SOCIOLOGY

Syllabus 100 MARKS

• I. General Sociology
• 1. Individual: Sociability or the sociality of man.
• 2. Culture: Meaning and Characteristics (Culture is variable, learnt, social, shared, Transmissive,
dynamic and adaptive), types (Material, Non –material), functions (transfer of knowledge, define
situation, provide Behaviour pattern, moulds personality) and elements of culture (norms, values,
beliefs, sanctions, customs).Culture and Socialization; formal and non-formal socialization,
transmission of culture, cultural relativism. Sub-cultures. Ethnocentrism and xenocentrism,
Cultural lag, High culture and popular culture. Multiculturalism, assimilation, and acculturation.
• 3. Society: Meaning and characteristics. Community; meaning and characteristics.
Individual and society. Relationship between individual and society. Two main theories regarding
the relationship of man and society (i) the social contact theory and (ii) the organismic theory.
Social and cultural evolution of society (Hunting and Gathering Society, Herding and Advance
Herding Society, Horticultural Society, Agrarian Society, Industrial Society, Post modern Society).
• 4. Social Interaction: Caste and classes, Forms of social classes,
Feudal system in Pakistan, Social Mobility-nature of social mobility
and its determinants in Pakistani society, Culture of poverty.
• 5. Social Control: Mechanisms of social control-formal and informal
means of social control, Anomie, Alienation and social Integration-
Means of social integration in Pakistani Society.
• 6. Social and Cultural Change and Social Policy: Processes of
Social and Cultural Change-discovery, inhibitions to social and
cultural change in Pakistan Social planning and directed social and
cultural change, effect of Industrialization, Urbanization,
Modernization and Modern Means of Communication on Social
Change.
• 7. Public Opinion: Formation of Public, Opinion, Concept of opinion leader,
characteristics of opinion leadership.
• 8. Community: The rural community, Traditional Characteristics of rural life,
The urban community, Rural – Urban convergence, Urbanism, Future of
cities in Pakistan.
• 9. Social Institutions: The nature and genesis of institutions, the process
of institutionalization, Functions of Social Institutions: Family, Religion,
Education, Economy and Politics.
• 10. Social Problems in Pakistan: High population growth rate, Rural –
urban migration. Issues of technical/vocational training, Deviance and street
crime, Unemployment, illiteracy and School drop out, Smuggling,
Prostitution, Poverty,
• Drug Addiction, Child Labour and Abuse Bonded Labour, Social Customs
and Traditions effecting Women in Pakistan, Violence Against Women’s and
Domestics Violence, Issues concerning the Elderly’s in Pakistan.
• II. Sociological Theory:
• Three sociological perspectives: Structural
Functionalism, Symbolic interactions and Conflict.
Theorists: Ibn-i-Khaldun Spencer, August Comte, Emile
Dukheim, Max Weber, Kari Marx, Parson.
• III. Methods of Sociological Research:
• Scientific Method, Steps in research, Types of
Questionnaire Research Design, Surveys, Observation
and Case Studies.
 Introduction to Sociology
• A key insight of sociology: Transformation
of behavior in groups
• A dictionary defines sociology as the
systematic study of society and social
interaction
• the Latin word socius (companion) and the
Greek word logos (speech or reason),
which together mean “reasoned speech
about companionship”
• The sociologist Dorothy Smith (1926 – )
defines the social as the “ongoing
concerting and coordinating of individuals’
activities” (Smith 1999)
Sociology is the scientific study
of human society….
 Origin and development of
sociology
• Product of man’s old experiences and
observation
• Science of society: a special discipline by
August Comte, social physics
• Illumul- Imran of ibn-e khuldun famous
work “Muqadamah”
• Change of behavior of human for
satisfaction of need
 Society
and
Sociality
 Society

• It refers to a group of people who live in a

definable territory and share the same
culture. On a broader scale, society
consists of the people and institutions
around us, our shared beliefs, and our
cultural ideas.
Sociologists define Society as

the people who interact in such a way as to

share a common culture. The cultural bond may
be ethnic or racial, based on gender, or due to
shared beliefs, values,

and activities….
 culture
• A culture includes the group’s shared
practices, values, beliefs, norms and
artifacts
 Defining Sociology
• ‘Sociology is nothing but the science of society’.
• Or
• ‘Scientific study of human social life, groups, and societies’
• Or
• Sociology is the scientific study of social structure, institution and
process.
• Note:-No sociology as a distinct discipline before the advent of
19thcentury.
• “Auguste Comte” often called the “Father of sociology” First used
the term Sociology in 1838 to refer to the “ Scientific Study of
Sociology” ( Positivism)
 Nature of sociology
• As enlisted by Robert Biersted in his book
“the social order”
1. Independent science:
2. Social science rather than physical
3. Pure science rather than applied science
4. Rational and empirical science
 Society
• Wallerstein, the world system analysis (1974)
• ‘Society-may be regarded as the most general term
referring to the whole complex of relations of a man
to his fellows’
• Talcott Parson, sociologist
• Defining society :
• Two angles :
• i)In abstract terms, it is network of relationship between
people or between groups.
• ii)In concrete terms, it is collection of people or an
organization of persons.
 CHARACTERISTICS OR
ATTRIBUTES OF SOCIETY
• Likeness
• The Reciprocal Awareness
• Differences
• Interdependence
• Cooperation
• Conflict
 Types of Societies

•Agricultural Society – relies on cultivation of

crops through plows and draft animals

•Industrial Society – relies on mechanized

production

•Post industrial Society – relies on production of

services and information
 Types of Societies

• Hunting and Gathering Society -

relies on wild animals and their hunting.

• Pastoral Society– relies on domesticated on

herd animals

• Horticulture Society– relies on cultivation of

domesticated plants
 Society and individual
Society is an aggregate of individuals
Society is a building, if bricks are its
individual
Culture is backbone of society and its
individual
 Subtypes of Society
• Nomadic v/s sedentary societies
• Traditional v/s modern societies
• Rural v/s Urban societies
 Social Structure

• Statuses
Status is a position in a society – everybody
occupies a number of statuses.

• Master Status – individual’s social identity

• Ascribed Status – individual’s have no control

• Achieved Status – individual’s have control

• Social Class – Category of equivalent status
• Ascribed Status
DETERMINANTS
 Ancestry
 Sex
 Caste
 Age
• Achieved Status
DETERMINANTS
 Economic resources
 Occupation
 Education
 power
 Role

Role is a set of expected behavior/obligations

and privileges attached to a social status

You occupy a status

but
You play a role
 Role

Role conflict when one or more of an individual’s

roles clash
Role performance the expression of a role
Role strain stress that occurs when too much is
required of a single role
Role-set an array of roles attached to a particular
status
 Groups

A group is a number of persons whose

statuses and roles are interrelated.
 Primary group – long
term, direct, intimate basis

 Secondary group –
temporary, personally,
with formal role
In Group v/s Out Group
Formal group v/s Informal group
Man is by nature a social animal

• In the growth and development of the individual, the

role of the society may be explored by taking into
consideration that he is not born as such….
• man acquires his human qualities only after coming
into contact with society….
• It is undeniable that the society, even the primitive
one, shapes and molds the course of life of the
individual.