Priyamvada Ashok MhaddalkarAIR 13 · CSE 2021 · 171 wordsTheir whole copy
Opening · a definition
Social change refers to the alterations that take place in social structures and social relations in a society. The different linear theories of social change can be explained as below:-
Body · points
Herbert Spencer explained the social evolution theory based on biological evolution as explained by Charles Darwin.
L.H. Morgan explained evolution through three stages: Savagery. Barbarism Industrial which are based on technological changes that occur from one phase to the other.
Marxist theory of social change explains that society moves from one mode of production to the other due to the conflicts that occur between the forces of production and relations of production. Marx traces social change through Primitive communism → Ancient society → feudal society → Industrial Society → Socialism and final communism
Parsons functionalist perspective to social change → social systems move from one equilibrium to another state of new equilibrium due to strain on the system.
Close · a summary
Thus, linear theories of social change trace a directional change while cyclical theories believe social change appears in cycles.