Discipline of sociology

• SOCIOLOGY IS THE SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF SOCIETY. SOCIOLOGY DERIVED FROM THE LATIN WORD SOCUIS WHICH
MEANAS “ASSOCIATE OR COMPANION” AND THE GREEK WORK LOGOS WHICH MEANS “THE STUDY OF” .

• SOCIOLOGY FOCUSES ON HUMAN INTERACTION ON THE MUTUAL ANF RECIPROCAL INFLUENCING BY TWO OR
MORE PEOPLE OF EACH OTHER’S FEELINGS, ATTITUDES, AND ACTIONS.

ENCULTURATION
The process by which people learn the requirements of their surrounding culture and acquire the values and
behaviors appropriate or necessary in that culture

SOCIALIZATION
It refers to a lifelong social experience by which people develop their human potential and learn culture.

Conformity
 Behavior that is the same as the behavior of most other people in the society , group etc.
 Conformity means going along one’s peer-individuals of a person’s own status.
 Altering one’s thoughts and actions to adapt to the accepted behavior.
Deviance
 Behavior that violates the standards of conduct or expectations of a group or society.
 A behavior that elicits a strong negative reaction from group members and involves actions that violate
commonly held social norms.
Forms of deviance:
 Ritualist - Are individuals who do not believe in the established cultural goals of society, but they do believe in
and abide by means for attaining those goal
 Innovators- Those individuals that accept the cultural goals of society but reject the conventional methods of
attaining those goals.
 Retreatist - Are individuals who reject both cultural goals and the accepted means established by society
without replacing those norms with their own countercultural forces.
 Rebels- Not only reject both the established cultural goals and the accepted means of attaining those goals, but
they substitute new goals and new means of attaining these goals.

FIVE BASIC SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS

• FAMILY- the process of socialization begins in the family. Family is their first source through which they
commence their social communication. It is considered as basic unit of society.

• SCHOOL- could foster competition through built-in systems of reward and punishment, such as grades and
evaluation by teacher.

• PEER GROUP – is a group of people of approximately the same age, sharing similar interests and probably
belonging to similar backgrounds.

• MASS MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY- mass media is the strongest and the most argued indirect agent of
socialization.

• RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION- is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldview that relate humanity
to spirituality and sometimes to moral values.

• GOVERNMENT- is an indirect agent of socialization. This means though we do not come in contact with the
institution directly, it does have an impact on our social life and well-being.
HOW SOCIETY IS ORGANIZED
1. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY GROUPS
2. IN-GROUPS AND OUT-GROUPS
3. REFERENCE GROUPS
4. NETWORKS

1. Primary groups is a characteristically a small social group whose members share intimate, personal and lasting
relationship.
Secondary groups is that is larger and less personal , temporary rather than long lasting and just based on
interest and activities it also called “special interest groups” and “association”.
Primary and secondary groups can be contrasted in terms of the following
a. Size and quantity
b. Relationship and communication among members
c. Goals and relationship
d. Group structure and member’s statutes and roles
e. Influence to member and nature of group control

a. Size and quantity

In a society, secondary society are more while primary groups are fewer.
b. Relationship and communication among members
primary groups are characterized by personal, close and enduring relationship and interact on personal
level. Secondary group are mark as formal, impersonal and contractual relation and interrelate in a manner that
lacks intimacy.
c. Goals and relationship
Secondary group are created for the attainment of some specific interests of end it is also called as “special
interest groups”. A secondary group is one we choose to be a part of based on some objectives we wish to
achieve. On the other hand, the primary group are often long term as the relations are goal in themselves.
d. Group structure and member’s statutes and roles
secondary groups are organized groups as they commonly have formal structure. It is a formal authority
with designated power is instituted and a definite division of labor with specified functions is also recognized.
e. Influence to member and nature of group control
Primary groups are marked by members care and concern for each other. These group play a significant
role in the development of one’s personal identity. As they provide a source of support, primary groups are
often psychologically comforting to the member. Secondary groups have very limited influence on the
personality of the member because people spend most of their quality time in primary groups, not n secondary
groups.

2. IN-GROUPS AND OUT-GROUPS

IN-GROUPS is a social group of which an individual psychologically identities himself or herself as being a
member. In sociology and social psychology, the term refers to a group united by common value, that is “ a
group of people who show loyalty and preferential treatment to one another because they share common
interest, beliefs and attituded. It also a towards which a person feel loyalty, allegiance, deference and respect.
Typically due to attachment in the group.

OUT-GROUPS- is a social groups with which a person does not identify. It is a social group towards which is a
person feel dislike, disdain, disagreement, unfriendliness and disapproval- sometimes even hatred, contempt,
hostility, opposition or a desire to compete.
3. Reference group is the social group that we use as a standard of comparison for ourselves regardless of whether
or not we are part of the group. A group to which a person or another group is compared, a reference group is a
collection of people to which people compare themselves, basically for the purpose of self-evaluation.

4. Networks is a series or web of weak social ties involving people or groups of individuals connected to each other
such as through friendship, family, business relationship, academic institution, religious organization and socio-
political clubs. The term “network” may refer either a system of people the individuals concerned themselves, or
the group or collection of interrelated people.