there is stability and order is the society, but changes
do occur occasionally. Conflict theorists believe that conflict occasionally arise in societies to
correct adverse social developments which outcome would be better than the old systems.

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