What is Modern Society?

Human Action,
Interaction, Relationship and Social
Institutions

D R . I N D I K A B U L A N KU L A M E
BA (KEL), M.PHIL (SUSSEX), PHD (COL)
1 7 N OV E M B E R 2 0 2 2
L EC T U R E 4
Recap
Why do we need to understand the evolution of society ?

Because it is from this point that we can begin to understand our “make up” - Our DNA.
“Why we do certain things the way we do”
What has shaped us to think and how to use our brain

Herbert Spencer & Social Darwinism (Argument on the survival of the fittest)

- What is Social Darwinism? (Theory of Social Evolution)

Two fundamental principles
Principle of survival of the fittest
Principle of non interference – strong advocate of individualism
(nature Vs Man)
Course outline
Today’s Lecture
Modernity
Societal relationships
Definition & Meaning of Modern Society
When did modern society emerge ?

French revolution / Industrial revolution

When society is industrialized it is considered to be modern society or it can be defined as people

living together in current time.
It is based on expansion of education, technology, industry and urban life.
It has a complex culture changing with the time. Its base is materializing. Due to diverse social
conditions heterogeneous life is found.
Social problems of various nature develop among various groups.
Modern society is often called materialistic, where people no longer produce product for living.
Instead they produce goods to sell in the market. People don’t rely their own.

For example they go to market for groceries instead of owning gardens and animals.
These societies stress on quality of education for all.
August Comte (1798-1857) the father of sociology saw society as a
social organism possessing a harmony of structure and function.
Emile Durkheim (1857-1917) the founding father of the modern
sociology treated society as a reality in its own right.
According to Maclver and Page (1950) society is a system of usages and
procedures of authority and mutual aid of many groupings and
divisions, of controls of human behavior and liberties. This ever
changing complex system which is called society is a web of social
relationship.
Modern Society ?
 Characteristics of Modern Society
It is also called post industrial society having, highly complex, and advance industrial and
technological systems
This is a model of urbanization
Population size is very high having millions of people in cities.
This is due to heterogeneity in the needs of the people and volume of population.
These societies are hub of industrial and economic organizations
People are divided in to different social strata based on their socio-economic background
Due better education, industrialization, economic and job opportunities, a high degree of social
mobility is found among people of this type of society

(SOURCE - http://studylecturenotes.com/modern-society-meaning-definition-characteristics-of-modern-society/)
 Characteristics of Modern Society Contd.
These societies develop better relation with their neighboring countries which provide economic
and military benefits to them
Due to anonymity and population pressure, a high degree of crime rate is found. Murder, theft,
dacoits, robbery, rape etc. happen many times in a day
Women are highly educated and work parallel to men in different walks of life

(SOURCE - http://studylecturenotes.com/modern-society-meaning-definition-characteristics-of-modern-society/)
Social Institutions
Any account of social institutions must begin by informally marking
off social institutions from other social forms. Unfortunately, as
noted above, in ordinary language the terms “institutions” and
“social institutions” are used to refer to a miscellany of social forms,
including conventions, rules, rituals, organisations, and systems of
organisations.
(SOURCE - https://assignment.ignouservice.in/2022/01/what-is-social-institution.html)
Social Institutions Contd.
A social institution is a group or organization that has specific roles, norms, and expectations,
which functions to meet to social needs of society. The family, government, religion, education,
and media are all examples of social institutions.
Social institutions are interdependent and continually interact and influence one another in
everyday society. For example, some religious institutions believe they should have control over
governmental and educational institutions.
Social institutions can have both manifest and latent functions. Manifest functions are those
that are explicitly stated, while latent functions are not.
Each social institution plays a vital role in the functioning of society and the lives of the people
that inhabit them.
Social Action

Max Weber (1864-1920) was one of the founding fathers of

Sociology.
Interpretation of Modern Western Society
Weber saw both structural and action approaches as necessary
to developing a full understanding of society and social change.
Society based on Economy - Capitalism
Status, on the other hand, was based on
noneconomic factors such as education, kinship,
and religion.
 Interaction
In sociology, social interaction is a dynamic sequence of social actions between individuals (or
groups) who modify their actions and reactions due to actions by their interaction partner(s).
(SOURCE - socialsci.libretexts.org)

There are several main elements of social interaction, including:

Information
Multiple parties involved
Goals to be achieved or tasks to be completed
 Relationships
Social structure is the relatively enduring patterns of behavior and relationships within a society.
Thus, a society is not only the group of people and their culture, but the relationships between
the people and the institutions within that group.
Culture is distinct from society in that it adds meanings to relationships.
Thus, while the relationship exists in both (i.e., they both have social structure), what
the relationship means differs by culture.
(SOURCE -http://kolibri.teacherinabox.org.au/modules/en-boundless/www.boundless.com/sociology/definition/relationship/index.html)
Summary
What is modern society
What are the characteristics of Modern Society ?
Sociological definitions, Comte, Durkhiem, Weber
Social Action, Social Institutions and Relationships

Things to do today?
Prioratize ?
What needs to be done
Everything you have to do - you think needs to be done
Have to be things today list
Things to do ?
Classes – bEhaviour and ethics - P
Other classes - 2
Reading - P
Studying -2 -1
Sports 2-1
News X
House work – Washing clothers - P
Children's works - - Helpingng homw P
You have to do office work
Group Thinking
Group Polarization
Group Dynamics

3-5 points