Preview

Sociology and Modernization Essay Example

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1004 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Sociology and Modernization Essay Example
What is modernization? According to our text, modernization is the process of social change begun by industrialization. “The term modernization became prominent in the social sciences and in more general discourse in the years following World War II. Increasing attention was then being paid to the possibility that the so-called underdeveloped societies of the Third World might attain levels of development—whether economic, social, or political—hitherto associated only with modern industrial societies (Eisenstadt).” The text states, “Peter Berger (1977) identified four major characteristics of modernization: the decline of small traditional communities, the expansion of personal choice, increasing social diversity and orientation toward the future and a growing awareness of time.”
How does modernization manifest itself in U.S. society? Many things are happening in the U.S. today. We are fighting a war in another country whether we are there for the right or wrong reasons. This past year we saw the very first presidential election where we had a potential black or female presidential candidate. We have seen the real estate and job market decline in a way it has not in years. Our health options are changing which is good. For years, many of us have not been able to have health insurance due to high cost and politicians regulating who can and cannot get treatment.
Is modernization likely to continue in the U.S.? “Modernization is likely to continue in the U. S. Modernization was brought on by the industrial age, since that time society has only grown and gone forward with progress, and progress and modernization go hand in hand in the growth of any country. Once modernization takes hold in a country, it never lets go, people with knowledge thrust for more. The more a person knows, the more they want to know, so yes modernization is here to stay” (Tyrer). For example, communities are changing. Years ago when people lived in smaller communities family was the most

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    After the Civil War, the United States of America underwent tremendous economic, social, cultural, and demographic change as modern America began to take root. Indeed, the movement west, the new industrial order, the changing nature of work, the massive migrations of populations from the countryside and abroad, and the rise of great cities transformed America in the late nineteenth century.…

    • 308 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    The decade after the First World War saw tremendous change. Progressivism was a leading factor of World War I and in the 1920’s the evidence can be seen. Industries were making their products at an increasing rate. Products that were not populous before World War I were now used by millions of Americans. The automobile was only used by less than ten million of Americans and by the end of this post war decade that number has climbed to over thirty million. Also many new inventions were coming through making life for Americans much more comfortable. Radios, vacuum cleaners, irons, washing machines, and refrigerators were among the new necessities Americans just had to have.…

    • 1981 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Modern America can be considered one of the world's economic and industrial leaders. This didn't happen instantaneously. It was a long process that took centuries to occur from when America was first colonized by England. America started slow and far behind England and other European countries in the technology race but a diverse culture and the work ethic of American people all helped to push this country forward. From antebellum America in the 19th century, to the Progressive Era in the late 19th century and early 20th century, and finally to the New Deal period in the 20th century, many changes occurred as millions of people lives were affected greatly during this time. Throughout these eras in U.S. history, there was a general improvement in the lives of most Americans from the progression of economic life.…

    • 1362 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Our country had no really competition for any businesses and it started to hurt the citizens. We then decided to change it just like the Sherman anti- trust law. After we made a law about it, I noticed how important that law is in real life and how much people would be over paying if we didn’t have it. I also think that our country started to grow as a whole, so technically you could say that the quality of life is getting better also. People had more money and could try to but more things to earn life points. This is just like when things like vacuums, radios, and cars were being built to improve life in the 20s. I can see how we worked together better when we weren’t as stressed and how people had better lives when their lives were…

    • 865 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ant 102 Study Guide

    • 1485 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Modernization Theory – Model of development holding that some nations are poor because their societies are traditional. Such nations should achieve wealth by attempting to repeat the historical experience of today’s wealth nations…

    • 1485 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    These changes can be seen as problem and solution as the years go by. For example, in the Gilded Age there was a corrupt government that contained monopolies and trusts. This was seen as a problem by reformers in that era, therefore it was solved later on in the Progressive Era. A way this happened is by attacking trusts thus enabling competition in business as mentioned previously. Also, previously there has been an issue on the conditions of workers which have been solved in the modern economy. Now there is an extended federal authority which established standard wages and hours on the job. Cause and effect patterns like this have been seen throughout history and overall helped the U.S.…

    • 802 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Let’s start back in the the 20th century. In the early 1900s America was at a time of rapid transformation. People were thinking “what can we change” and “how can we create a bigger and better America?” Even though they didn’t have iPhones or the internet they were creating new technology. Radios, washing machines, the Assembly Line, dishwashers, and vacuums are everyday…

    • 343 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Modernisation Theory is heavily influenced by Charles Darwin as they argue that societies evolve through a set of stages until they become modernised, like a living organism. Modernity is arrived at through a process of development sparked by industrialization. Rostow’s five stages of development shows the societal evolution and argues that every society will evolve through five distinct stages; Traditional Society, Preconditions for Take-Off, Take-Off, Drive to Maturity and Age of Mass Consumption.…

    • 711 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    sociology breeching essay

    • 331 Words
    • 2 Pages

    A norm is something that is accepted by society as the right thing to do. The norm I chose to breech was the idea that cereal should be eaten with a spoon the way I broke this norm is by using a fork as a replacement for the spoon.…

    • 331 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    sociology essay

    • 714 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Examine the ways in which sociologists can contribute to our understanding of how social identity is shaped by gender.…

    • 714 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    essay 1 sociology

    • 207 Words
    • 1 Page

    I believe alcohol is a depressant that alters perceptions, emotions, and senses. Alcohol first acts as a stimulant, and then it makes people feel relaxed and a bit sleepy. High doses of alcohol seriously affect judgment and coordination. Drinkers may have slurred speech, confusion, depression, short-term memory loss, and slow reaction times. I believe a vast amount of alcohol drunk in a short period of time may cause alcohol poisoning. Teens who uses alcohol can become psychologically dependent upon it to feel good dealing with life, or handle stressful situation. I believe, their bodies may demand more and more to achieve the same kind of high experienced in the beginning and . Some teens are also at risk of becoming physically addicted to alcohol. Withdrawal from alcohol can be painful and even life threatening. Symptoms can range from shaking, sweating, nausea, anxiety, and depression to hallucinations, fever, as well as convulsions. Alcoholism may start innocuously, due to the acceptability of social drinking, but over time, can lead to serious health problems, including brain, kidney and liver damage. I believe although alcoholics seem to be doing the most damage to themselves, they are hurting their families even more.…

    • 207 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Sociological Aging

    • 1487 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The modernization theory is the change from a traditional society to a more modernized society. As society becomes more modernized older people lose their social status and they become less involved in their community and there is a gap between the younger and older generations due to this separation and the older people are often not as well respect by younger people.…

    • 1487 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The process of modernity has proven to be inevitable in both the contemporary world, and throughout the course of history, especially since the outbreak of the Industrial Revolution and the First World War. Modernity is the “transition from traditional folk society to urban industrial societies,” a transition that inevitably affects all factions of society. The term modernity encompasses many cause and effect reactions, with industrialization as a centre point. The changes brought about by such processes are felt across a large spectrum of interactions and experiences including, education, politics, religion and ones conception of the self and the world in which they live. With this process class structure becomes mobile, and identity and connection to local community deteriorates, indicating a shift from gemeinschaft to gesellschaft, the creation of a mass society.…

    • 1565 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Sociology Essay

    • 1079 Words
    • 5 Pages

    This statement claims there is a definite relationship between gender and religion however some sociologists would disagree and claim there isn’t a relationship between the two. Also, the claim doesn’t state if the relationship provides equalities or inequalities for men and women in religion.…

    • 1079 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Sociology Essay

    • 1255 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Using material from Item A and elsewhere, assess the view that working-class children under-achieve because they are culturally deprived.…

    • 1255 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays