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Unit-1: Meaning and Forms of Social Change

topic of progress, Ogburn and Nimkoff have written that, “The meaning of progress is related Notes
to change for the betterment and because of this it is worth determining the progress.” Thus,
progress is a desired change.
4. Development: Development implies change occurring in an object which is directed towards
superiority. Even when a baby develops from infancy to adolescence, then he goes through
changes that physical, mental, emotional, social and moral, which leads to him to be a well-
adjusted individual. Similarly, when a society also undergoes changes in economical, sociological
and moral terms, it is called a developed society. In this way, development is an indicator of
change that progresses towards superiority—in comparison to Indian society, western society

is considered developed because they have changed in all the fields of economy, technology,
education etc. Development is necessary for society progress—deliberate efforts are made to
have development.

Hobhouse has given following four determinants for development:
1. Increase in quantity, 2. Efficiency, 3. Mutual co-operation, 4. Freedom.

5. Adaptation: Adaptation is also a process of change in which one person tries to accommodate with
another person or circumstance. In the process of adaptation, two things are important, that is,
1) an individual should adapt himself according to circumstance, or
2) he should transform the circumstances in accordance to his requirements.

Adaptation also takes place at the societal level, that is, adjustment, accommodation, assimilation
and integration etc, words are used, which indicates the extent of adaptation. In this way, adaptation
is also a form of change.
6. Revolution: In society, when there is an increase of exploitation, atrocity, tension and impatience,
then political order is disturbed drastically and there is a simultaneous decrease in social values.
All this brings a drastic change in society, which is called revolution—usually, revolution in society
occurs acutely in economic and political fi elds.
The Hopper described the concept of revolution by stating that, “Social revolution is a dynamic
change in which political state that keeps people related with other is disturbed— government
cannot have the working power—in this state the elementary oneness of the society collapses
and social and moral values start to diminish. In case a revolution is dynamic, then most of the
prominent institutions transform. In this way, state, religion, family and education change from
their basic form.”
7. Growth: Development is also form of change which indicates the determinable change in an
object. Usually, change in size is called growth, which has a limit and once the limit is attained,
growth stops and indicates a change in a particular direction or area. In this way, growth is
form of change, which is measurable; for example, birth and mortality rates in a society can be
determined.

What are the various forms of social change? Describe briefl y.

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