Cultural lag

Abstract

Cultural lag theory emerged in sociology as an attempt to explain social change in modern societies using cultural factors. The theory argues that material culture changes at a faster pace than non-material culture, leading to temporary maladjustment or cultural lag between technology and other aspects of society. This lag occurs because non-material culture, such as social norms and values, takes time to adapt to technological innovations. The theory emphasizes that society exists in a period of maladjustment until all aspects of culture adjust to the changes brought by new technologies. The theory has been criticized for its sociological constructivism, but it remains useful in understanding social changes in technologized societies – AI-generated abstract.