SOCIETY
The term 'society' is derived from the Latin word 'socius', which means
companionship or friendship. Companionship means sociability. It is pointed that this
element of sociability which defines the true essence of society. It indicates that man
always lives in the company of other people. Man lives in towns, cities, tribes, villages,
but never alone. Man needs society for his living, working and enjoying life. Society has
become an essential condition for human life to arise and to continue. Human life and
society always go together.
"A society is a collection of individuals united by certain relations or mode of
behavior which mark them off from others who do not enter into these relations or who
differ from them in behavior".-Morris Ginsberg
"A society is the complex of organized associations and institutions with a
community"- G.D.M.Cole
Society is "a web of social relationship".-Mac Iver
CHARACTERISTICS:
(1) Society consists of people - Society is composed of people. Without the students
and the teachers, there can be no schools or university, similarly, no social relationships,
and no social life.
(2) Mutual Interaction and Mutual Awareness - An individual is a member of society
so long as he engages in relationship with other members of society. It means that
individuals are in continuous interaction with other individuals of society. Social
interaction is made possible because of mutual awareness. Society is understood as a
network of social relationships. But not all relations are social relations. Social
relationships exist only when the members are aware of each other.
(3) Society Depends on Likeness - The principle of likeness is essential for society. It
exists among those who resemble one another in some degree, in body and in mind.
Likeness refers to the similarities. People have similarities with regards to their needs,
works, aims, ideals, values, outlooks towards life, and so on.
(4) Society Rests on Difference Too - Society also implies difference. A society based
entirely on likeness and uniformities is bound to be loose in sociality. If men are exactly
alike; their social relationships would be very much limited, which would bring boredom
and very uninteresting life to an individual. Hence, there is difference in society. People
differs from one another, in their looks, personality, ability, talent, attitude, interest, taste,
intelligence, faith and so on.
(5) Co-Operation and Division of Labour - Division of labour involves the
assignment to each unit or group a specific share of common tasks. For e.g., the common
tasks of producing cotton clothes is shared by a number of people like the farmers who
grow cotton, the spinners, and weavers, the dyers, and the merchants. Similarly, at home
work is divided and shared by the father, mother and children. Division of labour leads to
specialization.
Division of labour is possible because of co-operation. Society is based on co-
operation. It is the very basis of our life. Men satisfy many of their desires and fulfill
interests through joint efforts. People may have direct or indirect co-operation among
them. Thus co-operation and division of labour have made possible social solidarity or
social cohesion.
(6) Society Implies Interdependence also - Social relationships are characterized by
interdependence. Family, the most basic social group, for e.g., is based upon the
interdependence of man and woman. One depends upon the other for the satisfaction of
one's needs. As society advances, the area of interdependence also grows. Today, not
only individuals are interdependent upon one another, but even, communities, social
groups, societies and nations are also interdependent.
(7) Society is dynamic - Society is not static, it is dynamic. Change is ever present in
society. Changeability is an inherent quality of human society. No society can ever
remain constant for any length of time. New associations and institutions and groups may
come into being and old ones may die a natural death. The existing ones may undergo
changes to suit the demands of time or they may give birth to the new ones. Changes may
take place slowly and gradually or suddenly or abruptly.
(8) Social Control - Society has its own ways and means of controlling the behavior of
its members. Co-operation, no doubt exists in society. But, side by side, competitions,
conflicts, tensions, revolts, rebellions and suppressions are also there. They appear and
re-appear off and on. The behavior or the activities of people are to be regulated. Society
has various formal and informal means of social control.
(9) Culture - Every society is unique because it has its own way of life, called culture.
Culture includes the whole range of our life. It includes our attitudes, judgments, morals,
values, beliefs, ideas, ideologies and our institutions: political, legal, economic; our
sciences and philosophies. Culture is the expression of human nature in our ways of
living and thinking, in behaving, and acting as members of society.
