SOCIOLOGY

By: G. Mohiuddin Asim

Sociology is the scientific study
of human society….
 Society
and
Sociality
 Society

• It refers to a group of people who live in a

definable territory and share the same
culture. On a broader scale, society
consists of the people and institutions
around us, our shared beliefs, and our
cultural ideas.
Sociologists define Society as

the people who interact in such a way as to

share a common culture. The cultural bond may
be ethnic or racial, based on gender, or due to
shared beliefs, values,

and activities….
 Social Structure

• Statuses
Status is a position in a society – everybody
occupies a number of statuses.

• Master Status – individual’s social identity

• Ascribed Status – individual’s have no control

• Achieved Status – individual’s have control

• Social Class – Category of equivalent status
 Role

Role is a set of expected behavior/obligations

and privileges attached to a social status

You occupy a status

but
You play a role
 Role

Role conflict when one or more of an individual’s

roles clash
Role performance the expression of a role
Role strain stress that occurs when too much is
required of a single role
Role-set an array of roles attached to a particular
status
 Groups

A group is a number of persons whose

statuses and roles are interrelated.
 Primary group – long
term, direct, intimate basis
 Secondary group –
temporary, personally, with
formal role

In Group v/s Out Group

 Social Institutions

• Institution is a stable cluster of norms,

values, roles and groups that develops
around a basic social need.
• Family • Legal System
• Science • Medical System
• Education • Sports
• Military • Economic System
• Religion • Political System
 Types of Societies

• Hunting and Gathering Society -

relies on wild animals and their hunting.

• Pastoral Society– relies on domesticated on

herd animals

• Horticulture Society– relies on cultivation of

domesticated plants
 Types of Societies

•Agricultural Society – relies on cultivation of

crops through plows and draft animals

•Industrial Society – relies on mechanized

production

•Post industrial Society – relies on production of

services and information
 Early Sociologists

• August Comte : French 1798-1857

• Herbert Spencer : English 1820-1903

• Karl Marks: German 1818-1883

• Emile Durkheim: French 1858-1917

• Max Weber: German 1864-1920

Man is by nature a social animal

• In the growth and development of the individual, the

role of the society may be explored by taking into
consideration that he is not born as such….
• man acquires his human qualities only after coming
into contact with society….
• It is undeniable that the society, even the primitive
one, shapes and molds the course of life of the
individual.