What is cultural lag?

• A. It refers to the idea that material culture changes more slowly than non-material culture, causing tension.
• B. Cultural lag occurs when non-material culture lags behind technological advances, creating social tensions and adjustments.
• C. It describes a situation where technology changes faster than values with no tension.
• D. It means social norms change after every technology release.

Answer: (B)

Cultural lag shows that non-material culture—our values, beliefs, norms, and laws—tends to fall behind the rapid advances of technology (material culture). When new tech appears, society often needs time to adjust its rules, institutions, and everyday practices, leading to tensions and a period of adaptation. The correct option captures this idea by stating that non-material culture lags behind technological advances, creating social tensions and adjustments. For example, rapid developments in smartphone use and online platforms have outpaced privacy expectations and legal protections, forcing date protection laws and ethical norms to catch up. The other options miss this dynamic: reversing the direction would imply technology is slow while values move faster; claiming there’s no tension ignores the pressure to adapt; and saying norms change after every release suggests an immediate, uniform shift that doesn’t reflect the real lag and struggle to adjust.