Coping with Social Change

Here is what I think is the most important and interesting material from this chapter.

People benefiting from the status quo react most negatively to social change. They are the most reluctant to change. Some of these people will “act-out” against the change as a way to resist it. Example: hate crimes. Hate crimes have increased in the last 15 years. 9,730 hate crimes reported in 2001 (Source = National Criminal Justice Reference Service)

Lower social classes are usually most affected by social changes.

People who cope well with social change maintain group belonging and group ties (to family and friends) and maintain self-esteem and sense of purpose

People who cope poorly with social change are isolated and disconnected from group ties

Need society/culture/groups to provide support for social change:

· Need models to follow (example: national leaders, community leaders, religious leaders)

· Laws that support the change (example: corporation corruption, environmental protections)

· Education – people need to understand what the change is about and why it is happening. May need reskilling (example – tobacco farmers)

· Institutional norms and expectations that support the change (example: harassment)

· Existing institutions need to support change – Religion, family, work (example: paternity leave)

Without the above social and cultural support, anomie, alienation, and disorganization can occur with social change. This is what happens particularly when social change is forced on a society quickly (example: less developed countries and “modernization”)