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Society and Population

Dr. Sonia R B D Souza

Population
All inhabitants in a defined geographical area are called population

Demography
The scientific method of study about human population is known as Demography.
Demography covers three aspects:
Changes in population size
The composition of population
The distribution of population in terms of space

Uses of Demography
Demographical studies also analyze:
Fertility and sex ratios
Mortality and morbidity
Social mobility: Migration, immigration

Fertility
Fertility is a biological phenomenon

Conscious forms of fertility control:

Marriage-legalized
Monogamous wedlock
Family planning
Planned parenthood
Medical termination of pregnancies to prevent birth of unwanted children
Use of contraceptives

Unconscious forms of fertility control: Taboos on

Relationship taboos between unmarried males and females
Adultery (extra-marital sexual relationships)
Fornication (sexual relationship including sexual intercourse among partners who are
not married) Social Taboo
Widow remarriage

Sex ratios
Ratios of one gender to other
(Sex ratio of India: 944 Females:1000 Males)

Mortality
The ratio of deaths in
an area to the
population of
that area;
expressed

 Ratios of one gender to other

(Sex ratio of India: 944 Females:1000 Males)
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Mortality
The ratio of deaths in
an area to the
population of
that area;
expressed
per 1000 per year.

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Morbidity
The frequency with
which a disease
appears in a particular
population.

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Migration: Reasons for migration

Better economic & occupational opportunities
Educational facilities
Political pressure
Religious & civil liberty

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Impacts / Effects of population on society and health status

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Overcrowding

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Unemployment

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Poverty

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Increased rate of living

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Declining natural wealth

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Problems related to food

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Air pollution

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Water pollution

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Quality of education

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Communicable diseases

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Health problems

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Malthusian theory of population

Thomas Malthus, (1766 1834) an English economist, enunciated theory on
population in his An essay on the principles of population as it affects the future
improvements of society in 1798

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Assumptions of Malthus
Population when unchecked increases in a geometrical ratio, but sustenance (means
of supporting life) increases only in arithmetic ratio

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Malthus assumed in his essay

First assumption: Food is necessary to the existence of man.
Second assumption: Passion between the sexes is biologically necessary.

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population
in his in
An
Malthus
assumed
hisessay
essayon the principles of population as it affects the future
improvements of society in 1798
First assumption: Food is necessary to the existence of man.
Assumptions
of Malthus

Second assumption:
Passion between the sexes is biologically necessary.
These two laws
are
fixed lawsincreases
of naturein a geometrical ratio, but sustenance (means
Population
when
unchecked
of supporting
increases only
in arithmetic
ratio than the power of earth to
But,
the powerlife)
of population
is indefinitely
greater
produce sustenance for human beings.
Malthus assumed in his essay

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First assumption: Food is necessary to the existence of man.

Second assumption: Passion between the sexes is biologically necessary.
Malthusian catastrophe - also called a Malthusian check, crisis, disaster, or
These two laws are fixed laws of nature
nightmare
But, the power of population is indefinitely greater than the power of earth to
It
is a forced
return tofor
sustenance
level once population growth has outpaced
produce
sustenance
human beings.
agricultural production.
Malthus point of view was that a large population usually means low standard of
living while a small population means a higher standard of living
Malthusian catastrophe - also called a Malthusian check, crisis, disaster, or

nightmare

It is a forced return to sustenance level once population growth has outpaced

Factors
related
to standard of living
agricultural
production.
Availability
of natural
Malthus point
of viewresources
was that a large population usually means low standard of
living while
a small population means a higher standard of living
Number
of inventions
Pattern of social organizations
Population and food supply

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Factors related
to standard
of living
Control
of population:
Positive
checks
Availability
of natural
Positive
checks
result resources
from pressure of population on subsistence which bring about
between population & food supply
equilibrium
Number of inventions
Eg:
Diseases,
War,
natural calamities, vicious customs with regard to women
Pattern of social Famine,
organizations
Population and food supply

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Control of population: Preventive

checks
Positive checks
These are
deliberate
aimed toofcontrol
population
growth which bring about
Positive
checks
resultchecks
from pressure
population
on subsistence
equilibrium between population & food supply
Eg: Diseases,
War, Famine,
calamities,
vicious
with
regard(joining
to women
Egs:
Late marriages,
Use ofnatural
contraceptive
devices
andcustoms
observing
chastity
religious
orders
or
undertaking
the
Silver
Pledge)

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Malthusian
cycle
Control of population:
Preventive checks

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These are
checks
aimed to control population growth
Criticism
ofdeliberate
Malthusian
theory

Food supply increased due to faster scientific and technological progress

Egs: Late marriages, Use of contraceptive devices and observing chastity (joining
Sexual desire - variations among individuals. They are influenced by environmental
religious orders or undertaking the Silver Pledge)
factors like education, nutrition, entertainment, level of education, improved standard
of living and
various hobbies
Malthusian
cycle
Criticism
Criticism of
of Malthusian
Malthusian theory
theory
Food
Child supply
bearingincreased
is based on
religious,
geographical
conditions.
There is no direct

duesocial,
to faster
scientific
and technological
progress
relationship
between
sexual
instinct
and
number
of
children
in
a
family
Sexual desire - variations among individuals. They are influenced by environmental
factors
Knowledge
and availability
of contraceptive
devices
influencesimproved
child bearing.
like education,
nutrition,
entertainment,
levelalso
of education,
standard
of
Lotliving
of technological
like communication, transport facilities, internet
and various advancements
hobbies
facilities were not foreseen
Criticism of Malthusian theory
Criticism
of Malthusian
theory
Child bearing
is based on
social, religious, geographical conditions. There is no direct
History
doesbetween
not support
Malthusian
assumptions
of the
relationship
sexual
instinct and
number ofmost
children
in atimes.
familySometimes
positive checks
not present
Knowledge
and were
availability
of contraceptive devices also influences child bearing.

Overpopulation
causes
problems
in like
a country,
mainly in transport
the economic
field,internet
but over
Lot of technological advancements
communication,
facilities,

 Child bearing is based on social, religious, geographical conditions. There is no direct

relationship between sexual instinct and number of children in a family
Knowledge and availability of contraceptive devices also influences child bearing.
Lot of technological advancements like communication, transport facilities, internet
facilities were not foreseen
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Criticism of Malthusian theory

History does not support Malthusian assumptions most of the times. Sometimes
positive checks were not present
Overpopulation causes problems in a country, mainly in the economic field, but over
the years, the overpopulation brings about younger work force to sustain the per
capita ( eg: India and China even though are very populous countries, are economic
superpowers due to their younger generation)

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Criticism of Malthusian theory

Population is not only related to food supply but it is based on the total wealth of a
country. A country which is rich materially can feed its millions( eg: Middle east
countries- Kuwait)
Muslim, Jews and Catholic religions did not advocate use of contraceptives or family
planning measures ( preventive checks) which could check the population growth

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Criticism of Malthusian theory

Malthus thought that every baby was burden to the society. He failed to recognize
the values and the importance of manpower for the development of the society
Malthus adopted the inductive method to study population. He concentrated only on
past and present not the future.
Increase in population is related to the death rate also which was not assumed

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Self reading
Population explosion in India:
Causes of population explosion in India and its impact on health status
Population/Demographical Trends in India Current trends in conscious and
unconscious forms of fertility control
Family Welfare Programme in India

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Thank you