Fundamental concepts of sociology

Some fundamental concepts of sociology

First we will define what is a society so society according to sociology is not the group of people but it is the complex forms of interactions that takes place between two people or more than two people it is known as society.Example family

Society versus individual 

•Society is composed of individuals and the individuals cannot exist without society. 

•As a coin has two faces, heads and tales society and individuals are the faces of that coin. 

•Society cannot exist without cooperation. 

•Society cannot exist without like mindness. 

•An individual cannot claim that he is not part of society as society has taught him how to speak how to behave and even how to eat and also gave him the language.

•Hence Society according to Maclver is the web of social relationships.

Characteristics of society-:

1. Society composed of individuals 

2. Society cannot exist without cooperation 

3. Society cannot exist without like - mindedness. 

4. Society cannot exist without the individual of labour. 

Community 

A community is a group of people who live in a common territory and share a sense of belonging. 

Elements of a community

1. Group of people-: community is a group of people. Whenever the individuals live together in such a way that they share the basic conditions of a common life,we call them forming a community.

2. Locality-: the group of people forms a community when it begins to reside in a definite locality. A community always occupies a territorial area. 

3. Community sentiment-: community sentiment means a feeling of belonging together it is we feeling among the members. 

4. Permanency-: A community is not transitory like a crowd. It essentially includes a permanent life in a definite place.

Size of a community 

A community may be bigger or smaller such as a nation will contain within a number of small communities and groups with more close bonds of unity 

and more numerous common qualities.

Basis	Society	Community
Meaning	Society is a web of social relationships	Community is a group of people living together
Scope	Wider and larger, abstract	Smaller, concrete and limited
Example	Indian Society, Modern Society	Village Community, Tribal Community (e.g. Bihar me Tharu Tribe)
Feeling	No we-feeling required	We-feeling is essential
Objective	Common interest is not necessary	Common interest and objectives

Association

Association is a group of people organised for a particular purpose or limited number of purposes. According to R.M. Maclver an association is an organisation deliberately formed for the collective pursuit of some interest or set of interest which its members share.

Points	Society	Association
1. Definition	Web of social relationships	Group organized for a purpose
2. Membership	Compulsory, you are born in it	Voluntary, you can join/leave
3. Nature	Natural and permanent	Artificial and temporary

Basis of Difference	Community	Association
1. Meaning	Group of people living together in a definite locality	Group organized for a specific purpose
2. Membership	By birth, compulsory	Voluntary, based on choice
3. We-Feeling	We-feeling (Hum log) is essential	We-feeling may or may not be present
4. Locality	Definite locality is essential	Definite locality is not essential
5. Nature	Natural, permanent	Artificial, temporary

Institution 

According to Ginsberg institutions are definite and sanctioned form or modes of relationship between social beings in respect to one another or to some external object.

Meaning

1. Definite form = Pakka tarika*

Jaise shaadi karna hai to ek definite process hai - mandap, phere, sindoor. Aise hi har rishte ka ek fixed pattern hai.

*2. Sanctioned = Samaj ne maanj liya hai*

Ye tarike aise hi nahi bane, samaj ne inhe izzat di hai, kanoon ya riwaz se manzoori mili hai. Agar tu isko todega to samaj bura manega.

*3. Modes of relationship = Rishte nibhane ka tarika*

Institution insaan aur insaan ke beech ya insaan aur kisi cheez (jaise paisa, dharm, zameen) ke beech rishte ko control karta hai.

*Simple Example se samjho:*

- *Institution = Marriage (Vivah)*

- *Definite form* = Shaadi kaise hogi uska tarika

- *Sanctioned* = Samaj ne us shaadi ko sahi mana

- *Relationship* = Pati-Patni ka rishta ab ek niyam se chalega

Toh Ginsberg keh raha hai - Institution koi building nahi hai, ye logon ke beech rishte nibhane ka wo pakka aur samaj dwara manjoor tarika hai.

Characteristics of instution

i. Institutions are the means of controlling individuals. 

ii . Institutions depends upon the collective activities of men.

iii the institution has some proceedings which are formed on the basis of customs and dogmas.

iv. Institution is more stable than other means of social control. 

Point	Association	Institution
Definition	A group of people organized for common purpose	A system of rules to achieve that purpose
Form	Concrete (Visible)	Abstract (Not Visible)
Membership	Members hote hain	Members nahi, rules hote hain
Temporary	Temporary ho sakta hai	Permanent hota hai

Basis	Society	Institution
1. Meaning	Web of social relationships	A definite way or form of relationship
2. Nature	Society is abstract and complex system	Institution is part of society, formal
3. Membership	Society has members	Institution has no members, has rules
4. Example	Indian Society, Tribal Society	Marriage, Family, Religion

Basis	Institution	Community
1. Meaning	System of rules and procedures	Group of people living together in a locality
2. Nature	Abstract	Concrete
3. Locality	No definite locality needed	Definite locality is essential
4. Membership	No members, only rules	Has members, we-feeling is important

IMPORTANCE OF INSTITUTION

According to Maclver it transfers cultural elements from one generation to another introduces unity in human behaviour controls their conduct and guides man according to circumstances. Institutions simplify the group or social acts of an individual they provide a definite role and arid status to the individual. The parents learn their place and child learns his  duties towards the parents or elders in the society through institutions.

Organisation

The term organisation means in arrangement of persons or parts.

For example-: family Church College factory apply group etc.

There are many kinds of organisations. A state is called a political organisation because it is concerned with political matters. A factory is called an economic organisation because it is concerned with production and distribution of wealth. A church is a religious organisation. A bank is a financial organization.

Elements of organisation 

The word organisation can be used in different senses. It can mean the process of getting

Organised as in the sentence the union held an organisation meeting a meeting to organised itself. It can also refer to the quality of being organised as in the sentence,"this group has a high degree of organisation".

Essential elements of an organisation 

i. A goal the member of an organisation are interrelated to each other for the pursuit of a common goal.

ii. Preparedness to accept one's role and status. Organisation is an arrangement of person and parts. By arrangement is meant that every member of the organisation has an assigned role, position and a status.

iii. Norms and mores. Every organisation has its norms and mores which control its members.Norms are the socially approved ways of behaviour. The norms define the role of an individual. An organisation can function smoothly if its members follows the organization norms.

Social structure

"Social structure" is a basic concept in sociology.Since long several efforts have been made to define social structure, still there is no unanimity of opinion on its definition. Herbert Spencer was first singer to throw light on the structure of society, but he could not give a clear cut definition. Durkheim also made a futile effort to define it. Some of the definitions of social structure are as follows-:

According to Ginsberg social structure is concerned with the principle forms of social organisations that is type of groups associations and institutions are the complex of these which constitutes societies.

According to Maclver "the various modes of grouping together comprises the complex pattern of social structure. In the analysis of the social structure the role of diverse attitudes and interests of social being is revealed".

The meaning of social structure can easily be understood if we take the example of organic structure. An organic structure known as body is an arrangement of different parts like hands legs mouth nose years etc. These parts are arranged in a particular and systematic way so as to create a pattern. The body works through these parts which are interdependent and interrelated. Similar in the case of social structure the parts of all social structures are the same that is every social structure has a family religion political organisation economic institutions land area etc. but the forms of social structure differ as the forms of body differ for example the form of family is not similar in all the social structures. Some have families of one husband one wife and their children. Others have families of several wives one husband and their children. Thus the parts of social structures being the same the specific forms vary.

Social system 

Social system is an organisation that is an orderly and systematic arrangement of part. But unlike an organisation it lays emphasis on interaction and functional inter relationship of the parts. Within the social system there are various subsystems like political system religious system educational system economics system etc. in all the systems each of the interacting the visuals has a function to perform.

Meaning of system 

The word system signifies pattern relationship among the constituent parts of structure which is based on functional relations and which makes these parts active and binds them into unity.

Main features of system are as follows 

i. System is not a unitary concept. A system is made of different parts which together constitute a system.

ii. Near collection of this parts does not make a system. This parts must be arranged in a systematic manner. Dear must be systematic relationship between them. 

iii. The engagement of these parts should create a pattern. The parts of a watch should be so arranged that it make create a specific pattern called a watch. It is this pattern which distinguishes awaaz from a bicycle although in both there is an arrangement of parts.

iv. There is functional relationship among the parts of a system. Each part has got a function to perform. The system is related with every part and every part is related to the system. For example the cycle wheel in order to move must be related to the free wheel chain etc. 

Types of system 

Natural 

Man made 

Natural system is created by nature it is independent of mens will. 

It is of two types 

Inorganic and organic 

The inorganic relates to non living things example solar panel. 

The organic relates to the biological things like human body animals or plants. 

The man made system is that system which is created by man. It may be of four types 

i. Mechanical system 

ii. Personality system 

iii. Cultural system 

iv. Social system 

Meaning of social system 

Social system is an orderly and systematic arrangement of social interactions. It is a network of interactive relationships it may be defined as a plurality of individuals interacting with each other according to shared cultural norms and meanings. 

Characteristics of social system 

i.Social system is based on social interaction.

ii. The interaction should be meaningful. 

iii. Social system is a unity. 

iv. Social system is related with cultural system. 

Relationship between social structure and social system 

Social structure is the means through which social system functions. The value of any structure depends upon the manner in which it accomplishes it's functions. When a social structure does not function properly we try to modify it for example if the family does not accomplish its purpose we modify it. In place of polygamous family we may have monogamous family. The educational system may be modified if it fails to accomplish the purpose of education.