SOCIETY A society is a collection or group of people living and interacting in a defined geographical area. There is a sense of belonging and these people work towards a common goal. The members of a society are called its citizens. A society, therefore, has four (4) features: 1.Group of people or individuals (citizenship within a space) 2.Shared common purpose 3. Defined geographical area (defined territorial space) 4. Continuity over time and space (permanence)Is the Caribb The family that prays: Lamoy Bestfriend recy} Yes. The Caribbean can be considered a “society” on the basis that it possesses the characteristics of a society. 1. It consists of people who have several similarities and common goals It consists of interrelated social institutions It has a defined geographical location (Caribbean Sea and Basin) There is a sense of permanence in the Caribbean — continued over time and space.Is the Caribbean a society? Yes. The Caribbean can be considered a “society” on the basis that it possesses the characteristics of a society. It consists of people who have several similarities and common goals It consists of interrelated social institutions It has a defined geographical location (Caribbean Sea and Basin) There is a sense of permanence in the Caribbean — continued over time and space.Elements of a Society A society is based on social interactions, social behaviours, social institutions and social structures. * Social interactions: An exchange between two or more individuals which creates the building block for a society. For a society to exist, there must be social interaction among people. Hence. a single person can make up a society. * Social behavior: The behaviour among the people within a society that arises through social interactions. Social behaviours influence the way behaviour and relate to each other in a society. + Social institutions: These are the established or standardized patterns of behaviour in a society and are based on the relationship between people. They shape the way people think and behave in a society. Examples of social institutions include education, religion, mass media, government, family. peer group etc. + Social structure: A network of interrelationship among individuals, groups and institutions.SOCIAL ORDER Social Order is a necessary feature of society. It is a set of linked social structures, social institutions and social practices which conserve, maintain and enforce “normal” ways of relating and behaving. The concept refers to all those facets of society which remain relatively constant over time. © Functionalists argue that social order is achieved because people need each other. As society moved from traditional to industrial, the development of different social institutions facilitated the needs of people created social order. These social institutions interlock and work together to bring equilibrium. Durkheim argued that society has nH ae conscience” which is a shared collection of beliefs, values, attitudes, and jowledge. © Marxists believe there is no such thing as social order. People are unconsciously forced to conform to the different rules and values set by the elites in society. This is called false-class consciousness. Working class people are exploited and are unaware of their exploitation. Marx belied that real social order can only be achieved in a communist society. © Interactionists believe that social order is a matter of a shared value system. People interact with each other through this value system and this maintain order in society.SOCIAL CHANGE It is important to consider social change because it comes about when social order breaks down. Social change is the way human interactions and relationships transform the cultural and social institutions over time and have a profound impact of society. It includes changes in social institutions, social behaviours and social relations. ¢ Functionalists argue that society is in a constant state of equilibrium. As such, they have a difficulty explaining social change because if society is in a constant equilibrium, how does it change? However, they argue that a change occurs in one part of society, adjustments have to be made in other parts of society. Hence, social change occurs when equilibrium is compromised by some event or extemal occurrence. ¢ Durkheim argued that when social order breaks down, society enters a state of anomie. This is a societal condition in which moral values, standards or guidance is broken down and society enters into conflict and disharmony. It is a state of normlessness.What is socialization? Socialization as the process whereby individuals learn about the culture of their society. Socialization is the cultural process of learning to participate in group life. It is a process that begins at birth and continues throughout life. Types of socialization: Primary socialization: The process whereby people learn the attitudes, values, and actions appropriate to individuals as members of a particular culture. © Secondary socialization: This occurs when specific training and skills are learnt. e Re-socialization: Re-socialization is the means by which an individual. usually an adult, leas new standards, beliefs and customs. e Reverse Socialization: This is the means by which the process of socialization is reversed in that children, and not adults, are in charge of the process. ¢ Anticipatory socialization: The process of learning a particular culture or value just to gain a position in society. It means leaming social values directed towards acquiring a most desired positions.