ABSTRACT
Some readers of a book of mine, On the Theory of Social Change(1962), have drawn from it the conclusion that I believe that there can be no increase in innovational activity in a society without change in personality between generations, resulting from change in childhood environment. In that book I do not summarize my argument, but rather let it develop in a somewhat complex way. Because of this, and because of the stress I place on personality change as a neglected element in historical explanation, to draw that conclusion is reasonable. I should like, therefore, to note at the beginning of this paper that it is incorrect. I do not believe, and did not believe when I wrote that volume, that personality change is the only possible or important cause of an increase in innovational activity.
