Social Mobility

Social change refers to changes that have taken place in the structure of a society, including changes in social relationships, social institutions, social values and social interaction. Cultural changes occur through modifications of the elements and pattern of a cultural system, and include changes in the traditions, beliefs, religions, norms, values, customs and practices. The important approaches for studying social-cultural changes are evolutionary, structural, dialectical and historical. The factors responsible for social-cultural changes are demographic, technological, cultural, economic, political, legal and ecological factors. Cultural factors influence socio-cultural changes through the exchange of ideas, knowledge and values. One society adopts cultural traits of another society through war, attack, defeat, or the fulfillment of its right requirements. The geographical regions and natural resources also influence social change. Social mobility means the movement of people from one social status to another social status or from one position to another position is considered to be an important factor in changes in society. Caste mobility is an example of social mobility, which has been influenced by education and constitutional privileges. Occupational mobility envisages changes in traditional occupation by adopting modern occupation, irrespective of caste barriers, it helps the caste society develop into new social strata. The different factors that cause social mobility include Sanskritisation, Westernization, urbanization, industrialization, modernization and globalization. The 'Sanskritisation' and 'Westernisation' are the important cultural factors that influence the socio-cultural changes of India.