SOCIOLOGY PRACTICE ASSIGNMENT

WEEK 4
By - KUNAL SINGHAL
a) Sociology
Sociology can be defined as a study of society or social life, of group interaction and of
Social behaviour. Sociology is such a vast field that is not just limited to a personal or social level but
it reaches the Global Level as well studying phenomena such as population growth and migration,
war and peace, and economic development. The research methods adopted by Sociologists are
varied ranging from observing everyday life of groups to conducting laboratory experiments. In short,
Sociology offers a unique way of seeing and understanding the social circle around us and empowers
us to transform it for the betterment of everyone.

Society
In reference to the text shared in Week 2, Society has been defined as a relatively self-sufficient,
usually large group of people who maintain direct or indirect contact with each other through a
culture. In a society there might not be just a single group but a lot of groups with different ideologies
and interests.
In their book on Society, Mac Iver and Page define: Society is a system of usages and procedures
of authority and mutual aid, of many groupings and divisions, of controlling of human behaviour and
of liberties. This ever changing, complex system, we call society. It is the web of social relationships.
And it is always changing.
b) Social Association
An association is a group of people who come together, and get organised for the completion of
specific goals or purpose. The goals can be something limited or specific or of wide scope.
For Example:
The Student Chapters in our college like the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Student Chapter
are formed to enhance competence amongst its members. Other examples can be the Mohalla
Sudhar Samitis and other recreation clubs.

Social Institution
Institutions refer to established codes of conduct for carrying out group activities. They refer to set of
rules and procedures, which provide guidelines for human activities. These institutions are
recognized and accepted by the society and they regulate the relations between an individual and
group.
For Example:
Dehradun Rotary Club is an institution with a specific set of rules and regulations.

Therefore one of the basic difference between an institution and an association is that the former
represents the rules and procedures while the latter refers to human components.
c) Sanskritization
The idea of Sanskritization was coined by M. N. Srinivas. According to him, Sanskritization had
been occurring all over the Indian history. Sanskritization is a process by which a low Hindu caste,
or tribal or other group, changes its customs, ritual, ideology, and way of life in the direction of a
high, and frequently, a twice born caste. It is followed by a claim to a higher position in the caste
hierarchy than traditionally concealed to the claimant caste by the local community. Such claims are
made over a period of time, sometime a generation or two before they are conceded (Srinivas, 1966).

After independence of the country, the issue of social mobility became more complex and
cases of Sanskritization, de-Sanskritization as well as re-Sanskritization (Singh, 1974) were
observed. Due to the policy of positive discrimination adopted by Indian government now an
increasing number of groups laid claim to backward status rather than high status. Some of them
claim a backward status in state matters and a forward status in society.
d) Urbanisation
Urbanization is the movement of population from rural to urban areas and the resulting increasing
proportion of a population that resides in urban rather than rural places. It is derived from the Latin
'Urbs' a term used by the Romans to a city.

Thompson Warren has defined it as the movement of people from communities concerned chiefly or
solely with agriculture to other communities generally larger whose activities are primarily centered
in government, trade, manufacture or allied interests. Urbanization is a two-way process because it
involves not only movement from village to cities and change from agricultural occupation to
business, trade, service and profession but it also involves change in the migrants attitudes, beliefs,
values and behavior patterns. The process of urbanization is rapid all over the world. The facilities like
education, healthcare system, employment avenues, civic facilities and social welfare are reasons
attracting people to urban areas.
e) Modernisation
Modernization theory is a theory used to explain the process of modernization that a nation goes
through as it transitions from a traditional society to a modern one. The theory has not been
attributed to any one person; instead, its development has been linked to American social scientists
in the 1950s.

Modernisation theory took development into a more interdisciplinary realm. It advocated social and
institutional change to facilitate economic transformation. It was through theorisation on modernity
that sociologists made their first foray into development studies. Discussion on modernity in the
present day centres on multiple modernities.

Refrences
http://www.sociologyguide.com/industrial-and-urban-society/Urban-growth-and-
urbanization.php
https://learn.upes.ac.in/bbcswebdav/pid-439475-dt-content-rid-
948231_1/courses/INPE01.OPEL211.2017.3.5.OpenElective/ESO11_1%20Nature%20and%20Sco
pe%20of%20Sociology.pdf
http://nptel.ac.in/courses/109104044/lecture_pdf/Lecture%205.pdf
http://download.nos.org/331courseE/L-
5%20SPCIETY%20COMMUNITY%20ASSOCIATION%20AND%20INSTITUTION.pdf