CONCEPT OF SOCIETY

• The term ‘society’ is derived from the Latin word ‘socius’, which
means companionship or friendship.
• According to Morris Ginsberg “A society is a collection of
individuals united by certain relations or mode of behaviour which
mark them off from others who do not enter into these relations or
who differ from them in behaviour”.

CHARACTERISTICS OF SOCIETY
1. Society consists of people: Society is composed of people. Without
the students and the teachers there can be no college and no
university. Similarly, without people there can be no society, no
social relationships, and no social life at all.
2. Mutual Interaction and Mutual Awareness: Society is a group of
people in continuous interaction with each other. It refers to the
reciprocal contact between two or more persons. Social
interactions are 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.
F.H. Giddings states“Comradeship, intimacy, association of any
kind or degree would be impossible without some understanding
of each by the other and that understanding depends on the
likeness which each apprehends in the other. Society in brief, exists
among like beings and likeminded beings.”
4. Society rests on difference too: Society also implies difference. A
society based entirely on likeness and uniformities is found to be
loose in socialites. If men are exactly alike, their social
relationships would be very much limited. There would be little
give-and-take, little reciprocity.
 5. Co-operation and Division of Labour: primarily likeness and
secondarily difference create the division of labour. Division of
labour involves the assignment to each unit or group a specific
share of a common task.
6. Society implies Interdependence: Social relationships are
characterized by interdependence. Family is the most basic social
group, for example, is based upon the interdependence of man and
woman. One depends upon the other for the satisfaction of one’s
need.
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.
8. Social Control: Society has its own ways and means of controlling
the behaviour of its members. Co-operation no doubt exists in
society. But, side by side, competitions, conflicts, tensions, revolts,
rebellions and suppressions are also there.

SOCIAL INSTITUTION
Institutions are known as the basic building blocks of societies. Social
institutions are like buildings that are at every moment constantly being
reconstructed by the very bricks that compose them.
H.E.Barnes defined “Institutions as the social structure and the
machinery through which human society organizes, directs and executes
the multifarious activities required to satisfy human needs”.
TYPES
Institutions are often classified into
(i) Primary institutions-basic institutions which are found even in
primitive societies like religion, family, marriage, some kind of
political system, are primary in character
(ii) Secondary institutions-As societies grew in size and complexity,
institutions became 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. For example, education, examination, law, legislation,
constitution, parliamentary procedure, business, etc.
FUNCTION-
I. Institutions cater to the satisfaction of needs: Institutions
contribute to the fulfillment of the fundamental human needs such
as (a) the need for self perpetuation, (b) perpetuation, and (c) self
expression. They provide and prescribe the ways and means of
fulfilling them.
II. Institutions Control Human Behaviour: Institutions organize and
regulate the system of social behaviour. Through the institutions
the unexpected, spontaneous and irregular behaviour of people is
replaced by expected, patterned, systematic, regular and
predictable behaviour.
III. Institutions assign roles and statuses to the individual:
Institutionalisation of the social behaviour consists of the
establishment of definite norms. These norms assign status
positions and role-functions in connection with such behaviour.
Institutions such as family, marriage, education, property, division
of labour, caste, religion, etc. provide some social standing for the
individuals concerned.
IV. Institutions contribute to unity and uniformity: institutions which
regulate the relations between individuals have largely been
responsible for unity and uniformity that are found in a society.
V. Manifest functions of Institutions: Every institution has two types
of manifest functions – (a) the pursuit of its objective or interests,
and (b) the preservation of its own internal cohesion so that it may
survive. For example, the state must serve its citizens and protect
its boundaries. At the same time, the state must escape the danger
of internal revolution and external conquests.
VI. The negative functions of institutions: Institutions may cause
harmful effects also. They do not undergo changes easily and
quickly even if the circumstances demand change. When they
become too conservative they retard progress. They even hamper
the growth of personalities of the people. Religion and caste can be
mentioned here as examples to show how they often discourage
people to do achievements or adventures.
 SOCIAL GROUPS
Marshal Jones is of the opinion that a social group is “two or more
people between whom there is an established pattern of interaction”.
Classification of Groups
1. Primary Groups and Secondary Groups: On the basis of nature and
quality of social interaction, groups have been classified into primary
and secondary groups. The name of C.H Cooley is very much associated
with this classification. Cooley has introduced the term ‘primary group’
in his book ‘Social Organisation’. Primary groups refer to the most
fundamental and basic social groups which are based on direct relation
and face-to-face interaction, for instance, family. Secondary Groups on
the other hand, are not fundamental groups and do not possess direct
interaction among the group members, but have relevant role in
maintaining social interrelationship. The group of friends, classmates
and neighbours are examples of secondary group.
2. In-Groups and Out-Groups: W.G. Sumner in his book, ‘Folkways’
differentiates between ingroups and out-groups. An ‘In-group’ is simply
the ‘We-group’ and an ‘Out-group’ is ‘they-group’. This classification is
more subjective, in the sense; it depends on the tendency on the part of
an individual to identify himself with a particular group in a particular
situation for a particular reason.
3. Horizontal and Vertical Groups: P.A. Sorokin has divided groups into
two major types-the horizontal and the vertical. The former are large,
inclusive groups; such as nations, religious organizations and political
parties. The latter are smaller divisions, such as economic classes which
give the individual his status in the society.
Characteristics of Social Group- The main characteristics of social
group are as follows:
I. Collection of Individuals: Social group consists of people. Without
individuals there can be no group. Just as we cannot have a college
or university without students and teachers we cannot have a
group in the absence of people.
II. Interaction among members: Social interaction is the very basis of
group life. Hence mere collection of individuals does not make a
group. The members must have interaction. A social group, is in
 fact a system of social interaction. The limits of social groups are
marked by the limits of social interaction.
III. Mutual Awareness: Group life involves mutual awareness. Group
members are aware of one another and their behavior is
determined by this mutual recognition. This may be due to what
Giddings call ‘the consciousness of kind’.
IV. Group Unity and Solidarity: Group members are tied by a sense of
unity. The solidarity or integration of a group is largely dependent
upon the frequency, the variety and the emotional quality of the
interaction of its members. A family or a friend’s group, or a
religious group is highly united and integrated, because its
members are related by several common interests and have
frequent social contacts with one another.
V. Common Interests: The interests and ideals of groups are common.
Groups are mostly formed or established for the fulfillment of
certain interests. In fact, men not only join groups but also form
group for the realization of their objectives or interests. Forms of
the groups differ depending upon the common interests of the
group. Hence, there are political groups, religious groups,
economic groups, educational groups, national groups and so on.
VI. Similar Behaviour: The members of a group behave in more or less
similar way for the pursuit of common interests. Social groups
represent collective behavior.
VI. Group Norms: Every group has its own rules or norms which the
members are supposed to follow. These norms may be in the form
of customs, folkways, mores, traditions, conventions, laws, etc.
They may be written or unwritten norms or standards. Every group
has its own ways and means of punishing or correcting those who
go against the rules.
VII. Groups are Dynamic: Social groups are not static but dynamic.
They are subject to changes whether slow or rapid. Old members
die and new members are born. Whether due to internal or
external pressures or forces, groups undergo changes.