Chapt.+16-+Social+Change+Modern+and+postmadern+Societies


 * **Social change-** the transformation of culture and social institutions over time
 * At first Penny is uninterested in what she considers strange behavior of the male characters on the show. But over time as she becomes friends with them she begins to conform to their odd behaviors and even takes part in some of their activities, such as Halo night.

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 * **Disaster -** an event, generally unexpected, that causes extensive harm to people and damage to property.
 * In an attempt to make Penny fall for him, Leonard takes her out on a date, but ends up hurting himself accidentally and the date becomes a disaster.
 * **Social Character** - personality patterns common to members of a particular society.
 * The highly intelligent and socially awkward male characters are generally overly analytical and neurotic.
 * ** Relative deprivation ** - a perceived disadvantage arising from some specific comparison.
 * Sheldon always perceives it as a disadvantage that Penny is not as well educated and bright as the guys on the show. Likewise, Penny also feels as though it's a disadvantage that the guys are socially awkward. Neither feel as though they are at a disadvantage, it is only their perception.
 * ** Social Movement- An organized activity that encourages or discourages social change. **
 * As previously stated, the guys have their Halo night and allow Penny to take part in the activity, but to begin with Sheldon was completely against the idea of her taking part.
 * ** Anomie- Durkeim's term for a condition in which society provides little moral guidance to individuals. **
 * Sheldon's experiments aren't always moral since he does human experimentation such as the one with Penny and conditioning.
 * ** Modernization- The process of social change begun by industrialization. **
 * The video games the guys play, the cars they drive, and even Howard's Motorcycle is a result of modernization.
 * ** Modernity- Social Patterns resulting from industrialization. **
 * One of the things Sheldon does every morning is watch BBC while eating cereal. If the TV didn't exist, he would probably be forced to have breakfast with someone to keep him company.