M1- INTRODUCTION TO

SOCIOLOGY AND RELATION

OF SOCIAL WORK (Part 1)

Kesiyamol Mathew
Faculty in MSW
❑ UNIT – 1 Importance of Social
Sciences for Social Work Practice

❑ UNIT – 2
• Sociology- Definition and
Characteristics
• Society: Definition, Evolution,
Meaning & Characteristics
• Types of Societies & it’s
characteristics
Science ?
Science refers to the body of knowledge systematically arranged.

Classification of Sciences: Chemistry, Biology, Physics

There are different sciences to deal with different branches of

knowledge
Scientific Methods
Problem Definition

Hypothesis Formulation

Information Gathering By
Research Methods

Interpretation of
Results

Theory Building
 Classification of
Sciences
1)Physical Sciences (Natural Science)
E.g- Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Geology, Geography, Astronomy

2) Social Sciences
eg – History, Political Science, Economics, Sociology,
Anthropology, Psychology
 Physical Science and Social Science
Physical Science Social Sciences
Deals with the Physical World Study of Human Society and Social
Relationship
Always use pure scientific methods Use scientific as well as other methods

Conduct experiments to verify facts and Studies the environment in which we

create universal theories live and attempts to understand human
Eg study universe, elements it is society and to predict how people will
composed, interact in a given set of circumstances.

How does that tree grow ? Causative factors for Acid attacks
What is the effects of sunlight on plants What are threats to democracy
?
Sociology has a long past but only a short history

youngest science – only by 19th century it established as distinct

branch of knowledge

Oldest – since the dawn of civilisation society has been a subject of

inquiry
 What is sociology
• The term ‘Sociology’ has been derived from 2 words
• ‘Socius’ (Latin) - folk /friend /companion or society'
• Logy’ (Greek) - scientific or systematic study
• Thus, Sociology is the scientific study of society/ study of
human association.
• “Sociology is the general study of the whole society” -
August Comte (founding father of sociology)
• ‘Sociology is a science of society’ - Fairchild
• ‘Sociology is the science of social institutions’ -
Emile Durkheim
• ‘Sociology is the general science of society’- Kingsley Davis
Activity
Poverty
Unemployment
Crime
Drug Abuse
Illiteracy
Need for Sociology
Origin of Sociology
A) Intellectual Ideas – Comte, Rousseau

B) Material and Social Development – Industrial Revolution

C) Political Developments – French Revolution

 Branches of Sociology
• Historical Sociology
• Sociology of Law • Medical Sociology
• Social or Human Ecology • Criminology
• Sociology of Education • Sociology of Art
• Political Sociology
• Economic Sociology • Sociology of Small Group
• Sociology of Occupations • Sociology of Sexual Behavior
• Sociology of Religion • Sociology of Culture
• Rural Sociology • Sociology of Communication
• Urban Sociology
• Sociology of Social Structure
• Industrial Sociology
• Sociology of International
Relations
• Sociology of Mass Society
• Social Psychology
• Sociological Theory
SOCIETY
 Society
The term ‘Society’ is the most fundamental one in sociology.
It is derived from the Latin word ‘socius’, which means ‘companionship’.
Companionship means sociability
it indicates that man always lives in the company of other people.
‘Man is a social animal’
Man lives in towns, cities, tribes, villages, but never alone
Man needs society for living, working and enjoying life.
Human Life and Society always go together
• “Web of Social Relations which is always changing” ( Maclever)

• “Society may be defined as a network of interconnected major groups

viewed as a unit and sharing common culture” ( J H Ficther)

• "Society is a system of usages and procedures, authority and mutual

aid of many grouping and divisions of control" (Maclver and Page)

• "Society is a complex of forms or processes each of which is living and

growing by interaction with the other, the whole being so unified that
what takes place in one part affects all the rest." (Cooley)
 Evolution of society

The present society has reached to this stage after passing through a series of
evolutional changes.

Theories

Evolutionary Theories - Auguste Comte

Organismic Theory (social change)- Herbert Spencer
Cyclical theories - Oswald Spengler
Conflict theories - Karl Marx
 Characteristics of Society

1. Society Consists of People – Society is composed of people

2. Mutual Interaction and Mutual Awareness - Individuals are in

continuous interaction with other individuals of society. Society is
understood as a network of social relationships. Social relationships
exist only when the members are aware of each other. Social
interaction is made possible because of mutual awareness.

3. Society depends on likeness - Likeness refers to the similarities.

similarities with regards to their needs, goals, outlook and values etc.

4) Society rest on differences too - If men are exactly alike, their

social relationships would be very much limited, we find differences
in society, biological difference, difference in personality, ability,
talent, jobs (farmers, soldiers, social workers, bureaucrats, politicians)
5) Co-operation and Division of Labour – it involves the assignment to each
group a specific share of a common task. Eg – farmers, weavers
Co-operation refers to mutual working together for the attainment of a
common goal

6) Society implies interdependence – social relationships are characterised by

interdependence. Family- interdependence of man and women. Even
communities, social groups are interdependent.

7) Society is dynamic – changes is ever present in society. No society can ever

remain constant for any length of time. Changes may take place slowly and
gradually or suddenly.
Like water in a river, new replaces old – changes in existing one
 ➢ Institutions provide a structure to the
society.

➢ Institutions can be defined as “goal-

oriented behavior that is firmly
established”.

Structure ➢ Institutions have certain functions

of Society also.

➢ In society there are 5 basic

Institutions viz. Family, Economic
Institution, Political Institution,
Educational Institution and Religious
Institutions.
Social Institutions

Consist of group of people who have come Social institution- primary and
together for a common purpose. These secondary institutions
institutions are a part of the social order.
Based on Social relationships, societies are classified

into 2 types

Society

Simple Complex
Types of Societies

1. Simple Societies
All primitive or tribal societies are included in simple societies.

Characteristics
• The term simple societies refer to small-scale societies with a relatively simple
technology.
• Their control over the environment is quite limited. They are small in size and their
markets are small scaled.
• Their economies are based on the more of production of material goods for
subsistence.
 2. Complex
Societies

The industrial societies with overlapping social

relationships are called complex societies.

Characteristics
• Larger in size
• Greater occupational difference
• Advanced technology
• Greater co-ordination in Management
• Quick rate of change
 Type of Society - Macrosociology
o Comte Classification – i) Military Society, ii) Legal Society iii) Industrial Society

o Spencer’s Classification – i) Militant Society and ii) Industrial Society

o Classification of Societies based on the mode of subsistence or the type of technology

1. Hunting and Gathering Societies

2. Herding or Pastoral Societies
3. Horticulture Societies
4. Agriculture or Agrarian Society
5. Industrial Society
Community
Community is “a social group with some degree of “we-
feeling” and living in a given area.
-
Bogardus
 Society Community
Community consists of a group of individual living
Society is a web of social relationship in a particular area with some degree of ‘we
feeling’

A definite geographic area is not an essential Community always denotes a definite locality or
aspect of society geographic area.

Society is abstract Community is concrete

‘Community sentiment’ is an essential element of
‘Community sentiment’ or a sense of ‘we feeling’
community. There can be no community in its
may be present or may not be present.
absence.
Society is wider. There can be more than one
Community is smaller than society
community in a society.
The objectives and interest of society are more The objectives and interest of a community are
extensive and varied. comparatively less extensive and varied.
Society involves both likeness and difference. Likeness is more important than difference in
Common interest as well as diverse interests are community. There is common agreement of
present in society. interests and objectives on the part of members.
 Solidarity
Sense of unity among the individuals in a society.
Types of Solidarity :
➢ Mechanical solidarity :-
➢ Based on common assumptions, beliefs, and sentiments.
➢ It is found in simple societies.

➢ Organic solidarity:-
➢ Based on the division of labor and inter-related interests. e.g.. Industrial
Societies.

When solidarity is broken, there would be social disorganization

and confusion in society.
“Dear Learners , Any Doubts..??
Memory check
• What is society
• What are the major social
institutions
• Different types of solidarity
• Culture and cultural lag
• What is Status
• Role strain and role conflict
• Social structure based on values
• What is Stratification
• Other related terminologies
1. _________ refers to the application of systematic methods to obtain
knowledge and drawing conclusions to predict the events in our natural
environment.

A. Physical Science
B. Social Science
C. Geology
D. Political Science
2. _________ refers to the intellectual and academic disciplines designed
to understand the social world objectively by means of controlled and
repeated observations

A. Social Science
B. Political Science
C. Archeology
D. Natural Science
3. To August Comte ___________ is the scientific study of the whole
society and it also applies to the social life for social reform.

A. Positivism
B. Social Dynamics
C. Social Statistics
D. Sociology
4. ___________ is derived from the Latin word “Socius”

A. Sociology
B. Society
C. Social Science
D. Community
5. Society may be defined as a network of interconnected major group
viewed as a unit and sharing common culture is a definition for society
put forwarded by _____________

A. August Comte
B. Cooley
C. Herbert Spencer
D. J.H Fitcher
6. True of False
“The fundamental unit of society is where a married adults living with
one or more offspring with or without their parents.”

A. True
B. False
7. _________can be defined as “goal- oriented behavior that
is firmly established to provide a structure to the ___________”.

A. Society , Community
B. Society, Social Institutions
C. Social Institutions, Community
D. Social Institutions, Society
8. “The society with advanced technology and overlapping social
relationship is called as Simple Society”.

A. Statement is True
B. Statement is False
Thank You for listening.