Factors of Social Change: Social change is experienced by every society. But precisely, its speed and nature are influenced by various factors. In this article, you’ll be knowing about the important factors of social change in a society. You will also understand some of the causes of social change in society.

What is Social Change in Sociology?

We know change is a universal phenomenon. There is always a change that exists in nature. Society, being a part of nature is destined to change. The occurrence of change is rapid in some places, whereas in some places they are very slow. It is the factors of social change that is responsible for the slow and rapid changes in a society.

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As compared to the earlier times, the growth of the society is being fast because of the prevalence of industrialization and urbanization.

Factors of Social Change in Society

Some of the most important Factors of Social Change are as follows:

1. Physical or Social Environment
2. Demographic Factor
3. Cultural Factor
4. Ideational Factor
5. Economic Factor
6. Political Factor

Factors of Social Change in Sociology

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1) Physical or Social Environment: 

The geographical changes are one of the primary factors of Social Change. The physical or natural forces both works in unifying or disintegrating the form of the society. Our society can get disrupted by natural phenomenon like storms, flood, drought etc. These physical or natural factors can create havoc in the social life on an individual.

2) Demographic Factor:

The demographic factor influences the nature of the social change. The population, however much it is, brings social problems. The population of a society rises when the birth-rate exceed the death rate and vice versa. The rising of the population has consequences like poverty, unemployment and other related problems.

On the other note, low birth rate signifies the decrease in the size of the population. There are critical consequences here as well. The low population signifies, only a handful of potential skilled workers are available in the country/society.

Furthermore, social change climbs with the sex ratio too. In a society, if there are women more than man then the system of polygamy might encounter; if there are more men than women then polyandry is expected to take place.

3) Cultural Factor: 

The cultural factor could be one of the fundamental factors of Social Change. We all know, there is an authenticated entity that there is a bond between our beliefs and social institutions.

So what are some of the elements of culture?

Well, you can include values, beliefs, ideas, institutions into cultural elements of sociology. They all involve social change. There are two major aspects of cultural change:

• Cultural change by discovery and invention, and
• Cultural change by diffusion and borrowing.

4) Ideational Factor: 

Ideational factor signifies pertaining to the formation of ideas or thoughts of objects not immediately present to the senses. The development of science and technology has a lot to do with the social change in society. Writers could be an ideational factor of social change as we get to read their interpretations and those ideas could influence the sequence of social change.

The ideational factors are the powerful motivating forces in social change as it comprises both ideas and ideologies.

5) Economic Factor:

If you ask, what’s the most intense factor of social change, the answer would be ‘Economic factor’. Momentarily it’s the era of industrialization. And by the word ‘industrialization’ you might be well visualized with the related terms of it – factories, more employment, accelerated capitalization etc.

A region with advanced industrialization and employment is undoubtedly assumed to do well throughout. It’ll be more developed than the area where there isn’t any kind of sedate industrialization.

The economic factor of a society revolutionizes almost every aspect of peoples existence. It can either uplift the standard of living of an individual or can downgrade someone’s lifestyle. The entire way of living, the institutions, organizations etc are impacted by this.

6) Political Factor:

What comes to your mind when you hear the word ‘politics’?

Ruling organization might be your first view perhaps.

Well, the most powerful fraction of a country is the organization which rules the country. It also controls the social relationships. As we know, the political organization has the most power in the country. It can amend laws, repeal the old laws in case of emergency and make brand new laws.

Some of the laws which have an impact on the Social Change in society are child marriage, divorce, inheritance, succession, widow remarriage, untouchability etc. They brought a huge change in the social structure of a society.

Final Words:

So these are the different types of social change in Sociology. Did I miss anything? If yes, do comment below. And your queries are most welcome to the comment box!