Society
The term society is the fundamental one in sociology but still it is one of the most vague
and general concept. For example, we often say the agricultural society, the ipe society.
In these cases it means no more than an association. We also say I like the society of
artist, I move in high society. Here society indicates company or fellowship.
The term society is derived from the Latin word ‘socius’ which means companionship or
friendship.
Society is the complex of organized associations and institutions with a
community—G.D.M. Cole.
Society is a web of social relationship—MacIver.
Characteristics of society:
The basic characteristics of society are as follows:
1. Society consists of people: Society is composed of people. Without people there
can be no society, no social relationships and no social life at all. For example,
without students and teachers there can be no college and no university.
2. Mutual interaction and mutual awareness: Society is a group of people in
continuous interaction with each other. It refers to the reciprocal contact
between two or more persons. It is a process whereby men interpenetrate the
minds of each other. Social interaction is made possible because of mutual
awareness. Society is understood as a network of social relationships. Social
relationships exist only when the members are aware of each other. Without this
awareness there can be no society. A social relationship thus implies mutual
awareness.
3. Society depends on likeness: Likeness refers to the similarities. People have
similarities with regards to their needs, works, aims, ideals, values, outlook
towards life and so on.
4. Society rests on difference too: Society also implies difference.
5. Co-operation and division of labour: Division of labour involves the assignment
to each unit or group a specific share of a common task. Division of labour leads
to specialization.
6. Society is dynamic: Society is not static, it is dynamic. Change is ever present in
society. Changeability is an inherent quality of human society.
7. Social control: Society has its own ways and means of controlling the behavior of
its members. It has various controls like customs, traditions. Conventions,
folkways, mores, etiquettes, law, legislation, constitution, police, court, army and
other means of control to regulate the behavior of its members.
8. Culture: Each society is distinct from the other. Every society is unique because it
has its own way of life, called culture. Culture and society go together.
Community:
The term community is very loosely used. For example, a racial community, a religious
community, a national community, a professional community etc. Community is a
geographic area having common centers of interests and activities. It is marked by
some degree of social coherence.
Community is a social group with some degree of we-feeling and living in a given
area.—Bogardus.
Discuss the elements of community
The main basis of community are (i) locality and (ii) community sentiment.
1. Locality: A community occupies some geographic area. Locality is the physical
basis of community. A group of people forms community only when it begins to
reside in a definite locality. Physical factors such as fertile soil, minerals, forests,
fisheries, water resources, vegetation, weather, climate, etc., are included in the
locality. These factors influence the lives of community members in several ways.
2. Community sentiment: Sometimes, people residing in the same area man not
have any contacts and communications. A community is essentially an area of
common living with a feeling of belonging. Community sentiment means a
feeling of belonging together. The members must be aware of their staying
together and sharing common interests. The members develop a sense of we-
feeling. It means a kind of identification with the group.
Differences between society and community:
Society Community
Society is a web of social relationships.Community is a group of people living in a
particular area with some degree of we-
feeling.
A definite geographic area is not an Definite geographic area is an essential
essential part of society. part of a community.
Society is abstract. Community is concrete.
Society is wider. There can be more than Community is smaller than society.
one community in a society.
Association:
Why people make association?
Men have diverse needs, desire and interests and ends which demand their satisfaction.
They have three ways of fulfilling their ends.
Firstly, they may act independently, each in his own way without bothering about
others.
Secondly, men may seek their ends through conflicts with one another.
Finally, men may try to fulfil their ends through co-operation and mutual
assistance. This co-operative pursuit leads to form an association.
An association is an organization deliberately formed for the collective pursuit of some
interest, or a set of interests, which its members share.—R.M. MacIver.
Examples are gonojagoron monch, political association, religious associations, students
associations, professional associations etc.
Characteristics of association:
The main characteristics of association are as follows:
1. A human group: An association is formed by people. It is basically a social group.
Without people there can be no association. However, all groups are not
associations, because an association is basically an organized group. An
unorganized group like crowd or mob cannot be an association.
2. Common interests or interests: An association is not merely a collection of
individuals. It consists of those individuals who have more or less the same
interests.
3. Co-operative spirit: An association is based on the co-operative spirit of its
members. People work together to achieve some definite purposes.
4. Regulation of relations: Every association has its own ways and means of
regulating the relations of its members. They may be written or unwritten form.
5. Durability of association: An association may be permanent or temporary.
Institution:
The concept of institution is one of the most important in the entire field of sociology.
The importance of understanding the concept of institution in order to understand
society is, at the same, recognized by all the sociologists.
Institutions may be described as recognized and established usages governing the
relations between individuals and groups.—Ginsberg.
Characteristics of institutions:
The main characteristics of social institutions are described below:
1. Social in nature: Institutions come into being due to the collective activities of
the people. They are essentially social in nature.
2. Universality: Social institutions are ubiquitous. They exists in all the societies and
existed at all the stages of social development. For example, family, religion.
3. Institutions are standardized norms: An institution must be understood as
standardized procedures and norms. They prescribe the way of doing things.
They also prescribe rules and regulations that are to be followed. For example
marriage.
4. Institutions are the controlling mechanisms: Institutions like religion, morality,
government, law, legislation, etc., control the behavior of men.
5. Relatively permanent: Institution normally do not undergo sudden or rapid
changes. Changes take place slowly and gradually in them.
6. Abstract in nature: Institutions are not external, visible or tangible things. They
are abstract. Thus marriage cannot be kept in a museum, religion cannot be
rated or quantified.
7. Oral or written traditions: Institutions may persist in the form of oral or written
traditions. For the primitive societies they may be largely oral. But modern
complex societies they may be observed in written as well as unwritten forms.
There may be written institutional forms like constitutions, syllabus etc.
8. Institutions are interrelated: Institutions, though devise, are interrelated.
Understanding of one institution requires the understanding of the other related
institutions. The religious, moral, educational, political, economic and other types
of institutions are essentially interrelated.
Primary and secondary institution:
Institutions are often classified into (i) primary institutions and (ii) secondary
institutions
1. Primary institutions: The most basic institutions which found even in primitive
societies like religion, family, marriage, some kind of political systems, are
primary in character.
2. Secondary institution: As society grew in size and complexity, institutions
became progressive and more differentiated. A large number of institutions are
evolved to cater to the secondary needs of people. The may be called secondary
institutions. For example, education, law, legislation, constitution etc.
Difference between association and institution
Association Institution
An association is a group of people Institution refers to the organized way of
organized for the purpose of fulfilling a doing things.
need or needs.
Association consists of individuals. Institution consist of laws, rules and
regulations.
Associations are mostly created or Institutions are primarily evolved.
established.
Association may be temporary or Institutions are relatively more durable.
permanent.
Associations are concrete. Institutions are abstract.
