Final answer:
Modernization refers to the transition from traditional societies to more developed ones, characterized by advanced technology and economic growth. It is often represented by stages or levels of societal development, but it also faces criticism over its ethnocentric implications.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term used to describe the far-reaching process by which a society shifts from traditional or lesser developed institutions to those characteristic of more developed societies is modernization. This concept involves the increase in specialization and differentiation within a society, leading to improvements in technology, infrastructure, industry, and overall societal organization. Modernization is depicted through various lenses such as Gerhard Lenski's definition, which emphasizes technological sophistication, or Walt Rostow's model, which outlines the economic development stages from traditional society to a society of high mass consumption. Moreover, sociologists classify societies from preindustrial to post-industrial stages to reflect their level of industrialization, directly related to technological advancement and economic growth. However, it is crucial to recognize the criticism regarding the ethnocentric bias of this model, questioning whether modernization is always a positive goal for all societies.