What is Society? Definition, Features, Types, & Pre Vs. Industrial Societies

Meaning of Society

The term society is derived from the Latin word ‘socius’ which means ‘association, companionship, togetherness. Thus, society refers to a group of people living together with shared cultures, having social interactions and inter-relationships.

Society has been viewed as a system, made up of interrelated and interdependent parts that function together to maintain the system as a whole.

Human beings are called social animals. We cannot live alone. Family alone cannot satisfy our needs. We need a society where are people similar to us. We feel at home when people in our surroundings share common interests, religion, language, and way of life.

Being social animals, we live together in a group, in a community, and society. It is a must for human beings, we help one another, give something to others, and take something from others.

In sociology, the term society refers not to a group of people but to the complete pattern of the norms of interaction that arise among them. It is a process rather than a thing, motion rather than the structure.

The important aspect of society is the system of relationships, the patterns of norms of interaction by which the members of society maintain themselves.

Some sociologists say that society exists only when the members know each other and possess common interests or objects. Thus, if two persons are traveling in a bus, their relationship of co-existence in the same compartment, of being same time in the same place does not constitute society but as soon as possible they come to know each other, the element of society is created.

This idea of reciprocal awareness is implied in Giddings’s definition of society as “several like-minded individuals, who know and enjoy their like-mindedness and are therefore able to work together for common ends.”

Different scholars have defined it in various ways:

  • To Anthony Giddings, ‘Society is the union itself, the organization, the sum of formal relations in which associating individuals are bound together.
  • To Talcott Parson ‘Society may be defined as the total complex of human relationships in so far as they grow out of action in terms of mean-end relationships intrinsic or symbolic.’
  • To R.T. LaPierre ‘Society refers not to a group of people but to the complex pattern of norms of interaction that arise among and between them’.

Characteristics of Society

It is viewed as a process as well as a structure that is complementary to each other. It means that society exists only when they behave to each other (process) and it is a structure as it is made up of a web or network of relationships among the people and institutions.

It has the following basic features as follows:

Abstract in Nature

It is abstract. We can not see the structure of it, we can just feel it. It is made up of social relationships. It consists of social relations, human behavior, customs, rituals, etc.

It is Dynamic

Society is not static, it is dynamic. Change is ever-present in it. According to Herbert Spencer change is the rule of society. It is like water in a stream or river that forever flows.

New associations, institutions, and groups may come into being, and old ones may die a natural death. Changes take place slowly, or gradually, or suddenly or abruptly.

It consists of People

It is composed of people. Without people, there is no society. No social relationships and no social life is possible.

It is not only a group of persons

According to sociologist Wright, society is not a group of persons rather it is a relationship and interaction process among and between people and groups.

It is a complex system

It is ever-changing. Due to continuous changes in people’s roles, rights, duties, and conditions whole social structure gets changed. Its nature changed from simple to complex due to its dynamic nature.

It is based on interdependence

Social relationships are characterized by interdependence. Society’s people and groups are interdependent. One has to depend upon others for the satisfaction of needs.

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Cooperation and conflict

It is based on cooperation. It is the very basis of our social life. People can satisfy their desires and fulfill their needs with the help of cooperation.

Due to a lot of differences, we find conflicts in society. In it, like cooperation, the conflict also existed directly or indirectly.

It is a means of social control

It has its own ways and means of controlling the behavior of its members. It has various formal as well as informal means of social control.

It means it has customs, traditions, conventions and folkways, mores, manners, etiquettes, laws, legislations, police, court, and other formal or informal means of social control to regulate the behavior of its members.

It consists of culture

Each society is distinct from others. Every society is unique because it has one way of life, called culture. Human societies are distinguished from animal societies because of the culture we share.

Mutual interaction and awareness

It is a group of people in continuous interaction with each other. Social interaction is made possible because of mutual awareness. So without interaction and awareness, there are no societies.

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Types of Societies

Sociologists classify societies into various categories depending on certain criteria. One such criterion is the level of economic and technological development attained by countries.

Thus, the countries of the world are classified as:

  • First World (highly industrially advanced and economically rich
  • Second World (industrially advanced but not as much as the first category), and
  • Third World (least developed, or in the process of developing).

Another important criterion for classifying societies is based on a major source of economic organization which classifies society into the following types:

Pre-industrial or Pre-modern

  • Hunting and gathering societies: The simplest type of society that is in existence today and that may be regarded as the oldest is that whose economic organization is based on hunting and gathering. This society depends on hunting and gathering for its survival.
  • Pastoral and horticultural societies: Pastoral societies are those whose livelihood is based on pasturing of animals, such as cattle, camels, sheep, and goats. Horticultural societies are those whose economy is based on cultivating plants by the use of simple tools, such as digging sticks, hoes, axes, etc.
  • Agricultural or Agrarian societies: This society, which still is dominant in most parts of the world, is based on large-scale agriculture, which largely depends on plows using animal labor.

Industrial, Modern, or Technological

The Industrial Revolution which began in Great Britain during the 18th century gave rise to the emergence of industrial society.

An industrial society is one in which goods are produced by machines powered by fuels instead of by animal and human energy.

Post-Industrial

Sociologists also have come up with a fifth emerging type of society called post-industrial society. This is a society based on information, services, and high technology, rather than on raw materials and manufacturing.

The highly industrialized which have now entered the post-industrial level include the USA, Canada, Japan, and Western Europe.

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Difference Between Pre-Industrial and Industrial Societies

The differences between pre-industrial and industrial societies are rooted in various aspects such as social structure, roles, relationships, culture, and social control. Here are the key bases of these differences explained in points:

Social Structure

Pre-Industrial: The social structure is simple, with a basic division of labor based on age and gender. For example, men typically hunt or fish, while women care for children and gather food.

Industrial: The social structure is complex, with a division of labor based on personal talents, skills, efficiency, experience, and preferences rather than age or gender.

Roles and Statuses

Pre-Industrial: There are fewer social statuses and roles.

Industrial: Numerous statuses and roles emerge due to the diversification of society.

Social Institutions

Pre-Industrial: Institutions like marriage, family, and kinship dominate, while other institutions like economy, polity, and education are either non-existent or underdeveloped.

Industrial: Social institutions are highly developed, including well-structured systems for marriage, family, economy, polity, and education.

Social Relationships

Pre-Industrial: Social life revolves around primary groups, such as family and kinship. Relationships are intimate, personal, and emotionally driven.

Industrial: Social life is based on secondary groups, large urban communities, and impersonal, non-intimate relationships with minimal emotional involvement.

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Status and Mobility

Pre-Industrial: Status is mostly ascribed, and determined by birth and tradition.

Industrial: Status is often achieved, allowing for social mobility based on personal talents, efficiency, and efforts.

Cultural Homogeneity vs. Diversity

Pre-Industrial: Culture is homogeneous, with members sharing similar ways of thinking, behaving, and believing, leading to unity and uniformity.

Industrial: Culture is heterogeneous, with diversity in values, opinions, and beliefs, reflecting pluralism.

Social Control

Pre-Industrial: Behavior is regulated through informal means like customs, traditions, folkways, and mores.

Industrial: Behavior is regulated through formal mechanisms, including laws, legislations, contracts, and structured penalties.

Rate of Social Change

Pre-Industrial: Social change is slow, as people resist sudden changes and prefer stability.

Industrial: Social change is rapid, with change often viewed as progress toward a better life.

These differences highlight the evolution of societies from simple, tradition-oriented systems to complex, dynamic, and industrialized systems.

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