Social Processes, Social Change & Mobility: Complete Sociology Guide with Definitions, Types & Examples

Social Processes and Social Change

Preface

Sociology studies the social aspects of human beings through scientific methods. Being a science, sociology uses specific concepts, theories, approaches and methods to observe, investigate and interpret social phenomena.

Friends, do you want to get a real introduction to sociology? Do you want to see and understand the phenomena happening in society? Then it is imperative for you to get a clear understanding of sociological concepts and theories-approaches. Next, you will get an understanding of concepts like community, social norms, social control. In this unit, we will get an understanding of social processes and change.

If you want to gain true knowledge or understanding about society, then some questions should arise in your mind. Such as,

What is it that makes up a society?

How do people build human civilization?

How does a complex system form in society?

Why is there mobility in society?

How do people fulfill their needs?

Definition of social process

MacIver: “Social process is that by which the relationships of members of a group are established and acquire their distinctive character. Social process is constantly changing, that is, the relationships are constantly changing.”

Max Lerner: “The essence of social process is the idea of ​​movement, change, and continuous change in society. It is through social process that different individuals in society seek to fulfill their goals.”

Social processes are associated with cultural diversity, so each society has a different form. For example, tribal society, Western society.

The concept of social action provides a kind of framework (Conceptual scheme) under which any phenomenon or social change can be explained. All actions create the social world in a certain sense. The concept of social action has been given by Max Weber. According to Max Weber, “Sociology is the science of gaining meaningful understanding of action through the scientific method.” According to him, the meaningful action of an individual that has an impact on another individual is social action.

Society functions through human social action. Social action occurs when a person acts in a context with a specific purpose in mind. For example, a student's behavior of regularly increasing his studies to get excellent results in the upcoming exam.

According to Parsons, "The goal-directed action of an individual is social action which constitutes the social order." For example, taking admission in college to get a degree. In short, social action is an action that is influenced by others, is responsive, is action-related, is meaningful, and is related to another person or persons, and the person who performs the action has given it meaning.

Elements of social action

The four elements of social action outlined by Parsons are as follows:

(1) Self or doer

(2) Aim or goal

(3) Conditions or circumstances

(4) Equipment.

According to Parsons, four elements inevitably play a role in the actions of any person performing social action. Understanding these elements is essential to understanding human behavior.

(1) Self or Doer: The main driving force of action is the “self”. The doer of action is not just the human body but is a social being. This person himself is not just a body. Every person has his own unique identity. The person himself is a separate entity. The person has social consciousness and self-consciousness.

We can also call the 'self' personality or character. A person's personality is the center of activity and reactions. The person or "self" uses the body as a tool or condition to act and achieves goals through it. The "self" is the one who performs the action and the society shapes the self.

What does it mean? Its behavior is based on that. Because from it, how does it actualize the world? What does it think? It is possible to know 'subjective matters' such as. For example, the way men see women,

(2) Goal or Aim: A goal is a person's self-concept or aspiration. A goal has a future-oriented perspective. Goal

That is, a future state that does not exist in the present tense, which can be known through imagination and achieved through effort and determination. Every social action is goal-oriented. The element of goal is important in interpreting a person's behavior. The values ​​and norms of the doer's society affect his choice of goal. For example, a Jain or Brahmin youth will not work in a slaughterhouse. Goals continuously affect human thought, behavior and conduct.

A person constantly strives to achieve the goal. It is the driving force for human behavior. Goals are a motivator and inspiration for a person. For example, to come first in an examination, one forgets everything about education and becomes engrossed in studies. Personal values, needs, norms and socio-cultural values ​​play an important role in determining a person's goals.

(3) Conditions or Circumstances: Obstacles that cannot be overcome are known as conditions. Circumstances Or conditions are things that cannot be achieved without overcoming them. Just as determination and effort are required to achieve a goal, the things that come in the way of achieving a goal need to be overcome or faced. For example, it takes three years to get a degree. A person does not achieve his goal easily. Those obstacles that a person cannot overcome can be called conditions. These conditions set limits for a person's work. Conditions can be inside or outside the body. Obstacles in achieving a goal are of three types:

(a) Physical strength of the doer: Want to become a pilot but have poor eyesight or are deaf.

(b) Geographical environment: Must arrive at a specific time and rain accompanied by storms.

(c) Social environment: A Dalit youth wants to become a priest but society does not recognize him.

Thus, three types of conditions are faced for the achievement of the goal. These are sometimes also known as means. However, which one is considered a condition or a means depends on the situation.

(4) Tools: Tools are those aspects or factors of a person's situation over which he has control and which can help him achieve his goal. Tools are essential for achieving the goal. The form of a tool can be simple or complex. For example, a pen for writing, a phone for messaging. To achieve any goal, a tool appropriate to the goal becomes necessary. Sometimes a person has to choose one of the different tools. If a mistake is made at that time, the goal is not achieved. In one situation, a tool becomes a possibility. What is a tool for one person becomes a circumstance for another.

All four elements are essential for action. The absence of any one does not allow social action to take place.

Social Interaction

In society, human beings come into relationships with each other in many ways. Such as shopkeeper-customer, owner-servant, teacher-student. Society is formed by intertwining with each other in such various social relationships. There is a certain type of pattern or regular pattern of mutual interaction in social relationships between each other. Knowledge of the main forms of interaction expressed in social relationships is very important in gaining an understanding of society.

The concept of social interaction can be understood only in the context of social action, which has been understood further. Because it is a reciprocal action. Social interaction means the reciprocal social action between two or more people. 'Social interaction is the conscious meaningful reciprocal action between individual and individual, individual and group, group and group.' For example, a conversation between two friends, a question-and-answer discussion between a teacher and students.

Explaining social interaction, Davis states that, “Social interaction requires contact and contact requires a physical or sensory medium.” That is, in social interaction, individuals or groups interacting with each other use some medium for action. Such a medium can be language, speech, gestures, gestures or any kind of body language. In addition, mass media such as radio, TV, newspapers, films, social media can also be used. Such a medium should have social meaning.

Definition of social interaction: According to Sorokin, “interaction is a phenomenon in which one party influences another party.

"It affects external actions or mental life."

From the above definitions, it can be said that interaction is defined as “any event in which two or more individuals or groups directly or indirectly influence each other’s internal or external behavior through the medium of symbolic communication.” For example, a teacher teaches a student, two people argue, fight, etc.

Characteristics of Social Interaction: To understand social interaction more clearly, one needs to understand its characteristics, which are given below.

As follows:

(1) Two or more parties

(2) medium

(3) Reciprocal effect…

(1) Two or more parties: Social interaction does not happen with one person. For that, at least two people or A group becomes necessary. For example, the interaction between husband and wife is between two individuals, while the interaction between teacher and students and writer and reader is an interaction between individuals and groups. The interaction between two cricket teams is an interaction between groups. The interaction can be face-to-face or direct, or it can be indirect with people who are far away, which requires communication tools.

(2) Medium: Interaction is not possible only between two parties; but some medium is necessary to produce mutual impact. In which any form of gesture or verbal language or pictures can be used. For example, the action-reaction between deaf-mute persons. The medium used in interaction should have social meaning. The meaning, feelings, emotions expressed through the medium should be understood by everyone. For example, national flag, Red Cross etc.

(3) Reciprocal effect: Social interaction is an effect-producing phenomenon. In which an individual or group is affected by speech, language, books, TV, films. Which can be in the form of external behavior as well as internal effects like attitudes, beliefs, interests, expectations. For example, a student greets the teacher, which causes the teacher to develop feelings towards the student, which is an internal effect.

Social Mobility

Social mobility is the process of changing the position of an individual or group in a hierarchical structure. In every society, there are changes in the population, economic-political situation and social area to some extent. In order for the social structure to survive, it becomes necessary to adapt to all these changes. From this arises the process of social mobility.

Sociologists study social mobility to assess the openness of a social structure. Social mobility refers to the presence and absence of opportunities in a society. It refers to the movement from one social status to another.

Definition of social mobility

According to Sorokin, “Social mobility is the movement of a person, social object, or value from one social location to another.”

According to Kimball Young, 'Social mobility is movement up or down in the order of class or position or prestige.'

In short, social mobility is the upward or downward change in status that takes people from one level of the system to another in a hierarchical structure.

Characteristics of social mobility

(1) Universality: Social mobility is seen in every stratified society. Be it a class-based or caste-based society. Even though India is a caste-based society, there is mobility in social mobility. For example, the change in the position of women in all societies of the world, in short, the process of social mobility is seen as universal.

(2) Difference in quantity: The quantity or extent of social mobility is not the same in all societies. Even in the same society, the extent does not remain the same at all times. For example, social mobility was slow in the Middle Ages but is more visible in modern times. Mobility is more visible in societies with class system than in caste system. Thus, there is a difference in quantity according to society and time.

(3) Process indicating change in status: In social mobility, there is a change or alteration in the status or position of an individual or group. Either the status goes up or down. In short, social mobility is a process indicating the circulation of a person or group from top to bottom and from bottom to top.

Types of social mobility

(1) Horizontal mobility: According to Broom and Selznick, “Horizontal mobility is the movement from one place to another of the same level.” The mobility in which the place of an individual or group changes but there is no change in its level or status is called horizontal mobility.

For example, a teacher leaves one school to join another. In horizontal mobility, the position of an individual or group changes; but there is no significant change in their prestige, income or power. For example, an IAS officer is transferred from the health department to the education department. The mobility within caste seen in India is an example of horizontal mobility.

(2) Vertical mobility: Vertical mobility is a different concept from horizontal mobility. When a person or group changes their position along with their level, it is called vertical mobility. For example, from a clerk to a professor. In vertical mobility, there is a significant change in prestige, income, power along with the change in the position of the person or group.