Table 2.

Theories of social change in sociology.

Theories	Perspective on social change	Key authors
Evolutionary theory	Society moves in a linear direction from a simple to a more complex structure.	Comte, 1853/1929; Spencer, 1898; Pareto, 1901/1968
Conflict theory	Individuals and their groups fight to maximize their benefits. Society is in a constant state of disequilibrium.	Marx and Engels, 1848
Functionalist theory	Society is in a constant state of equilibrium. When a change occurs in one part of society, adjustments are made. Social change occurs when the equilibrium is compromised due to the rapidity with which events occur.	Durkheim, 1893/1967; Parson, 1951