A common difficulty with these definitions of social change is the problem of reification, the tendency to equate conceptual abstractions of reality with an actual piece of reality. We can isolate the elements emphasized in the definitions, which include the social structure, the functioning of society, social relationships, forms of social processes, and time. But we still have difficulties in understanding what is changing. The term “change” is often used loosely, and as it has been illustrated, attempts at definitions are sufficiently numerous and conflicting as to be of much help.