Social Change and Education

 Social change

Social Change is any alteration, difference, or modification that takes place over time in

a society's system of social relationships.

It is a change in the entire 'web of social relationships.'

It involves variations in the:

1. Social Interactions (how people behave together).

2. Social Processes (the established ways groups relate, like cooperation or conflict).

3. Social Organizations (the structure and function of institutions like family,

government, and economy). It is a change in the entire 'web of social

relationships.'

Features

1. Universality.

Change is universal law, an eternal law and invariable law of nature. Social changes are

necessary and inevitable. Social changes take place in all societies of the world, therefore,

social change is universal in character.

2. Continuity.

Social change is continuous process. It does not take place at one point of time only. It takes

place all the time at all the places. However, we can predict some direction of change.

3. Variation.

Social change is relative in time, and according to a specific period of time, its rate may be

high or low. The rate and quantum of change varies from one society to another depending

upon the prevailing conditions.

4. Criteria of larger population.

Only those changes are considered as social change that affects larger population. Social

change is accepted as such only when the majority of individuals in a society accepts it in

their life, behavior and beliefs.

5. Independence.

Social change is independent of the desire and will of the people of society.

6. Forces.

Social change is caused due to internal and external factors (forces).

7. Planned as well as unplanned.

There was a time when changes were unplanned and undirected. But in the modern time

changes can be planned to achieve the goals of the society.

8. Structural or functional.

Any change in the social structure or its function is social change