Social Change: Causes and Effects Social change is the process of change in the institutions, relationships, values, and norms that exist in a society over time. Social change is an inevitable process that occurs at different rates and in different ways in every society. The causes of social change can be divided into two categories: internal and external. Internal causes are those that originate within the society itself. External causes, on the other hand, originate outside the society. Internal causes include: Scientific and technological developments: Scientific and technological developments lead to fundamental changes in all areas of society. For example, the Industrial Revolution completely changed the way societies produced and consumed goods. Population events: Population growth, decline, aging, and migration all affect the social structure and relationships of society. For example, urbanization changes the social and cultural structure of societies. Cultural interactions: Int...