Personal civilisations, circle civilisations, social relations and institutions influence one another reciprocally. They do not, however, necessarily change simultaneously, at the same pace or in the same direction. A circle civilisation may already be changing while institutions continue to embed elements of an older civilisation. Conversely, formal rules may be altered while large numbers of individuals continue to apply older norms and expectations. Changes in institutions or social relations may also generate new experiences and possibilities for action and thereby influence personal and circle civilisations in turn.
Changes may arise within a social circle, but may also originate in other circles or in social conditions to which the circle is connected. When such changes alter dependencies, possibilities for action or power positions, they may have further effects on civilisations and institutions. The resulting changes may subsequently affect still other social circles and institutions. Social change therefore rarely remains confined to the place where it first became visible.
Individuals and social circles may respond differently to changes and the tensions arising from them. Individuals may adapt, maintain existing conceptions or conduct, adopt or reject new civilisation elements, leave social circles, enter into other social relations, use or interpret institutions differently, or join others in purposive attempts to change existing relations and institutions.
Processes of social change consequently have a recursive character. Changes in personal civilisations, circle civilisations, social relations and institutions may cause changes in others among these elements. The resulting changes may subsequently affect personal and circle civilisations, social relations and institutions once again. The effects of social change thus themselves become causes of further social change.
Personal civilisations, circle civilisations, social relations and institutions may remain relatively stable during particular periods. When changes disrupt their mutual coherence, tensions may arise and the individuals concerned may, separately or together with others, attempt to reduce those tensions through restoration, adaptation or the search for a new workable equilibrium.
Conversely, an elite may purposively attempt to make other civilisation elements directive within a social circle. Tension may arise when this change conflicts with strongly operative elements of the personal civilisations of members. That tension may diminish because members internalise the new elements or because divergent personal civilisations become less operative within the circle.
Tensions between changed personal civilisations and a circle civilisation that has lagged behind may diminish because the circle civilisation changes or because the divergent personal civilisations become less operative within the circle, for example through conformity, withdrawal, exit or exclusion.