Why does cultural lag occur

Search this site. What is a technological author? Kavita Philip. Addressing Technological Change. Current Sociology: Judy Wajcman. The Cultural Lag Theory. Postcolonial Pirates and Rights. Live and Discussion Forums. Discussion Question: 1. Points on Cultural Lag Theory: 1. Subpages 1 : Postcolonial Pirates and Rights.

Kerr What is a technological author? Kavita Philip Addressing Technological Change. Such an issue is raised due to the fact that cervical cancer is acquired through a virus called the Human Papilloma Virus HPV , this virus is spread through the onset of sexual activity, thus a woman is likely to get cancer if she does indulge in sexual activity, and preventing her from cancer would then be required once she has been sexually active, and giving it to teenagers meant they were being encouraged to engage in sexual activity.

The risk of cancer, however, is high at the reproductive stage of life due to the fact that the HPV may multiply in the affected cells causing issues. Another such issue was raised in the discovery of the fact that the stem cells can be stored in order to cure diseases later in life, however the extraction of the embryonic stem cells is considered unethical as it is seen, that the destruction of embryo for the extraction of the stem cell is indirectly the death of the embryo.

Similarly, the research for the harmful effects of video games, mobiles, screening, etc. Thus cultural lag is considered to take place as the values and ideologies and the ways of thinking are likely to evolve slower than technology.

Aishani Menon, currently pursuing sociology from the University of Delhi, I put my thoughts across through my words, I believe in learning because with knowledge comes growth, and with growth comes the best ability to write. Intern With Us. As explained by James W. Woodward, when material conditions change, changes are felt in the non-material culture as well.

But these changes in the non-material culture do not match exactly with the change in the material culture. This delay is the cultural lag. Cultural lag creates problems for a society in different ways. Cultural lag is seen as a critical ethical issue because failure to develop broad social consensus on appropriate uses of modern technology may lead to breakdowns in social solidarity and the rise of social conflict.

The issue of cultural lag tends to permeate any discussion in which the implementation of some new technology can become controversial for society at large.