Social Change
There are a number of theories of social change, referring to the way that a profession, person, or idea can help alter ideas within society -- typically with a view towards the philosophical idea of making this better over time. It may refer to the idea of large cultural change, say from feudalism to capitalism, a social revolution presented in Marxism or Leninism, or even social movements like the Woman's Equal Rights movement or Civil Rights for all. As such, it may be driven by a number of factors: cultural, religious, economic, scientific, or even technological forces that result in changes in social institutions, relations or behaviors (Harper, 2010).
Social change may also occur from a micro perspective as well. In fact, many of the social sciences are able to help social change evolve simply through a one-step at a time manner; envisioning the grander historical and modern changes of the post-modern world and using it as a background for change. Modern psychologists have a responsibility to the field as well as...
This has ever been as important as it is in the current global economic model. Globalization, as well as the huge clinical and technological changes that are occurring so fast that one can almost not keep up with them -- partially due to the half-life of technology (Internet, mass media, etc.), and partially due to the access individuals now have in various parts of the world to rising social standards and hopes (Sampson, 1989).
There are a number of current issues that may be at the heart of social change for the psychology professional; if one can help individuals deal with life-threatening illness, individual differences in sexual preference, aging, workplace issues, egalitarian issues, and the like, it can only serve to help spur the moment and open the field for discussion and life's process. For instance, whether one views a cosmic or social consciousness as being a possibility…
