MOST ESSENTIAL LEARNING COMPETENCY:

• Recognize how individuals form societies and how individuals are

transformed by societies. PPT11/12-IIf-7.1

• Compare different forms of societies and individualities (e.g. Agrarian,

industrial and virtual). PPT11/12-IIg-7.2

At the end of the module, you should be able to:

• Define the concept of society;

• Create a timeline on the development of the forms of society;and
• Show appreciation of how people have been transformed by societies
through recognizing how individuals form societies

What is society? What drives human beings to establish societies?

Have you ever pondered how your world has defined you? Have you ever thought
about your place in this world and among the people you interact with every day?
Have you ever reflected on how your presence has affected the world around you?
The human person exists to relate with others. The person, is by nature, a social
being because he or she has a tendency to go out of himself or herself to form
bonds and relationships with others. Throughout a person’s life, he or she
experiences a variety of relationships that help shape him or her as a person.
Infants, first related with their immediate family and guardians as the source of basic
needs. As they grow, they expand their horizons and start relating with people who
are not part of their immediate family. They establish friendships beginning in their
childhood and into their teenage and adult years. They also learn how to deal with
other figures of authority aside from their parents or guardians. As we grow into
adulthood, our relationships and responsibilities also change because we play more
significant roles in the communities we live in.
Our freedom gives us the opportunity to pursue various activities to achieve our
goals and attain well-being or happiness. As we live our lives and expand our
experiences, we also encounter other people who are acting in similar ways.
However, the pursuit of our goals is made easier by the fact that we do not need to
do our activities alone, that we can live our life and pursue our happiness with other
people by our side.
The tendency to form groups is not exclusive to human beings. Other animals also
form groups for mutual protection and survival. Humans, however, are the only
beings capable of establishing a society, which is an organized group of people
whose members interact frequently and have a common territory and culture.
Society also refers to a companionship or friendly association with others, an
alliance, a community, or a union.
Philosophers consider society the product of deliberate actions by individuals who
come together in pursuit of a common goal. Society is considered unique among all
other groups because of the nature of the humans that compose it, as well as the
relationships among its members. As individual persons, members of society are
able to transform themselves and attain development through their interactions
within society. In turn, humans are also able to influence society through their
actions. Society also makes it possible for the emergence of certain individualities.
The survival of a human being is essentially rooted in society and human relations. If
there is no family to take care of an infant, the infant will eventually die. As the
individual grows, he or she begins to experience life outside the home and begins to
interact with other people in different settings. This also leads the person to form
other relationships or groups, such as establishing friendships in school or at places
of work. Society and its various aspects provide support that ensures the
development of a human person. For instance, your education first starts at home
with your family members teaching you the rudiments of speech, reading, and
writing. This education continues and is further developed as you go to school and
interact with other children, your teachers, and other people in school. When you
finish your basic education, society has already equipped you with knowledge and
skills that enable you to effectively interact with your society as a productive
individual. Society also provides you opportunities to further your growth in the
coming years. An evident influence of society on individuals is the emergence of
specific traits and characteristics unique to a certain society which are manifested by
its members. For example, we Filipinos value our ties with family members. This is
seen in our practice of taking care of our elderly family members. Many of us prefer
to have our elders live in our homes so we can take care of them directly and
continue to interact with them. Western countries, however, give more emphasis on
independence and individuality rather than family ties. Therefore, it is a common
practice for Western families to send their elderly to retirement homes. In Western
culture, parents also expect their children to move out of their homes once they
have graduated from high school. Filipino parents, on the other hand, continue to
support their children and even allow them to live even into adulthood.

What are the different forms of societies?

The development of societies throughout history shows the development of

humankind in response to changing surroundings and historical developments. The
various forms of societies that emerged include the following:

Hunting and gathering society – This is recognized as the earliest and simplest
form of society. It is generally characterized by its small size and is composed
mainly of families. They are nomadic because they spend most of their time
searching for food and thus, have no permanent territory. The hierarchy in this type
of society is not very varied. Its members are generally treated equally and
decisions are made through a consensus. Because of this, the role of its members
and the division of labor is not very clearly defined.

Pastoral society – This type of society is characterized by the domestication of

animals for food for a more stable and predictable food supply. Pastoral
communities have larger populations than hunting and gathering societies and
remain longer in one place. In addition, pastoral societies often produce surplus food
and resources, which they trade with other societies. This relative prosperity enables
the people to engage in other activities apart from those necessary for survival, such
as handicrafts. This eventually leads to the emergence of specialized tasks in the
community.

Horticultural society – A horticultural society primarily engages in the smallscale

cultivation of plants, fruits, and vegetables and the domestication of animals.
Horticultural societies are semi-nomadic, which means that they travel to another
place when they have already depleted the resources in one area. In this society,
roles and responsibilities are more clearly defined with many tasks assigned
according to gender. Similar to the pastoral society, there is also a surplus of goods,
which sometimes leads to inequalities among its members.

In early societies, the individuals were often very family-oriented, and their
behaviors and actions were restricted by tradition. The assignment of tasks and
occupations were often based on gender, with women doing mostly domestic work
in the home, while the men engage in hunting and farming.

Agrarian or agricultural society – This type of society is a further evolution of the

pastoral and horticultural societies. Agriculture is involved in the large-scale and
long-term cultivation of crops and domestication of animals. This society is
characterized by improved technology and the use of tools to aid in farming.
Improved technology and farming methods result in increased production, giving rise
to a growing population in agricultural societies to a more structured social system
that helps manage resources and its members. The increasingly complex social
organization and growing importance of territory often result in conflicts among
neighboring societies over resources and land.

Feudal society – A feudal society is based on the ownership of land. Feudal

societies arouse out of developments in western Europe during Medieval time, when
kingdoms were engaged in conflict over resources, particularly land. In a feudal
society, rules grant their followers or vassals the right to manage parcels of land.
These vassals, in turn, are served by peasant workers who cultivate the land and
tend to the animals in the farms. In return for their services, they are provided with
military protection. Members of society are organized based on status. Those who
own land are considered the most powerful and influential members of society, while
the peasants are considered the lowest group. Social relations are characterized by
dependence. The lord depends on his vassals to provide him with resources, the
vassals depend on the peasants for their service, while the peasants depend on
their vassal protection.
An agrarian and feudal society gives rise to individuals who value relations among
family members and with other members in the community. People are often very
conscious of their place within society and are mindful of the hierarchy. People who
belong to the “higher classes” are treated with respect by the members of the
community. They are often traditional and are resistant to social change, preferring
to maintain the way things are in their community.

Industrial society – An industrial society is based on the use of specialized

machinery in the production of goods and services. The advances in science and
technology in the late 18th century resulted in the Industrial Revolution, which in turn
gave rise to new production and industrial methods, as well as innovations in
transportation and communication. These technological advances resulted in
improved trade and commerce and better life conditions, for many people. Work is
done in factories and public education is more prevalent. However, the emergence
of industrial societies is characterized by greater inequalities in wealth, power, and
influence. Industrial societies are often defined by nature of work and the prevailing
industry in an area. The capitalists or business owners are considered the most
influential. This type of society is also characterized by cultural diversity and the
presence of bureaucratic forms of organization.
An industrial society is a significant departure from the agrarian society, as many of
the relations are not family or community-based. An important factor in social
relations is the workplace, and people often interact with individuals who do not
come from the same family, clan, or community. Impersonal relationships prevail
among individuals. The difference between social groups is even more marked and
is defined by access to economic resources and prosperity. Alienation is common in
industrial societies, as people are often seen as resources.

Post – Industrial society – The post-industrial society is marked by the

establishment of societies based on knowledge, information, and the sale of
services. Led by the human mind and aided by highly advanced technology, the
trend has shifted from industry to the generation, storage, manipulation, and sale of
information. Information influences the behavior of people and has thus become a
very important commodity in the post-industrial society. Members of this society
have higher educational attainment, better training, and specialized roles. The virtual
society, where people organize themselves through communication technology and
the Internet, is a product of post-industrial society. Individuals in a virtual society
often engage in complex relationships. They often have fluid identities and do not
necessarily subscribe to certain norms or established standards of behavior. The
freedom allowed in virtual worlds means that a person is able to engage in various
activities, as well as access various kinds of information.
 The growth and development of the various forms of societies highlight the growing
complexity of human interactions over time. The technological advances and cultural
changes that brought about these changes result in the expansion of communities
that now include people from varied ethnicities. These developments have led to
innovations in human interactions such as language and the establishment of
governments. Many countries around the world are industrial societies, and a
number of developed countries have evolved into post-industrial and virtual
societies. But despite these advancements and changes, the human person still
remains the heart and center of society. The person is the primary agent of change,
as he or she drives social changes based on responses to events and
developments affecting society.

How does society influence our development as persons?

What makes us a Filipino? Being born in the Philippines is not our choice, but as we
grow up in Philippine society, we begin to adopt the traits, traditions, and
characteristics that distinguish Filipino culture. We learn to speak our mother
languages through our interactions with other individuals and institutions that we
learn how to behave appropriately, what beliefs and traditions to practice, and what
ideas and perspectives to consider acceptable. All these come together to define
our identity not only as persons, but as members of Philippine society.
It can be said that you cannot think of a person outside of society and you cannot
think of a society without persons. The person and the society have a very
dynamic relationship in which one cannot exist without the other. Because of
this reality, it is important to consider society’s role in the growth and development of
a person, and the person’s role in transforming society.
Society influences our development as persons in various ways. Society is the
backdrop by which we adopt the prevailing culture, identity, values, ideas, and
knowledge of the persons, groups, and communities that surround us. Think of the
various groups and institutions in society that have contributed to your identity as a
person. Your interactions with your family, friends, schoolmates, teachers, and other
people in your community have left inedible marks on your identity. Society shapes
all individuals that are part of it, though each person is influenced by society in
different ways.
An important way that society influences us is its ability to define the relationships
and interactions among its members. Society influences the interactions of its
members through the establishment of norms, which are a set of traits and behavior
that society considers acceptable, and are thus encouraged and passed on to other
members.
When you meet a person for the first time or when someone is introduced to you,
what do you do? The first thing that comes to your mind is to say “Hello!” or “nice to
meet you!” Some will offer a handshake to the other person as a greeting. A
handshake is a simple gesture, but it shows how society expects us to behave when
we are with other people. Ever since you were a child, you have been constantly
reminded to greet your elders respectfully. Filipinos have a unique gesture to greet
and show respect to elders: the mano or pagmamano.
Let’s imagine that when you are told to greet or give respect to your elders, you
refuse to do so. What do you think will be the reaction of the people around you?
Surely, your actions will be considered disrespectful and you will be considered a
disrespectful person. When members of a society do not conform to established
norms, they often experience negative consequences, such as punishment or social
stigma. Norms are one of the ways that society regulates the behavior and
interactions of its members and establishes and maintains social order.
Think of the rules established by your family and school. Why do you think these
rules are put in place? What happens when these rules are violated? How have
these rules influenced your behavior?
Society, through the establishment of norms, can also influence knowledge and
ideas. For instance, if the traffic light flashes red, what does it mean? We all know
that the red light means stop, but who established that the color red will be a
universal signal for STOP on the road? We have learned to accept the statement
“the read traffic light means stop” as truth because society has established that fact
and we have been exposed to it since we were young. Now, imagine that tomorrow,
the traffic signals get switched – red now means go, green means caution, and
yellow means stop. What do you think will happen in the streets? Now, think of all
the rules and traditions that have been in place in our society for a long time. How
have these rules influenced our knowledge? What rule in our society would result in
chaos if it were changed? Laws are more formal and stringent norms that establish
and define acceptable behavior of citizens. Folkways are less formal norms that
arise from tradition and do not result in punishment when violated.
Norms, laws, and other rules that regulate human interactions give rise to a social
system, which is an organized or patterned set of relationships among individuals
and groups that compose a society. Members of society act and interact with an
established social system. Each member is assigned a social role, which are
actions and behaviors expected for a certain individual. Individuals who share
similar backgrounds or perform similar roles are grouped together into social
groups and social classes. Certain groups that perform vital functions in society
are recognized as social institutions, and these include the family, school,
government, and religion. Our lives are a continuous interaction with different social
classes, groups, and social institutions. These relationships contribute to shaping
our view of the world and defining, our identity. A well-functioning social system
where all members, groups, and institutions work in harmony will ensure that society
remains harmonious and continues to uphold the welfare of its members.
Society also transforms human relations, which leads to the transformation of
its members. The historical development of society has brought about significant
changes in the way human beings relate to each other. Early societies were initially
centered on the family and the clan. But the emergence of industrial societies
transformed human relations, as interactions in the workplace. Virtual societies have
brought about another great transformation in human relations, as improved
communication technologies make it possible for people from faraway places from
diverse backgrounds and varied societies to interact and establish close ties with
each other.
Over the course of his or her life, a person will undertake various social roles as he
or she continually interacts with other members of society. An individual is not just a
member of a family, he or she is also a neighbor, a citizen, a worker, and member of
organization, group, or religion. These roles entail sets of responsibilities that the
person must undertake. As the person navigates through various roles in society,
his or her relationship with other people also change. Throughout our life, we
undergo changes in the way we relate with the people in our lives. When we were
children, we were very close to our parents and family members. But as we grow up
and our social circle expands, our interactions now include our friends, schoolmates,
workmates, and other acquaintances. Adults also experience change in their roles
and expectations as they become breadwinners and take on additional
responsibilities. Taking on adult roles often mean that many of the bonds
established during the earlier years will have to change. It is possible that you have
lost contact with your childhood friends because of some changes that happened in
your life. As you lose friends and acquaintances, you also gain new ones over time.
Our various roles in society also change the way we relate to people. In our family,
we may relate more closely to our parents, siblings, and relatives. In school,
however, we may not treat our classmates and teachers like our family. A person
may be the head of the family in his or her home and he or she takes charge of
making decisions in the household. But when this person goes to work, he or she
may no longer find himself in a decision-making role, since he or she may no longer
find himself or herself in a decision-making role, he or she is merely an employee.
When a person gets elected to an important post in the government, he or she
should no longer treat members of his or her family or community in a preferential
manner, but should now strive to treat all members of the community equally.
Another way society shapes us is through social values, which are actions or
ideals that are considered important by society. Values such as cooperation,
obedience to the law, concern for others, and respect for others are considered vital
to maintaining an orderly society. A society that upholds positive social values will
influence its members to uphold these positive values. On the other hand, a society
that is defined by negative values will, in turn, produce individuals who embody
these negative values.
Other aspects of society that contribute to the formation of the individual include
language, religion, and historical events. Compare your beliefs and ideas with those
of your parents or elders. In some cases, you will have similar views since you
belong to the same family, but you will differ in some of your ideas, beliefs, and
views. One reason for this is that you have gone through different life experiences.
Your parents and elders were born to an earlier generation and have thus gone
through some experiences that you will never encounter. In the same way, you were
born into a generation that has unique experiences and characteristics. This
disparity in experience and views brings about the “generation gap,” which often
leads to conflict among people of different ages when discussing certain topics. But
whatever our differences are, society ensures that we are able to interact in
meaningful ways, and that each member benefits from the relationships they have
established with the people they encounter.