{"id":61645,"date":"2023-12-09T12:48:08","date_gmt":"2023-12-09T07:18:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=ncert-notes&p=61645"},"modified":"2024-09-23T12:07:48","modified_gmt":"2024-09-23T06:37:48","slug":"sociology-concepts-and-structures","status":"publish","type":"ncert-notes","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/ncert-notes\/sociology-concepts-and-structures","title":{"rendered":"Social Structures: Terms, Concepts and Social Dynamics in Sociology"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fabric of Social Structure in Sociology<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

Sociology<\/b> has a special set of terms and concepts such as <\/span>status and roles<\/b>, <\/span>social control<\/b>, <\/span>stratification and Social structure,<\/b> etc. which are also used by common men in their everyday life. However,\u00a0 the commonsensical understanding and <\/span>sociological meaning of terminologies and concepts vary to a great extent<\/b>. For instance, many consider Institution as a physical building or infrastructure whereas in <\/span>sociology it refers to the established patterns of beliefs, behaviours and relationships<\/b> that organise social life.<\/span><\/p>\n

So understanding the terminologies and concepts<\/b> such as <\/span>reference group<\/b>, <\/span>division of labour<\/b>,<\/span> alienation<\/b>, <\/span>cultural lag<\/b>, <\/span>socialisation and Social structure,<\/b> etc. become crucial to studying sociology and deciphering the social realities<\/span><\/p>\n

Social Structure: A deep dive into Social Groups and Society<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
    \n
  • Essence of Social Groups in Society:<\/b> A social group<\/span> refers to a<\/span> collectivity of continuously interacting persons <\/b>who share common interest, culture, values and norms within a given society.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Characteristics of Social Group within social structure:<\/b>\n
      \n
    • Persistent interaction<\/b> to provide continuity.<\/span><\/li>\n
    • A stable pattern<\/b> of these interactions.<\/span><\/li>\n
    • A sense of belonging<\/b> to identify with other members\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
    • Acceptance of common <\/span>norms and values.<\/b><\/li>\n
    • A definable <\/span>social structure.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
      \n

      Additional Information<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

      Any gathering\/aggregates of people does not necessarily constitute a social group. Passengers waiting at a railway station or airport or bus stop or a cinema audience are examples of aggregates. Social classes, status groups, age and gender groups, crowds are seen as examples of quasi groups.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

      Types of Social Groups in the Framework of Social Structure:<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
        \n
      • Primary Social Groups: Forming the Foundations of Personal Connections:<\/b> It refers to a small group of people connected by<\/span> intimate and face-to-face association and cooperation.<\/b>\n
          \n
        • Example:<\/b> Family, village and groups of friends.\u00a0<\/span>\n
            \n
          • Members of these groups have a sense of belonging and are person-oriented.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
          • Secondary Social Groups<\/b>: <\/span>Formal Relationships in Society:<\/b> These are the groups which are <\/span>relatively large in size, and maintain formal and impersonal relationships.\u00a0<\/b>\n
              \n
            • Example: <\/b>Schools, government offices, hospitals, and student associations.\u00a0<\/span>\n
                \n
              • These are goal-oriented<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
              • Community Bonds: Personal and Enduring Relationships in Social Groups<\/b>: It is a social group where human relationships are <\/span>highly personal, intimate and enduring.<\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\n
                  \n
                • Example:<\/b> Family, a group of real friends or a close-knit group.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                • Association in Society: Impersonal and Transitory Human Relationship<\/b>: It is a social group where human relationships are <\/span>impersonal, superficial and transitory.\u00a0<\/b>\n
                    \n
                  • Example: <\/b>Modern institutes such as Commerce and industry are examples of associations as they require a more calculating, rational and self-interesting attitude.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                  • In-Group: Psychological Bonds and Social Identity in Society:<\/b> An in-group is a social group to which <\/span>a person psychologically identifies as being a member.\u00a0<\/b>\n
                      \n
                    • Example:<\/b> Students of a particular school may form an<\/span> \u2018in-group\u2019 <\/b>against those who do not belong to the school.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                    • Out-group: Understanding Social Dynamics and Hostility in Society:<\/b> An out-group is one to which the members of an in-group do not belong.\u00a0<\/span>\n
                        \n
                      • Members of an out-group often face hostile reactions from the members of the in-group.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
                      • Example: <\/b>\u00a0Migrants often face hostility as they are considered as members of an out-group by natives.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                      • Reference Group: Shaping Aspirations and Identifying with Societal Ideals:<\/b> The groups<\/span> whose lifestyles are emulated<\/b> are known as reference groups.\u00a0<\/span>\n
                          \n
                        • People though do not belong to their reference groups they identify themselves with that group.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
                        • Example:<\/b> During the colonial period, many Indians imitated the <\/span>lifestyles of Englishmen. <\/b>In that sense, <\/span>Englishmen could be seen as a reference group<\/b> for those Indians.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                        • Peer Groups: Dynamics of Social Bonds and influence in similar-Age circles:<\/b> It is a kind of <\/span>primary group<\/b>, usually formed between people of similar age or people belonging to a common professional group.\u00a0<\/span>\n
                            \n
                          • Peer pressure refers to the <\/span>social pressure exerted by one\u2019s peers.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                            Social Stratification: Examining Hierarchies in Social Structure<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
                              \n
                            • Definition and Characteristics of Social Stratification: <\/b>Social stratification<\/span> refers to the <\/span>existence of structured inequalities <\/b>between groups in society, in terms of their access to material or symbolic rewards.\u00a0<\/span>\n
                                \n
                              • Example:<\/b> The caste system.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                              • Evolution of Social Stratification: Four Historical Systems: <\/b>There are four historical systems of social stratification such as <\/span>slavery, caste, estate and class.<\/b>\n
                                  \n
                                • Slavery:<\/b> In this system masters owned slaves.<\/span><\/li>\n
                                • Caste:<\/b> In this system, castes are ranked on the basis of<\/span> ritual hierarchy.<\/b><\/li>\n
                                • Estate: Feudal lords<\/b> are land-owning groups whereas <\/span>serfs<\/b> work in the field of lords.<\/span><\/li>\n
                                • Class: <\/b>This system is prevalent in modern societies, in which individuals are <\/span>ranked on the basis of income and wealth.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                  Types of Social Stratification: How do they influence Social Structure?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

                                  Caste Stratification in Social structure:<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
                                    \n
                                  • Ascribed Status in Caste Stratification: Birth as the Determinant: <\/b>In a caste stratification system an individual’s position depends on the status ascribed <\/span>by birth rather than on achievement.<\/b><\/li>\n
                                  • Traditional Varna System: Four-Fold Hierarchy: <\/b>The traditional system conceptualised <\/span>four-fold varna of Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras.<\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\n
                                      \n
                                    • But, in reality, there are innumerable <\/span>occupation-based caste groups, called Jatis.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                                    • Hierarchical Grading: Purity and Pollution in Caste Structures: <\/b>Each caste group in the caste structure was ranked in terms of its<\/span> purity or pollution, relative to others.<\/b>\n
                                        \n
                                      • On the basis of<\/span> purity- pollution norm <\/b>the <\/span>Brahmins<\/b> were considered superior to all others.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
                                      • The <\/span>Panchamas<\/b>, sometimes called the<\/span> \u2018outcastes\u2019 <\/b>inferior to all other castes.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                                      • Change in Caste system: Modernization, Urbanization, and Transformation: <\/b>The caste system has undergone considerable changes over the years.\u00a0<\/span>\n
                                          \n
                                        • The practice of<\/span> endogamy and untouchability <\/b>is declining due to modernisation and urbanisation.<\/span><\/li>\n
                                        • Democracy <\/b>has affected the caste system. Castes as interest groups have gained strength.<\/span><\/li>\n
                                        • Discriminated castes are asserting<\/b> their democratic rights in society.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                          Class Stratification in Social Structure: Perspectives and Dynamics\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
                                            \n
                                          • In class stratification,<\/span> an individual or group of people graded one above others<\/b>, on the basis of economic and achieved status, such as rich over poor.<\/span><\/li>\n
                                          • Marxist Perspective on Class Stratification: Understanding the role of Production\u00a0<\/b>\n
                                              \n
                                            • According to Marxist theory social classes are stratified on the basis of their relationship with <\/span>means of production.<\/b><\/li>\n
                                            • Groups owning <\/span>means of production <\/b>such as land or factories are called the <\/span>capitalist class <\/b>graded above the group owning nothing but their own labour is called the<\/span> working class.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                                            • Weberian Perspective on Class:\u00a0 Life Chances Beyond Economics<\/b>\n
                                                \n
                                              • According to Weber, <\/b>people sharing similar <\/span>\u2018 life chances\u2019 <\/b>( the rewards and advantages afforded by market capacity ) belong to the same class.<\/span>\n
                                                  \n
                                                • Example:<\/b> Doctors, engineers<\/b> etc.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                                                • According to Weber Inequality is <\/span>not limited to economic relations.<\/b> People have <\/span>unequal access to prestige as well as political power.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                                                • Functionalist Perspective on Class: Reward Systems and Social Stratification<\/b>\n
                                                    \n
                                                  • According to functionalists, <\/span>no society is \u201cclassless\u201d or unstratified.\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n
                                                  • To attract the most qualified persons<\/b> to the most important positions <\/span>society provides the highest reward<\/b> to some important positions.\u00a0<\/span>\n
                                                      \n
                                                    • This results in <\/span>differential earnings<\/b> leading to social stratification.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"template":"","notes-subjects":[4566],"subject-chapters":[4702],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ncert-notes\/61645"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ncert-notes"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/ncert-notes"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=61645"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"notes-subjects","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/notes-subjects?post=61645"},{"taxonomy":"subject-chapters","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/subject-chapters?post=61645"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}