Final answer:
Postindustrial societies prioritize services and information over traditional manufacturing, with automation playing a significant role. Information is the most valued commodity in these societies, as it drives the innovation and service-based industries. This shift is accompanied by cultural changes towards individualism and global trends like urbanization and globalization. The correct answer is option 3) automation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Postindustrial societies, or information societies, are characterized by their focus on services and information rather than manufacturing and agriculture. These societies produce an abundance of food and rely heavily on advanced technology, which means automation, rather than traditional industries like agriculture, plays a dominant role.
Factors contributing to this shift include the outsourcing of manufacturing jobs and the increasing use of robots and computer technology, leading to a rise in service and information-based industries.
Information is the most important commodity in a postindustrial society. With evolving technology and the Internet, information and the ability to utilize it innovatively have become valuable commodities. Industries have transitioned from producing physical goods to digital productions, as seen with music and film transitioning from CDs and DVDs to streaming services.
Industrial societies have also undergone cultural changes, with urbanization causing people to move toward cities as the pull of industrial jobs becomes stronger. This leads to an emphasis on individualism and self-reliance, which can sometimes result in feelings of isolation and alienation in these societies.
The emergence of globalization has also significantly influenced the transition to postindustrial economies, as consumption and production patterns become globally intertwined, and services and information take precedence over manufacturing.