Final answer:
The belief that contemporary societies are similar to advanced societies from the past in terms of development is called the theory of convergence. It posits that as societies develop economically, they begin to show resemblance to societies that underwent industrialization earlier. This theory aligns with sociologists' observations of global patterns of societal development toward increased industrialization.
Step-by-step explanation:
The belief that contemporary societies resemble earlier stages of advanced societies is referred to as the theory of convergence. This theory suggests that as societies develop economically, they begin to show similarities to previously developed societies, indicating a pattern where societies move toward similarity over time. The theory of convergence reflects on the observation by sociologists that developing countries might go through similar developmental stages as those experienced by nations that industrialized earlier.
As delineated by sociologist Gerhard Lenski Jr., societies are generally classified along a spectrum of industrialization, from preindustrial to industrial to postindustrial, based on their technological sophistication. Convergence theory addresses the pattern of societal development which, despite differing cultural and historical backgrounds, seems to follow a path towards increased industrialization and technological advancement, resembling the transformation undergone by earlier societies during the Industrial Revolution and beyond.
Early anthropology and scholars like Lewis Henry Morgan and Edward Tylor attempted to chart cultural evolution based on technological progress, often with a Eurocentric bias categorizing countries as 'developed' or 'undeveloped.' Contemporary understanding has moved away from this ethnocentric viewpoint, acknowledging that modernity and features associated with it, such as mass media and wage labor, have influenced societies that are not strictly industrial or postindustrial.