sociology: explaining social change

Theory that views social change as the result of conflicts between groups with opposing interests.

The cyclical theory of social change is a historical view of social change in which societies are seen as rising and then falling or as continuously moving back and forth between stages of development.

Talcott Parsons's view of social change in which society is likened to a living organism: change in one part of the social system produces change in all other parts as the system attempts to regain balance, or equilibrium.

a view of social change in which change is seen as a process that moves toward increasing complexity.

refers to a type of culture in Pitirim Sorokin's cyclical theory of social change that combines both ideational and sensate characteristics

refers to a type of culture in Pitirim Sorokin's cyclical theory of social change in which people seek truth and knowledge through faith or religion.

According to Pitirim Sorokin's cyclical theory of social change, the principle of immanent change is the natural tendency of a society's structure to swing back and forth between an ideational and sensate culture.

type of culture in Pitirim Sorokin's cyclical theory of social change in which people seek knowledge through science.

alterations in various aspects of a society over time

In ideational cultures, truth and knowledge are sought through faith or religion. In a sensate culture people seek knowledge through science. Ideational cultures tend to be "otherworldly," while sensate cultures are practical and materialistic.

Views change as a process that moves in one direction toward increasing complexity.

A middle point between ideational and sensate cultures.

Social change

The social change theory that provides a historical view of social change in which societies are seen as rising and then falling or as continuously moving back and forth between stages of development.

The natural tendency toward social change.