Sanderson’s Propositions

1. Sanderson’s Propositions SOC 370: Social Change Dr. Kimberly Martin

2. I. • Evolutionary processes occur at every level of social organization. • Increasing complexity is a common result of evolution, but is not inevitable. • There are both similarities and differences between social and biological evolution.

3. II. • There are regularities/generalities in social history that can be explained causally (nomothetic approach), • Stability and change are both part of these regularities, • Social change is not teleological (progressing toward a given end)

4. III. • The main causal factors of soc evol are demographic, ecological, technological, and economic. • Causal factors operate probabilistically - "A makes B more likely" (not "A always leads to B"). • These factors are primary because they relate to meeting basic human needs. • Different patterns of social change occur because of different combinations of these factors.

5. IV. • Much of soc evol results from attempts at adaptation (individuals trying to meet their needs). • Not all of these attempts work (or keep working). Adaptedness refers to those that work. • Individuals are egoistic (focused on self-interest) and this is important in understanding social evolution.

6. V. • Individuals create social structure and change but not necessarily as they intend. • Individuals act partly in response to structures and changes that they have created. • Individuals always act within the constraints of their biopsychology and social structure.

7. VI. • The social structures created by individuals are the units of evolution. • Social change is a response to a balance of endogenous and exogenous factors. • Endogenous factors are those existing within a society. • Exogenous factors are those that result from contact between different societies.

8. VII. • Soc evol is sometimes slow (gradualist) and sometimes rather sudden (punctualist). • Soc evol is faster and more punctualist now than in previous eras.

9. VIII. • Evolutionary analysis is a form of historical analysis that in many cases only has access to modern data (synchronic data = data from a single point in time), • By recording what happens now and in the future, extrapolations from synchronic data can be replaced by studies of actual change (diachronic data = data across time)

10. Study Guide • Teleology Adaptation • Synchronic data Egoistic individuals • Diachronic data Demography • Gradualist Economy • Punctualist Ecology • Endogenous Technology • Exogenous Nomothetic