What is meant by social change?

Social change refers to the evolution of society over time, encompassing shifts in cultural, economic, political, and social structures and patterns. This concept recognizes that societies are not stagnant but are continuously influenced by various factors such as advancements in technology, changes in values, migration, and globalization. Social change can manifest in many forms, including changes in demographics, social institutions, or collective behaviors and attitudes.

This understanding of social change is fundamental in studying how societies adapt to new circumstances or challenges, which can ultimately lead to significant transformations in their functioning and organization. For instance, the civil rights movement is a clear example of social change that aimed to alter longstanding social norms regarding race and equality, resulting in systemic shifts in laws and social behavior.

In contrast, a static view of society misses the dynamic nature of social structures, while the extinction of species and the rejection of cultural norms pertain to different issues unrelated directly to the overarching concept of societal evolution. Thus, the notion of social change as the evolution of society over time captures the continuous and often complex process through which societies grow and adapt.