'Change is a complex process'
The process of change isn't necessarily linear but is an unpredictable process that is multilinear. Change can cause societies AND cultures to break into different paths and possibilities. You just don't know how this change will occur, how long it will take and what its result/s is/are. Change can either be evolutionary (takes a little while but does develop through time like cultural diffusion or environmental disasters) or can be transformative (quick and sudden change such as the industrial revolution or feminism).
Change can occur in MMM levels and a lot of factors can cause change. Factors can include minority groups, historical events or a break from social norms. From change, resistance can occur because obviously not everyone is open up to change. Although the process of change and its outcome can be predicted through the main four social theories of the core topic: conflict, evolutionary, functionalist and interactionist.
- Conflict theory: This theory applies to when clashes and conflict occurs between different groups in society. Change can grow gradually throughout time but eventually its outcome usually leads to a more synthesised society.
- Evolutionary: kind of based on Darwin's theory of evolution. Social change is unilinear only. Though this theory is criticised a lot because change is a multilinear process. It's rare to see a unilinear change.
- Functionalist: Imagine a scale with society on one side and its stability on the other side. If additional weight is added on one side, this creates imbalance. This means the 'lighter' side must accomodate for this new weight at the opposing side in order to bring back balance.
- Interactionist: This is basically how an individual acts based on their perception of the world. Change is evident in this theory as individuals can change how they act depending on their current situation.