Abstract:
This research aimed at studying the history, culture, factors and conditions of cultural change and effects in the Lao Ti community at Ban Sungneon. The methodologies of qualitative research used for data collection were observation, indepth interview and focus group discussion. The research revealed that 1) the history of the Lao Ti community began from five families that moved to Nasamor village, Or-nangkiew village, Huaykrabok village and Kaoraeng sub-district in Ratchaburi province, in 1932. Later it became four sub-communities in the same village; Nongchanang community, Sungneon community, Nongkong community, and Nongtato community. Most populations in the community are of the Lao Ti race and a minor population is native people and
Thai-Chinese. 2) The culture of the Lao Ti community has 10 characteristics: family and relatives, education, beliefs and customs, economics, politics and government, language, music and play, public health, communication and technology. These cultures have changed in forms of progressiveness, evolution, development, modernization and revolution which bring about benefits and problems to the Lao Ti community at Ban Sungneon. 3) Factors and conditions of cultural change can be understood as having two aspects: inner and outer factors and conditions. The inner factors are the increase of populations, the decrease of natural resources, discovering new innovations and new technology and rapid movement within the community and the outer factors are the increase of populations by marrying with other ethnic groups, expanding of outer cultures to the community, the government policy and the role of mass media. 4) The effects of cultural change have two aspects: the assimilation of the old cultures and new cultures related to family and relatives, beliefs and customs, economics, politics and government, language, music and play, public health and technology and the inclusion of new forms of culture related to education and communication.