Key Concepts in Sociology for Social Work

L.T. Hobhouse

Defined society as 'tissues of relationships'.

R.M. Maclver

Defined society as 'web of social relationships' and is always changing.

MacIver and Charles Page

Defined society as 'a system of usages and procedures, of authority and mutual aid, of many groupings and divisions, of controls of human behavior and of liberties.'

Talcott Parsons

Regarded society as the most general term referring to the whole complex of relations of man to his fellows.

Mike O'Donnell

Defined society as 'a society consists of individuals belonging to groups which may vary in size.'

Morris Ginsberg

Defined society as 'a collection of individuals united by certain relations or mode of behavior which marks them off from others who do not enter into these relations or who differ from them in behavior.'

Shared Culture

Culture is the bedrock of society, encompassing shared beliefs, values, norms, customs, language, and symbols.

Example of Shared Culture

The shared culture of a nation like Japan includes values of politeness, respect for elders, and a strong work ethic.

Social Interaction

Society exists through continuous social interaction among its members, which can be direct or indirect, formal or informal.

Example of Social Interaction

A classroom is a microcosm of society where social interaction occurs between students and teachers.

Social Structure

Refers to the patterned and relatively stable arrangements of roles, statuses, groups, and institutions.

Example of Social Structure

The family, education system, government, and economic institutions are all parts of the social structure.

Social Groups

Individuals form various social groups based on shared interests, identities, or goals.

Example of Social Groups

A sports team, a religious congregation, or a book club are all examples of social groups.

Sense of Belonging and Identity

Society provides individuals with a sense of belonging and a social identity.

Example of Sense of Belonging

National identity is a strong sense of belonging to a specific nation, often based on shared history, language, and culture.

Cooperation and Interdependence

Societies are characterized by cooperation and interdependence among their members.

Example of Cooperation and Interdependence

The division of labor in modern economies exemplifies interdependence.

Social Control

Societies establish mechanisms of social control to maintain order and conformity to norms and values.

Example of Social Control

Traffic laws are a formal mechanism of social control to regulate driving behavior and ensure safety.

Relatively Defined Territory

A space within which social interactions primarily occur, providing a sense of place and boundaries for social life.

Social Change

The dynamic process through which society undergoes gradual or rapid transformation, influenced by factors like technological innovation, cultural diffusion, social movements, and environmental pressures.

Human Creation

The concept that society is constructed and maintained through ongoing social interactions and collective agreements, rather than being a natural or pre-ordained entity.

Community (E. S. Bogardus)

A social group with some degree of 'we feeling' and living in a given area.

Community (Kingsley Davis)

The smallest territorial group that can embrace all the aspects of social life.

Community (Talcott Parsons)

A collectivity whose members share a common territorial area as their basis of operation for daily activities.

Community (MacIver & Page)

A strongly knit group occupying a single geographical area and living a common life.

Bases of Community

Locality and community sentiment, which includes we feeling, role feeling, and dependency feeling.

Characteristics of Community

Includes wider ends, total organized social life, a particular name, no legal status, size of community, a group of people, a definite locality, community sentiment, naturality, permanence, and similarity.

Changing Concept of Community

The transition from stable, solidary, and intimate primary groups to a more fragmented existence due to industrialization, urbanization, and modern communication, leading to individuals being oriented towards larger social worlds.

Example of Social Change

The rapid adoption of internet and mobile technologies has dramatically changed communication patterns, work structures, and social relationships in contemporary society.

Example of Human Creation

The concept of democracy, which has evolved and been shaped by social and political movements throughout history.

Community Definition

A term applied to a pioneer settlement, a village, a city, a tribe, or a nation where members share basic conditions of life.

Gemeinschaft

A communal society characterized by personal relations defined by traditional rules and face-to-face interactions.

Gesellschaft

An associational society where relations are more impersonal and indirect, constructed rationally for efficiency.

Rural Community

An indigenous community located away from urban centers, primarily dependent on agriculture with traditional beliefs and values.

Village Community

A cluster of people living within a narrow territorial radius who share a common way of life.

Community Consciousness

A sense of belonging and identity among people residing in a geographical area, feeling separate from other communities.

Urban Community

An area with a higher density of population, where people engage mostly in non-agricultural occupations.

Social Heterogeneity

The presence of diverse social groups and individuals within a community.

Tribal Community

A community living in a defined area with its own culture, religion, language, and strong ethnic identity.

Common Name (Tribe)

A collection of families sharing a name, territory, language, and certain taboos regarding marriage and occupation.

Cultural Homogeneity

The quality of having a common culture among members of a community.

Geographical Isolation

The condition of being separated from other communities by physical barriers.

Population Density (Urban Community)

A measure of population per unit area, typically higher in urban settings.

Secondary Relations

Relationships that are more formal and less personal, typical in urban communities.

Anonymity of City Life

The lack of personal recognition and familiarity among individuals in urban environments.

Voluntary Associations

Groups formed by individuals based on shared interests or goals, common in urban communities.

Simplicity and Self-Sufficiency

Characteristics of tribal communities, emphasizing minimal reliance on outside resources.

Local Government

An administrative body governing a specific area, present in both rural and urban communities.

Mutual Cooperation

The practice of working together for common benefits, prevalent in rural communities.

Strictness in Deviant Behavior

The tendency to enforce rules and norms rigidly in rural communities.

Large-scale Division of Labor

The specialization of tasks among individuals in urban communities, enhancing efficiency.

Individuation

The process of becoming an individual with distinct characteristics, often seen in urban settings.

Spatial Segregation

The physical separation of different social groups within urban areas.

Unstable Family Structures

The tendency for family units to be less stable and more fluid in urban communities.

Collection of families

A grouping of related individuals.

Common name

A name shared by members of a group.

Common language

A language used by a group of people.

Common ancestor

An individual from whom a group is descended.

Society

A web of relationships encompassing various groups and individuals.

Community

A group of individuals living in a particular area with some degree of 'we-feeling'.

Geographic area in Community

A definite locality is essential for a community.

Abstract nature of Society

Society is conceptual and not tied to a specific location.

Concrete nature of Community

Community is tangible, tied to a specific locality.

We-feeling in Community

A sense of belonging among community members.

Community sentiment

An essential element that fosters unity within a community.

Wider scope of Society

Society encompasses multiple communities.

Objectives of Society

More extensive and varied than those of a community.

Interdependence in Social Organization

The essential characteristic of enduring groups, communities, and societies.

Ogburn & Nimkoff's definition of Organization

An articulation of different parts performing various functions to achieve goals.

Elliott & Merrill's definition of Organization

A state of being where institutions function according to recognized purposes.

H. M. Johnson's definition of Organization

Refers to an aspect of interactioned systems.

Duncan Mitchell's definition of Social Organization

Interdependence of parts in collective groups.

Leonard Bloom & Philip Selznick's definition of Social Organization

Patterned relations of individuals and groups.

Collins Dictionary of Sociology's definition of Social Organization

A collectivity established for specific aims, characterized by formal structure.

Characteristics of Organization

Includes a definite purpose, mutual understanding, and cooperation among members.

Control in Organization

Regulation of members' activities and behavior.

Authority in Organization

The power to enforce rules and make decisions.

Bureaucracy

The administrative aspect of an organization.

Forms of Social Organizations

Categorized into formal organizations and informal organizations.

Political formal organizations

Groups like political parties and advocacy groups that influence governance.

Formal Organizations

Economic formal organizations such as corporations, companies, businesses, banks work towards the growth and development, and maintenance of the economy and finance of the society.

Religious Formal Organizations

Religious formal organizations such as church groups, temple associations, religious sects regulate the relations of people with the supernatural order, their faith and associated activities such as religious festival gatherings, maintenance of places of worship.

Educational Organizations

Educational organizations mean any organization whose primary purpose is to educate and develop the capability of individuals through instruction. Formal educational organizations come in the form of schools, colleges, universities, coaching centres, academies etc.

Socio-Cultural Formal Organizations

Organizations such as non-governmental organizations, non-profit organizations, clubs, associations, etc. may be categorized socio-cultural formal organizations, which take care of the needs of the society such as helping the deprived and marginalized sections of the society, advocacy of rights of oppressed groups, minorities and so on.

Informal Organizations

Informal organizations may be understood as groups in which members are tied to each as persons through face-to-face interactions and primary relations. The members of such organizations work together as persons with shared goals, mutual support and companionship, instead of formal official capacity.

Types of Social Organizations

Political organization: concerned with politics and governance; Economic organization: generation and distribution of wealth; Religious organization: to meet spiritual needs of people; Financial organization: management of money of people (e.g.- bank, post office); Educational organization: providing education and disseminate knowledge.

R.M. MacIver's Definition of Association

An association is 'an organization deliberately formed for the collective pursuit of some interest or a set of interests, which its members share.'

Morris Ginsberg's Definition of Association

An association is 'a group of social beings related to one another by the fact that they possess or have instituted in common an organization to secure a specific end or specific ends.'

George Douglas Howard Cole's Definition of Association

The Association is 'any group of persons pursuing a common purpose by a course of corporative action extending beyond a single act and for this purpose agreeing together upon certain methods of procedure, and laying down, in, however, rudimentary a form, rule for common action.'

Max Weber's Definition of Association

'Association should mean a social relationship that is restricted or closed to the outside, if the behavior of certain people guarantees the maintenance of its order, specially adjusted to its implementation: a leader and, possibly, an administrative staff, which, if necessary, usually also has powers of representation.'

LGBTQIA+ Informal Organization Example

Some people from the LGBTQIA+ community may come together to form an informal organization with the goal of spreading awareness and rights advocacy for members of their community.

Association

A group of individuals united for a specific purpose or purpose and held together by recognized or sanctioned modes of procedure or behavior.

Corporate Character

A characteristic of social associations indicating they have a formal structure.

Social Functions

The roles and activities that social associations engage in to fulfill their purposes.

Dynamic and Evolving Nature

The characteristic of social associations that indicates they change and develop over time.

Organized Structure

The systematic arrangement of roles and responsibilities within an association.

Common Interests or Goals

Shared objectives that unite members of an association.

Regulation of Member Relations

The rules and norms governing interactions among members of an association.