Social Development Theory

What has made man evolve from an ape to a human form? What is the reason for those chapters of the progressing ages from stone age to bronze age and more in history? The answer lies in one strong word to the benefit of mankind, and that is development.

This is the driving force behind the time wheel getting the most and the best out of mankind on earth. Development is one word associated with different and almost all the attributes and aspects interlined with human beings. With such an extensive role of development in human beings, there have been various philosophies that are emerging.

Social development is one such aspect that has been studied by many philosophers and research masters in the field of human behavioral science. This has led to many perspectives of human social nature, resulting in the birth of social development theory.

This behavior can be defined as the changes that happen in society that bring out the best in all aspects of it. It is called the qualitative change in the structure and thinking path of a society, to realize the objectives and goals.

These pinnacles are achieved with the increased perspective of quality, energy, potential, production, creative thinking, and contentment. Development does not only apply to the fields of materialistic profit sectors like the economy. It has roots affecting the soils of social, political and technological lands.

This concept relies on many aspects that form the foundation of society. It goes through three different stages: Physical, Vital and Mental. These play roles in the developmental process one at each time, while simultaneously supporting or complementing each other. The main riggers that can be molded and changed for the betterment are listed below.

Economical development will lead to a better and flourishing income and country, but this alone cannot be termed as development in the standard of living of the people. This happens when the structure of development is aimed at only improving the industrial sectors, that give huge profits.

The standard of living will elevate when there are changes introduced, and awareness programs designed for health and education of the population. Social change will only be possible when the realization of strengths, capacities and awareness, about all the aspects affect the society as a whole.

With this realization, complete and maximum utilization of thinking, ideas and energy can be expected.

Survival, growth and development are interlinked terms but are distinct, with different effects on the society. As we can refer to survival as living that simply aims at pushing the day to the next, which is a stagnant view of life.

Whereas growth and development give greater views of enhancing the standard of living and give new vision for possibilities, to achieve larger goals of development. Social development can take place in 4 progressive aspects that are its components. They are - social, mental, physical, and psychological.

Human development does not only comprise the economical aspects of the society. It can be more related to the thought process of the individuals. These individuals have a sharp thought and vision of development, which can be the trigger and the backbone of the developmental process.

This aspect is very influential to overall social development as, the way of interaction, the upbringing, values and attitudes, make a big difference in the way a society makes plans for development. This is specially in the case of the young adults and children.

Social development theory for children states that, interaction is a vital tool in shaping the child, first by the interaction with people in his environment and then by self interaction.

Other aspects of the society are the education system, organization development and development of leaders in a society. Education, no doubt is the strongest weapon that can be used for maximum harnessing of interpersonal skills and greater vision of development. The role of education is also followed by cultural and family influences on an individual.

The family can be responsible for primary development of qualities and thinking of an individual. The upbringing and values conceived in the family make a big difference to the individual's outlook, on contribution to development.

The need for good and effective leaders, or torch bearers in the development process is important, as such individuals will inspire the ideas of change for the betterment. Imitation of these pioneers will also cause a good effect among the rising population of development.

Organizational development is a part of the social development. Or we can say it emerges as an effect of the inputs by social, human and all other aspects of development. Organizations are an effect of the vertical rise in development. For making use of all available energies, infrastructure and man power, etc., development of an organization is necessary.

Resources can be both social and physical. The ones that make the natural resources like water, minerals, land, etc., are the physical resources available to society. Whereas the social resources can be the attitude and way or thinking of the society, the ideas for development and the perspective that it possesses.

New ideas and observation can lead to innovation and technological progress. Development of the experimentation passions that drive research, studies and inventions, exchange of thought and research results in greater knowledge. Social development is strongly triggered by the inventions and progress in technology.

The limitation to resources has been only valid to the physical resources. The human brain is the most abundant and never ending social resource that fuels the need of developing social skills.

To conclude: The explanation and elaboration of this theory is vast and has deeper and stronger aspects of social development. The concept is a vast platform that has a horizon, where the limits are only visible but practically non existent, because development is never ending. It shall rule the foundations of evolution, as long as human beings rule as the social species on earth.