Warren’s Theory of the Great Change society has become large and interconnected

1. Warren’s Theory of the Great Change • society has become large and interconnected • shift of control from the local community to the large urban core • The Great Change leads to: • depersonalization • bureaucratization • rationalization • Intensification of capitalism

2. ASPECTS OF THE GREAT CHANGE • Roland Warren has capsulated "The Great Change" into seven aspects. Each of these is briefly described. • The Increasing Division of Labor • More groups of people earn their living doing different things. • Functions one person performed in the past are now broken down into specialized, fragmented jobs. • Production is increased exponentially rather than decreased. • Specialization of work underlies community make-up and activities.

3. Greater Diversity of Interests • and Associations • The division of labor (mentioned previously) splinters people into divergent interests and interest groups. People associate with work colleagues regardless of where they live. • Even in very small communities, people have diverse sets of interests and little emotional investments in their local communities

4. Increasing Vertical Ties • Local units in the community tend to become increasingly tied to organizations and systems outside the local community. Ties to the outside are increasingly strong and widespread in: • Governmental units, Branch banks, Business with headquarters elsewhere • Voluntary associations affiliated with state and national groups and organizations • Food-store chains • National unions • National mass media affiliations for T.V., radio, and newspapers • Think of your personal work situation and life. How • strong are your ties to outside entities?

5. The Trend Toward Impersonal Bureaucracies • Standardization of routines. • Depersonalization of procedures. • Pressuring individuals to act like parts of a machine. • Less contact with people we know. • Requirements that everyone be treated the same.

6. Gradual Transfer of Functions • According to Roland Warren, there is a gradual • transfer of functions out of the home, neighborhood groups, and voluntary associations to profit enterprises and government. These vital functions have been affected: • Social control • Care of the sick • Preparation of food • Maintenance and repair of homes • Care of the aged and the very young

7. Gradual Transfer of Functions • According to Roland Warren, there is a gradual • transfer of functions out of the home, neighborhood groups, and voluntary associations to profit enterprises and government. These vital functions have been affected: • The overall results have been: • Family members are not so dependent on each other. • Local neighborhood and community members are less dependent on each other. • Both the traditional family and the traditional community have been weakened.

8. The Trend to Urbanization and Suburbanization • Suburbanization continues to transform rural areas into urban areas. • Previously independent communities become a part of the urban complex. • The city grows beyond its official boundaries. • Shopping centers move out and people lose allegiance to the inner city. • All communities—villages, small cities, and larger cities—take on aspects of the big city. • The open country also takes on urban aspects.

9. Changing Values • As a result of the changes noted above, has come a shifting of the values held by people. Clearly, different values are prevalent in society and communities today than was the case twenty or even ten years ago • They are not changes that anyone at any level deliberately seeks to bring about. They are aggregate trends and are not subject to changes of reversal by individuals or communities.