Theory Database - Theory 62: Social Change Theory

This is a searchable database of theories of behaviour change that have been formalised according to an Ontology-Based Modelling System.

For more information, see:

West, R., Godinho, C. A., Bohlen, L. C., Carey, R. N., Hastings, J., Lefevre, C. E., & Michie, S. (2019). Development of a formal system for representing behaviour-change theories. Nature human behaviour, 3(5), 526. doi.org/10.1038/s41562-019-0561-2.
Hale, J., Hastings, J., West, R., Lefevre, C. E., Direito, A., Connell Bohlen, L., Godinho, C., Anderson, N., Zink, S., Goarke, H., and Michie, S. (2020) An ontology-based modelling system (OBMS) for representing behaviour change theories applied to 76 theories [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]. Wellcome Open Research.

Theory 62: Social Change Theory

Number of Constructs: 20
Number of Triples: 19

Theory triples

External environment influences Norms
Vested interests influences Norms
Social movements influences the 'Vested interests' to 'Norms' Influences relationship
Community development influences Behaviour
Norms influences Behaviour
Locality development influences Behaviour
Community organisations influences Behaviour
Leadership influences Community organisations
Role models influences Norms
Collective action influences Norms
Social environment influences Norms
Norms part of Community system
Key events type of External environment
Economic conditions type of External environment
Secular trends type of External environment
Policies type of External environment
Technologies type of External environment
Organisational development influences (*) Norms
Diffusion influences (*) Norms

Theory constructs and annotations

External environment External agents or conditions (in the form of key events, secular trends, policies, economic conditions and technologies) that influence the norms and values within the community system
Norms Shared rules and expectations that govern everyday life [ BCIO:050671 (group evaluative behavioural norm) 62 69 42 78 9 22 64 71 ]
Vested interests Incentives to adopt particular positions or behave in particular ways as a result of one's self-interest or the interest of a body to which one belongs or with which one identifies [ ADDICTO:0000179 (Personal stake) 62 ]
Social movements Concerted actions on the part of large groups of people within a society designed to achieve a common aim [ BCIO:050808 (Collective behaviour) 62 ]
Community development Change within the community [ BCIO:006001 (social environment system) 62 13 68 10 14 69 72 33 60 28 80 41 64 4 65 77 3 57 ]
Behaviour Anything one does in response to internal/external events [ BCIO:036000 (Individual human behaviour) 62 70 8 5 14 63 64 78 81 65 77 13 55 74 79 24 18 53 54 57 69 71 ]
Locality development A type of community work which refers to community action for change, through the participation of a broad range of people in the community who focus on goal determination and action [ BCIO:006001 (Social environmental system) 62 13 68 10 14 69 72 33 60 28 80 41 64 4 65 77 3 57 ]
Community organisations Formal or informal groups of people based in or around a community, who work together to achieve change at the subsystem level [ BCIO:006001 (Social environmental system) 62 13 68 10 14 69 72 33 60 28 80 41 64 4 65 77 3 57 ]
Leadership The position occupied by the person responsible for guiding others in their pursuits [ BCIO:050887 (Leadership role) 62 ]
Role models Person or group serving as an exemplar for the goals, attitudes or behaviour of an individual [ BCIO:050842 (Role model for a person) 62 13 ]
Collective action Action formed by a collection of individual persons; can bring about new norms and lead to organisational change [ BCIO:006001 (Social environmental system) 62 13 68 10 14 69 72 33 60 28 80 41 64 4 65 77 3 57 ]
Social environment One's immediate social surroundings [ BCIO:006001 (Social environmental system) 62 13 68 10 14 69 72 33 60 28 80 41 64 4 65 77 3 57 ]
Community system A set of interacting individuals or groups of individuals [ BCIO:006001 (Social environmental system) 62 13 68 10 14 69 72 33 60 28 80 41 64 4 65 77 3 57 ]
Key events Any occurrences or phenomena that have a definite beginning and end and that involve or produce change
Economic conditions Status of a financial position within a specific period of time [ BCIO:006087 (Financial behavioural opportunity) 62 66 39 ]
Secular trends The main trend or direction of a time series, as distinguished from temporary or seasonal variations
Policies Actions or intended actions undertaken by, or on behalf of, organisations [ BCIO:006001 (Social environmental system) 62 13 68 10 14 69 72 33 60 28 80 41 64 4 65 77 3 57 ]
Technologies Devices or processes developed from the practical application of scientific and technical knowledge
Organisational development Process through which change is spread to other groups within the community; Links individual and organisational change by advocating manipulation of organisational norms of behaviour [ BCIO:050575 (Behaviour change through group norm) 62 78 ]
Diffusion Process through which change is spread to other groups within the community; occurs via social networks

Theory illustration

Theory Reference

Thompson, B. & Kinne, S. (1990). Social change theory: applications to community health. In N. Bracht (Ed.), Health Promotion at the Community Level. Newbury Park: Sage Publications.

Home | Contact