Society: Meaning and Definition
Society
The term society has been derived from the Latin word ‘socious’ that means
association or companionship. Thus society means ‘A larger group of individuals
who are associative with each other.’ Man is a social animal. He always lives in
society. Like him, some other creatures, such as ants, birds, monkeys, apes, etc.,
also live in society. Human society, in comparison with other societies, is unique in
several respects.
Definition of Society:
1. According to McIver “society is a web of social relationships.”
2. According to Giddings defines, “Society is the union itself, the organization, the
sum of formal relations in which associating individuals are bound together.”
3. According to G.D.H. Cole, “Society is the complex of organized associations and
institutions within the community.”
4. According to A.W. Green, “A society is the largest group of individual being
which made up at a population, organization, time, place & interest.”
Characteristics of Society
Characteristics of Society
Society has the following characteristics:
1. Society is the web of social relations: Social relationship implies reciprocal
awareness. A man has multiple relationships with the rest of the social members
in order to adjust with social systems. He is within a chain human relationships.
2. Society - The Group of Groups: People collect together to form groups. Such
groups combine together to give rise to society. Every society has family,
neighbour, village, city, labour association, religious gatherings, Political
Parties etc, H.M.Johnson - Has thus remarked that “society is the group of
groups”. But it is not just like a crowd. It is a system. It consists of innumerable
groups which fulfil the various needs of the people.
3. Society is abstract: If society is viewed as web of social relationships, it is
distinct from physical entity which we can see and perceive through senses.
Social relationships are invisible and abstract. We can just realize them but
cannot see or touch them. Therefore, society is abstract.
4. Likeness and difference in society: Society thrives on a blend of likeness and
difference. The complete similarity would restrict relationships and reciprocity.
Society forms among those with some shared likeness. While both likeness and
difference are vital, likeness takes precedence, playing a key role in society’s
formation. Thus, society relies on differences to persist and endure.
5. Cooperation and conflict in society: Cooperation and conflict are universal
aspects of human existence. While society relies on cooperation, internal
differences can lead to conflict among members. Despite the importance of
cooperation, modern conflict theorists like Marx emphasize the role of conflict
in society. Conflict prevents stagnation and passivity, but it must be within
reasonable limits.
6. Society is a process and not a product: According to Maclver (1931, p. 391),
society exists only as a time sequence. It is becoming, not a being; a process but
not a product. In other words, as soon as the process ceases, the product
disappears. The product of a machine endures after the machine has been
scrapped.
7. Society as a system of stratification: Society provides a system of stratification
of statuses and classes that each individual has a relatively stable and
recognizable position in the social structure.
8. Mutual awareness: When the member of society begins to interrelate, it creates
social relations in society. Every member of society is actively aware of each
other to establish a relationship for fulfilling their common interests. On the
base of relation and awareness of each other, a society is a format. So mutual
awareness is an important characteristic of society.
9. Law of interdependence: Every member of society is interdependent in any
way. Both nature and necessity impel man to live in society. He cannot stay
without society. So, if someone stays in society, he has to keep relations with
other members of society. Even though in primitive societies, they have made
relations with each other for existence as well as in present society. So society
is a law of interdependence.
Society makes our life livable and shapes our attributes, beliefs, morals and ideals.
It not only dwells within us, it also around us.
Rural Society: Meaning and definition
RURAL SOCIETY
The term “rural society” is used almost interchangeable with terms like “villages”,
“countryside”, or “folk society”. In sociological literature most commonly used
term is the village. In India, in a community having a population of less than 500
persons per square kilometer, 3/4th population is engaged in a primary occupation,
namely agriculture, has a village panchayat, and is classified as a village for
administrative purposes.
Characteristics of Rural Society
Characteristics of Rural Society
The following are the characteristics of rural areas:
1. Rural settlement: They have open settlements. Patterns of houses are scattered
and have open houses covering vast areas for courtyards.
2. Mud-constructed houses: Most of the houses in these kinds of societies are mud
constructed. Although the use of bricks and stone is increasing in the societies.
3. Agriculture: Most of the people of these societies are associated with the
agriculture profession. Some of them are also involved in labour related to
agriculture.
4. Informal social norms: Informal social norms are more important and practiced
than formal ones.
5. Informal social groups: Informality among different groups is found. In the
evening, people used to sit at a common place called ‘dei-a,’ sharing daily
activities and discussing common interest issues.
6. Informal social interaction: Interaction is more frequent, deep, face-to-face and
informal among the members of society.
7. Informal social control: Modes of social control in rural life and society is
informal and more effective than formal one. The Panchayat system is very
effective and used to solve their day to day problems.
8. Low literacy rate: The literacy rate in this kind of society is generally low and
females are discouraged to go for formal education.
9. Less social change: These types of societies are relatively static. Very slow and
selective modes of social change take place.
10. Attachment to religion: People of rural areas are emotionally attached to
religious beliefs. Knowledge of the people in this society about religion is
generally poor and they are the follower of imam masjid or religious scholars in
their social life.
11. Poor urban facilities: Urban facilities like hospitals, schools, colleges,
universities, paved roads, electricity, gas, telephone, internet, cable, recreational
parks, big shopping malls etc., are lacking behind in this society.
From the above explanation, rural areas are characterized by open settlements,
mud-constructed houses and a reliance on agriculture, which drive daily
interactions. On the other hand, challenges like lower literacy rates and limited
urban amenities are balanced by effective informal social control and a strong
religious connection. This interplay of tradition and adaptation defines the essence
of rural life.
Differences Between Rural and Urban Society
Differences Between Rural and Urban Society
The following are the most important criteria for distinguishing the rural social
world from the urban social world:
1. Occupational differences: In rural society totality of cultivators and their
families whereas in urban society totality of people engaged principally in
manufacturing, trade, commerce, profession and non-agricultural occupation.
2. Environment differences: In rural society direct relationship with nature
whereas in urban society predominance of man-made environment. Greater
isolation from nature.
3. Differences in the size of community: Rurality and size of community are not
correlated similarly urbanity and size of community is positively correlated.
4. Differences in the density of the population: Generally, density and rurality
are negatively correlated on the other hand urbanity and density are positively
correlated.
5. Differences in the homogeneity and heterogeneity of the population: In rural
society it is more Homogeneity. In contrast to that in urban society it’s more
Heterogeneity.
6. Differences in the social mobility: In rural society the forms of social mobility
of the population are comparatively less intensive. On the other hand in urban
world mobility is more intensive and urbanity and mobility are positively
correlated.
7. Differences in the direction of migration: In rural society the migration
current carries more individuals from the country to the city. On the other hand
only during the periods of social catastrophes migration from the city of the
country are greater than from the country to the city.
8. Differences in social differentiation and stratification: Rural differentiation
and stratification less than urban. On the other hand differentiation and
stratification show positive correlation with urbanity.
So, with the given discussion, it is easily understood that these two human
settlements are very different, regarding the density of human structures and the
residents of that area. The standard of living in urban areas is higher in comparison
to the rural areas. At present, the maximum part of the total population resides in
urban areas, as well as the total land area occupied by the urban region is greater
than the rural areas.
