In general rigid class and caste patterns tend to hinder the acceptance ol change. However, different social classes in a society tend to react to and alter the course of change in different ways. In highly stratified soci eties. individuals are expected to obey and take orders from those in su perior positions of authority or power. Those in position of superiority in rum. dictate to those below them. his limits the free interplay of ideas and opinions that is so important in so many change situations" (Foster 1973:127). The prerogatives of the upper strata are jealously guarded, and attempts to infringe upon them by menubers of lower socio-economic groups are often resented and repulsed. For example, under the traditional indian and Pakistani rigid caste system, menibers of dilTerent castes could nu draw water Irom the same well, go to Lhe same schools, eat together, or otherwise mingle. "The types ol work one could do were rigorously pre scribed, and any violation of rules was condemned. A somewhat similar situation existed in the United States concerning the position of blacks up to recent years.
Members of the upper classes, in general, are more likely to accept Innovations, whereas those in the lower classes or those who are downwardly nobile tend to resist them. ation is one of the bases of stratification, and rarely, if ever, have any considerable proportion of the members of group willingly renounced their established skills and knowledge in favor of some innovation that required the development of new skills and understandings(LaPiere, 1965:191). In most cases there is tendency to cherish the old ways of doing things and to adhere to the tatus quo