Cultural Change

Definition

Cultural change refers to the transformation of cultural practices, beliefs, values, and norms within a society over time. This can occur through various processes such as diffusion, assimilation, or innovation, and it often reflects broader social, economic, and technological shifts. Understanding cultural change is crucial as it helps to highlight how societies adapt and evolve in response to internal and external influences.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Cultural change can be gradual or rapid, depending on factors like technological advancements or shifts in social attitudes.
2. Globalization has intensified cultural change, as it facilitates the exchange of ideas, goods, and practices across different cultures.
3. Cultural change is not always linear; it can involve cycles of resurgence where traditional practices are revived in response to modernity.
4. Media and communication technologies play a significant role in influencing cultural change by altering how people interact and share information.
5. Resistance to cultural change often arises from individuals or groups who wish to preserve their traditions and social structures.

Review Questions

• How does diffusion contribute to cultural change within societies?
  • Diffusion contributes to cultural change by allowing elements of one culture to be adopted by another through contact and interaction. This can occur through trade, migration, or technological exchange. As cultures interact, they share practices, beliefs, and innovations that can lead to transformations in both cultures involved, resulting in a blending or alteration of traditions over time.
• What are some impacts of globalization on cultural change in contemporary societies?
  • Globalization has led to increased interconnectedness among cultures, significantly impacting cultural change. This phenomenon facilitates the rapid exchange of ideas and practices across the globe, resulting in hybrid cultures where traditional elements merge with new influences. However, globalization can also create tensions as local cultures struggle to maintain their identities in the face of dominant global trends.
• Evaluate the ways in which resistance to cultural change can manifest within societies and what implications this resistance might have for social development.
  • Resistance to cultural change can manifest in various ways, including protests against perceived threats to traditional values, movements advocating for the preservation of local customs, or the establishment of subcultures that reject mainstream influences. This resistance often highlights underlying social tensions and conflicts between different groups within a society. While it may slow down certain aspects of cultural evolution, such resistance can also lead to a deeper examination of cultural identity and encourage dialogue about the values that communities wish to uphold amidst changing circumstances.

Related terms

Diffusion:

The spread of cultural items or practices from one society to another, often leading to changes in both the source and recipient cultures.

Assimilation:

The process by which individuals or groups from one culture adopt the practices and norms of another culture, often leading to a loss of original cultural identity.

Innovation: The creation and introduction of new ideas, practices, or products that can lead to significant changes within a culture.