Chapter 17 Summary and Analysis

Groups within culture have to change even if there is a limit to the amount of change they can accept within a given amount of change. Going above the adaptive range results in problems of distortion and disorientation. Not all people adapt to a new culture as did the group found on Manus who were living in the stone age. The coming future will push people to the upper limits of the adaptive range. This does not mean that the future should be greeted with despair or a halt to change. People must be prepared to deal with the changes when they come and need to develop mechanisms for dealing with change. New technologies and organizations may be required to increase adaptability.

The process of preparing for the future begins with the individual examining his own reactions to stimulation. People need...