- Information
- AI Chat
BA General Sociology
Philosophical and Sociological Foundations of Education (EDU-UG-E101)
Sikkim University
Preview text
INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
II Semester
Core Course
for
BA SOCIOLOGY
( 2014 Admission)
UNIVERSITY OF CALICUT
SCHOOL OF DISTANCE EDUCATION
Calicut University P. Malappuram, Kerala, India 673 635
642
UNIVERSITY OF CALICUT
SCHOOL OF DISTANCE EDUCATION STUDY MATERIAL
Core COURSE
B A SOCIOLOGY
II Semester
Introduction to Sociology
Prepared by: Module I to IV - Dr. Sr Maries V L (Sociology) Principal Vimala College, Thrissur - 9 scrutinized by : Dr. Sr Maries V L (Sociology) Principal Vimala College, Thrissur - 9 Layout: Computer Section, SDE © Reserved
Syllabus
CORE COURSE II
####### SOC2 B: Introduction to Sociology
No. of credits: 4
Objectives
- To understand the basic concepts and the major concerns of sociology.
- To understand the relationship between culture, personality and society.
- To identify the nature and characteristics of social processes. MODULE I BASICS OF SOCIOLOGY I. Nature, Scope, Significance I. Basic Concepts: Society, Community, Institution, Social Structure, Social System, Social Groups, Social Organisation MODULE II SOCIALISATION II. Definition, Features II. Stages of Socialisation, Agencies of Socialisation II. Social Norms: Conformity, Deviance, Needs of Social Control MODULE III CULTURE, PERSONALITY AND SOCIETY III. Definition of Culture III. Material Culture and Non Material Culture, Cultural lag III. Relationship between Culture, Personality and Society MODULE IV SOCIAL PROCESS IV. Social Process: Associative- Cooperation, Accommodation, Assimilation, Interaction IV. Social Process: Dissociative- Competition, Conflict, Contravention, Isolation Reference Bottomore. T. B, Sociology Peter Worsley, Introducing Sociology Macionis, Sociology, 10e Macionis, Sociology: A Global Introduction, 5/e MacIver, Society – An Introductory Analysis Kingsley Davis, Human Society Tony Bilton, Introductory Sociology Vidya Bhushan &D. Sachdeva, An Introduction to Sociology Jamen. M. Henslin, Essentials of Sociology Anthony Giddens, Sociology
MODULE I BASICS OF SOCIOLOGY I. Nature, Scope, Significance I. Basic Concepts: Society, Community, Institution, Social Structure, Social System, Social Groups, Social Organisation
####### 1. Nature, Scope, Significance
WHAT IS SOCIOLOGY? We live today in a world that is intensely worrying. It is a world awash with change, marked by deep conflicts, tensions and social divisions, as well as by the destructive onslaught of modern technology on the natural environment. Yet we have possibilities of controlling our destiny and shaping our lives for the better that would have been unimaginable to earlier generations. How does the world come out? Why are our conditions of life so different from those of our parents and grandparents? What directions will change take in the future? These questions are the prime concern of Sociology, a field of study that consequently has a fundamental role to play in modern intellectual life. Sociology is the scientific study of human social life, groups and societies. It is a dazzling and compelling enterprise, as its subject matter is our own behaviour as social beings. The scope of sociological study is extremely wide, ranging from the analysis of passing encounters between individuals on the street to the investigation of global social processes. Sociology demonstrates the need to take a much broader view of why we are as we are, and why we act as we do. Sociology is the youngest of social sciences. Its major concern is society, and hence it is popularly known as the “science of society”. No other science endeavours to study it in entirely. In Sociology we do not study everything that happens “in society” or under social conditions. But we study culture, for example, only for the light it throws on social relationships. Similarly, we do not study religion as religion, art as art or inventions as inventions. We study social relationships, their specific forms, varieties and patterning. We study how the relations combine, how they build up smaller or greater systems, and how they respond to changes and changing demands or needs. Definition of Sociology Comte introduced the term “Sociology” for the first time in his famous work “Positive Philosophy” at about 1839. This new science originally and preferably called “Social Physics” by Comte but owing to an unfortunate coincidence of the term appearing in the study of Belgian scientist by the name of Quetelet, Comte was forced, to change the name of the study into Sociology. The term Sociology is derived from the Latin word Socius, meaning companion or associate and Greek word Logos, meaning study or science. Thus the etymological meaning of Sociology is the science of society. Sociology has been defined in a number of ways by different sociologists. No single definition has yet been accepted as completely satisfactory. For our purpose of study a few definitions may be cited here.
It is clear from the above that Sociology is an independent, social, pure, abstract, generalizing, general, categorical, an empirical and rational science. Emergence of Sociology It is the one of the youngest as well as one of the oldest social sciences. Only recently sociology came to be established as a distinct branch of knowledge with its own distinct set of concepts and its own method of inquiry. Since the dawn of civilization, society has been a subject for speculation and inquiry along with other phenomena which have agitated the restless and inquisitive mind of man. Even centuries ago men were thinking about society and how it should organized, and held views on man and his destiny, the rise and fall of peoples and civilizations. Though they were thinking in sociological terms they were called philosophers, historians, thinkers, law-givers and seers. Thus, “Broadly it may be said that sociology has had a fourfold origin: political philosophy, philosophy of history, biological theories of evolution and the movements for social and political reforms”. Plato’s Republic, Aristotle’s Politics, Kaudilya’s Arthasasthra, Manu’s Smrithi are some of the ancient sources of social thought. During the middle ages and early modern times the teachings of the church dominated the human mind and hence most part of the human thinking remained as metaphysical speculation far away from the scientific inquiry. Intellectuals became more active since the 16th century onwards. Their quest for understanding human society, its nature, socio-political system and its problems now received new impetus. The literary works of some prominent intellectuals of this period clearly reveals this urge to understand and interpret man’s socio-political system. Adam smith’s “Wealth of Nations”, Rousseau’s “Social Contract” and Sir Thomas Moore’s “Utopia” are some of the examples of such literary works. Enlightenment of social and political thought paved the way for Revolutionary ruptures in traditional social relations. From the Renaissance on, Western European societies acquired modern characteristics, but enlightenment ideas and the American, French and Industrial revolutions ushered in some of the definite characteristics of modern Capitalist society. The profound upheaval of the French Revolution, in particular, highlighted some of the problems and issues of concern to pre-Revolutionary Enlightenment thinkers. These became the problems and issues of the “new science”, Sociology, at the beginning of the 19 th century. How can sociology help us in our lives? Or Uses of sociology Sociology has several practical implications for our lives. The study of sociology has a great value especially in modern complex societies. In modern times, there is a growing realization of the importance of the scientific study of social phenomena. Some of the significant aspects of sociology are as follows:-
- Sociology studies society in a scientific way. Before the emergence of sociology, there was no systematic and scientific way to study human society. The scientific knowledge about human society is needed in order to achieve progress in various fields. Sociology isn’t just an abstract intellectual field but has major practical implications for people’s lives. The best way to make use of it is by relating sociological ideas and findings to situations in our life.
- Sociological research provides practical help in assessing the results of policy initiatives. Sociological knowledge is necessary for understanding and planning of society. A program of practical reform may simply fail to achieve what its designers sought or may produce unintended consequences of an unfortunate kind. (ex) In the years following World War II, large public housing blocks were built in city centers in many countries. These were planned to provide high standards of accommodation for low income groups from slum areas and offered shopping amenities and other civil services nearby. However research showed that many people who have moved from their previous dwellings to large apartment blocks felt isolated and unhappy. High apartment blocks and shopping centres in poorer areas often became dilapidated and provided breeding grounds for muggings and other violent crimes.
- Sociology has drawn our attention to the intrinsic worth and dignity of man. Sociology has been greatly responsible in changing our attitudes towards fellow human beings. It has made people to become tolerant and patient towards others. It has minimized the mental distance and reduced the gap between different peoples and communities. Sociology is a discipline in which we often set aside our personal view of the world to look more carefully at the influences that shape our lives and those of others. Sociology helps us to know not only our society but also others, their motives, aspirations, traditions, customs, etc. Sociology emerged as a distinct intellectual endeavour with the development of modern societies, and the study of such societies remains its principal concern.
- Sociology gives us an awareness of cultural difference that allows us to see the social world from many perspectives. The contribution of sociology is not less significant in enriching culture. Quite often, if we properly understand how others live, we also acquire better understanding of what their problems are. Practical polices that are not based on an informed awareness of the ways of life of people, they have little chance of success. (ex) A white social worker operating in a predominantly Latin American community in South London won’t gain the confidence of its members without developing sensitivity to the differences in social experiences between members of different groups in UK.
- Sociology can provide us with self enlightenment – increased self understanding. The more we know about why we act as we do and the overall workings of our society, the more likely we are to be able to influence our own future. Sociology improves our understanding of society and increases the power of social action. The science of society assists an
Simmel and others are of opinion that Sociology is a pure and an Independent science. As a pure science, it has a limited scope. Sociology should confine itself to the study of the certain aspects of human relationship only. Further, it should study only the ‘forms’ of social relationships but not their contents. Social relationship such as competition, division of labour, etc. are expressed in different fields of social life such as economic, religious, political etc. Sociology should disentangle the forms of social relationships and study them in abstraction. Sociology as a specific social science describes, classifies and analyses the forms of social relationships. Criticism: The views of Formalistic school are widely criticized. Some critical remarks may be cited here. 1 have unreasonably narrowed the field of sociology. Sociology should study not only the general forms of social relationships but also their concrete contents. 2 distinction between forms of social relations and their contents is not workable. social forms can not be abstracted from the content at all , since social forms keep on changing when the contents change. Sorokin writes, “we may fill a glass with wine, water or sugar without changing its form , but I cannot conceive of a social institution whose form would not change when its members change” 3 is not the only science that studies the forms of social relationship. Other sciences also do that. The study international law, for example, includes social relations like conflict, war, opposition, agreement, contract etc. Political science, economics also study social relationship. 4 establishment of pure sociology is impractical no sociologist has been also to develop a pure sociology so far .no science can be studied in complete isolation from the other science .in fact , today more emphasis is laid on inter – disciplinary approach. (2) The Synthetic school; The synthetic school of thought conceives of sociology as a synthesis of the social sciences, not a pure or special social science. Durkheim, Hob House, Ginsberg and Sorokin have been the chief exponents of this school. The views of Email Durkheim; Durkheim, one of the stalwarts of this school of thought, says that sociology has three main divisions or fields of inquiry. They are as follows: social morphology, social physiology and general sociology. 1. Social morphology: social morphology studies the territorial basis of the people and also the problems of population such as volume and density, local distribution etc. 2. Social physiology: social physiology has different branches such as sociology of religion, of morals, of law, of economic life and language etc. 3. General sociology: general sociology can be regarded as the philosophical part of sociology. It deals with the general character of the social facts. Its function is the formation of general social laws. The main argument of this school is that all parts of social life are intimately inter-related. Hence the study of one aspect is not sufficient to understand the entire phenomenon. Hence sociology
should study social life as a whole. From these two schools of thought we can conclude that any how sociology has special subject matter: social relationship. But sociology is related with all social sciences. Sociology is related with Economics, but considers social relationship in economic aspects. Sociology is related with History, but considers social relationship in historic aspects. Basic Concepts: 1. Society The term ‘Society’ is the most fundamental one in sociology. It is derived from the Latin word ‘socius’, which means ‘companionship’. Companionship means sociability. It is this element of sociability which defines the true essence of society. It indicates that man always lives in the company of other people. ‘Man is a social animal’, said Aristotle centuries ago. Man needs society for his living, working and enjoying life.
- Society “is a web of social relationship” MacIver
- “The term society refers not to group of people, but to the complex pattern of the norms of interaction, that arise among and between them”. Lapiere
- “A society is a collection of individuals united by certain relations or modes of behavior which marks them off from others who do not enter into the relations or who differ from them in behavior” Ginsberg Characteristics of Society
- Society depends on Likeness. The principal of likeness is essential for society. Likeness refers to the similarities. Society exits among those who have the similarities with regards to their needs, goals, outlook and values etc.
- Society rests on Difference too. If men are exactly alike, their social relationships would be very much limited. There would be little give and take, or little reciprocity, if there would no differences.
- Co operation: Society is based on co operation. It is the essential part of our social life. Co operation arises when men realize that they have common interests. It refers to the mutual working together for the attainment of a common goal.
- Interdependence. Social relationships are characterised by interdependence. One depends upon the other for the satisfaction of one’s needs.
- Society is Dynamic: Change is ever present in society. No society can ever remain constant for any length of time. Changes may take place slowly and gradually or suddenly.
- Culture: Each society is unique because it has its own way of life, called culture. Culture is not society, but an element of society. Human society constitutes interacting people; while culture is patterning of their behavior. According to Tylor, “culture includes knowledge, law, morals, custom any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society”.
Definition 1. Ginsberg: Institution “may be described as recognized and established usages governing the relations between individual and groups.” 2. MacIver and page: Institutions may be defined as the “established forms or condition of procedure characteristic of group activity.” Characteristics of institution The main Characteristics of social institution may be described here:
- Social in nature. Institutions come in to being due to the collective activities of the people.
- Universality. They exist in all the societies and existed at all the stages of social development
- Institutions are standardized norms .An institutions must be understood as standardized procedures and norms. Marriage, as an institution, for example, governs the relations between husband and wife.
- Institutions as means of satisfying needs. They cater to the satisfaction of some basic and vital needs of man.
- Institutions are the controlling Mechanisms. Institutions like religion, morality, state, government, law, legislations, etc.., control the behavior of men.
- Relatively permanent. Institutions normally do not undergo sudden or rapid changes. Changes take place slowly and gradually in them.
- 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 qualified; war cannot be weighed and law cannot be brought to the laboratory experiments and so on.
- Oral and Written Traditions. Institutions may persist in the form of oral and /or written traditions. For the primitive societies they may be largely oral. But in modern complex societies they may be observed in written as well as unwritten forms.
- Synthesising symbols. Institutions may have their own symbols, material or non material Ex. the state has flag emblem, and religion may have its own symbols like crucifix, crescent, star.
- Institutions are interrelated. Institutions, though diverse, are interrelated. The religious, moral, Educational, political, economic and other type of institutions are essentially interlinked. Primary and secondary institutions Institutions are often classified into (i) primary institutions and (ii) secondary institutions. The most basic institutions which are found even in primitive societies like religion, family, marriage, property, some kind of political system, are primary in character. As societies grew in size and complexity, institutions become progressive and more differentiated. Accordingly, a large number
of institutions are evolved to cater to the secondary needs of people. They may be called secondary institutions. (eg) Educations, examinations, law, legislation, constitutions, parliamentary procedure, business, etc. Functions of social institutions
- Institutions cater to the satisfactions of needs.
- Institutions control Human behavior.
- Institutions Simplify Actions For the Individual.
- Institution Assign Roles and Statuses to the Individual.
- Institutions contribute to unity and uniformity.
- Manifest functions of Institutions: Every Institution has two Types of manifest function (i) The pursuit of its objectives or Interests, and (ii) the Preservation of its own internal cohesion so that it may survive.
- The negative function of institution .When they become too conservative they retard progress.
- Social system Meaning of system (i) According to oxford Dictionary, the term ‘system’ represents “a group of things or parts working together in a regular relation.” (ii) “A system is any collection of interrelated parts, objects, things or organisms” Five points about any system
####### (a) A system indicates an orderly arrangement of parts. It has parts which are interrelated.
These parts may have their specific functions.
####### (b) A system may have its own boundaries.
####### (c) One system can be an element or a subsystem in another.
####### (d) A system is merely an aspect of things abstracted from reality for purpose of analysis.
####### (e) The concept of system is applicable to the study of organic as well as inorganic realities.
The term ‘system’ is used to refer to the organic realities such as the human digestive system, circulatory systems, nervous system, etc. it is also used in the study of inorganic realities such as political system, economical system, industrial system, etc. Origin of the concept of ‘social system’ Herbert Spencer, who was highly influenced by the views of Charles Darwin has given an organic analogy in which society compared with the human organism. As A. R. Radcliffe - Brown
aspects. Role denotes the functional significance of the actor for the social system. States denotes the place of the actor in the social system. 6. SOCIAL STRUCTURE ‘Social structure’ is one of the basic concepts of sociology. The terms become relatively popular in sociological studies with the works of Herbert Spencer. Definitions of social structure
- Radcliffe-Brown defines social structure as “an arrangement of persons in institutionally controlled or defined relationships.
- Morris Ginsberg regards social structure as “the complex of principal groups and institution
which constitute societies.”
The elements of social structures are ‘social institutions.’ They consider these elements a necessary
because they are “functional pre-requisites”. Without these institutions no society can survive.
Toward An Understanding of the terms ‘structure’ and ‘social structure’
The term ‘structure’ refers to “some sort of ordered arrangements of parts or components”. A
musical composition has a structure, a sentence has a structure, a building has a structure. In the
some way, society too has its own structure called ‘social structure’. The components or unit of
social structure are “persons”.
Elements of Social Structure
- Sub-groups of various types. Society can be understood as a big group which consists of people. This big group of or larger system consists of various sub-groups.
- Social structure consists of roles of various types. Social structure consists of not only sub-groups but also roles. Roles are found within the larger system and also within the sub- groups.
- Regulative norms governing sub-group and roles. Sub-groups and roles are governed by social norms.
- Cultural values. Every society has its own cultural values. They help to integrate a personality or a system of interaction. Any one of these element-a sub-groups, a role, a social norms, or a values – may be called a “partial structure.”
####### 7. Social Groups
Society consists of groups. A social group existed when two or more people are in direct or indirect contact and communication. The members of the group stimulate and respond to one another in some meaningful way. This mutual stimulation & response of individuals and groups is social interaction. The nature and character of social relationship underlie different forms of social groups such as primary and secondary groups, In Groups and Out Groups, Organised and Unorganised groups, Formal and Informal groups and so on.
Definition of Social Group 1. H M Johnson : A social group is a system of social interaction 2. R M Mac Iver & C H Page: Social group is any collection of human beings who are brought into human relationship with one another. 3. Ogburn & Nimkoff: Whenever two or more individuals come together & influence one another they may be said to constitute a social group. Nature of Social Group The main characteristics of social groups are as follows: 1. Collection of individuals 2. Interaction among members 3. Mutual awareness 4. We Feeling 5. Group unity & Solidarity 6. Common interest 7. Similar behavior 8. Group norms 9. Size of the group 10. Groups are dynamic 11. Stability 12. Influence of personality Classification Different sociologists have classified social groups on the basis of different criteria. 1. In Groups and Out Groups: W. G. Sumner in his ‘Folkways’ differentiates between In Groups and Out Groups. In Group is simply the ‘we group’ and Out Group is the ‘they group’. For a Hindu, all the other Hindus are constituted the ‘in group’ & all the other religious persons are constituted the ‘Out group’. 2. Involuntary & Voluntary Groups 3. Organised and Unorganised groups 4. Formal and Informal groups 5. Primary & Secondary Groups 6. Small & Large Groups PRIMARY GROUPS AND SECONDARY GROUPS Charles Horton Cooley has introduced the term ‘primary group’ in his book ‘Social Organisation’. This classification of groups into primary and secondary is made on the basis of the nature and character of social interaction. it means it depends on the nature of social contact and the degree of intimacy among the members concerned. Primary groups are also called ‘face to face’ groups.
Meaning of Secondary Group Ogburn and Nimkoff say that the ‘groups which provide experience lacking in intimacy’ can be called secondary groups. Characteristics
- Dominance of Secondary Relations. Secondary groups are characterized by indirect, impersonal, contractual and non-inclusive relations.
- Largeness of the size. Secondary groups are relatively larger in size
- Membership. Membership in the case of secondary groups in mainly voluntary.
- No physical basis. Secondary groups are not characterized by physical proximity. Many secondary groups are not limited to any definite area.
- Specific ends or interests. Secondary groups are formed for the realization of some specific interest or ends.
- Indirect communication. Contact and communication in the case of secondary groups are mostly indirect
- Nature of group control. Informal means of social control are less effective in regulating the relation of members. Formal means of social control such as law, legislation ,police, court, etc. are made use of to control
- Group structure. The secondary group has a formal structure
- Limited influence on personality. Secondary groups are specialized in character
####### Primary group Secondary group
####### 1 .meaning: groups which are
####### characterized by “face to face”
####### relations, mutual aid and
####### companionship are primary
####### groups’ .ex. family,
####### neighborhood, community,
####### children’s play group, local
####### brotherhood.
####### 1. Group which provides experience
####### lacking in intimacy are secondary
####### groups. Ex: political parties, trade
####### union, religious association, the state,
####### city, corporation, factory, rotary club
####### etc
####### 2. nature f social relations:
####### social relations are ‘face to face’,
####### direct intimate, personal,
####### contractual, non-specialized,
####### non- partisan and non-
####### economic in character
####### 2. Social relations are indirect,
####### impersonal, non-intimate, contractual,
####### specialized, partisan, and more
####### economic in nature.
####### 3. Size: primary groups are
####### smaller in size. They are
####### localized or limited to a definite
####### area.
####### 3. Secondary groups are relatively
####### bigger in size. They are not necessarily
####### restricted to a small area.
####### 4 proximity: groups are
####### confined to a small geographic
####### area
####### 4. Groups are not characterized by a
####### physical area.
####### 5. Communications: since
####### members stay together
####### communication is not only direct
####### but also quick and effective.
####### 5. Since members are spread over a
####### vast area direct communication is
####### difficult. It is mostly indirect in nature.
####### 6 group interest: interests of the
####### members are not specific but
####### general. Everyone is interested
####### in the welfare of everyone else.
####### 6. Interest of the members are more
####### specific. hence groups are often called
####### ‘special interest groups ‘
####### 7 nature of corporation:
####### cooperation is direct. Members
####### work together, play together,
####### enjoy together and in times of
####### crisis struggle together.
####### Cooperation is natural and
####### spontaneous.
####### 7. Cooperation is mostly indirect.
####### Cooperation is an intended act to serve
####### a particular need. It is limited to that
####### purpose only.
####### 8. Group structure: group
####### structure is very informal.
####### Members are not particular
####### about their rights and powers
####### or statuses and prestige. no
####### formal or detailed rules are
####### drafted as guide lines.
####### 8. Groups structure is formal. The
####### group is regulated by a set of formal
####### rules. Statuses and rules, rights and
####### powers of the members are well as
####### defined. The organization of the group
####### is carefully planned and worked
####### 9. Durability: groups are
####### relatively durable.
####### 9. Group may be temporary or
####### permanent.
####### 10. Effects on personality: the
####### group has a long lasting
####### influence upon the personality
####### development of the members.
####### 10. The impact of the personality of the
####### members is rater limited.
BA General Sociology
Course: Philosophical and Sociological Foundations of Education (EDU-UG-E101)
University: Sikkim University
- Discover more from:
