As a social science, sociology does need to have certain agreed upon meanings of social realities and processes in studying. Each subject is required to have a standard vocabulary, terminology, language and concepts through which professionals can converse and maintain the different identity of its subject.

It becomes all the more important to discuss sociological terms so as to distinguish what they mean from commonsensical usage which may have varied meanings and connotations.

Question - 2 : -
As a member of society you must be interacting with and in different groups. How do you see these groups from a sociological perspective?

Answer - 2 : -

Social group refers to the members or individuals defined by formal or informal criteria of membership, who share a feeling of unity or are bound together in relatively stable patterns of interaction is known as social group.

The members of social group establish relationships on the basis of common characteristics and goals and influence each other.

Social groups can be defined as an organised structure of two or more persons who interact with one another, have shared goals, are interdependent, and consider themselves as members of a group.

Groups have the following salient characteristics:

A social unit consisting of two or more individuals who perceive themselves as belonging to the group. This characteristic of the group helps in distinguishing one group from the other and gives the group its unique identity.

A collection of individuals who have common motives and goals. Groups function either working towards a given goal or away from certain threats facing the group.

Persistent interaction to provide continuity.

A stable pattern of interaction.

Acceptance of common norms and structures.

A collection of individuals who are interdependent on what one is doing may have consequences for others.

There is an organised structure by a set of roles, norms, status and cohesiveness.

Sociologists, Anthropologists and Social Psychologists categorised groups into different types:

Primary and Secondary groups

Primary groups are pre-existing formations which are usually given to the individual whereas secondary groups are those which the individual joins’ by choice, e.g., family, caste and religion are primary groups, whereas membership of a political party is an example of secondary group.

In a primary group, there is face to face interaction, members have close physical proximity and they share warm emotional bonds.

Primary groups are central to individual functioning and have a major role in developing values and ideals of the individual during the early stages of development.

Secondary groups are those where relationships among members are more impersonal, indirect and less frequent.

In the primary group, boundaries are less permeable i.e. members do not have the option to choose membership as compared to secondary groups where it is easy to leave and choose another group.

Primary groups have a sense of belongingness whereas secondary groups are relatively large in size, maintain formal and impersonal relationships e.g. schools, offices, hospitals etc.

Formal and informal groups

The functions of the group are stated explicitly and formally in formal groups

The formation of formal groups is based on specific rules or laws and members have

definite roles.

Formal groups differ to informal groups on the basis of structure.

Informal groups are more flexible and members have close relationship.

In group – Out group:

The term In-group refers to one’s own group and Out-group refers to another group.

For In-group members, we use the word ‘we’ while for Out-group members the word ‘they’ is used.

Persons in the In-group are generally supposed to be similar and viewed favourably and have desirable traits.

Members of this group are viewed differently and are often perceived negatively in comparison to the In-group members.

Peer group:

A set of individuals who, share certain common characteristics such as age, ethnicity or occupation, perceive themselves and are recognised by others as a distinct social collectivity.

The group is seen to have its own culture, symbols, sanctions and rituals, into which the new members must be socialised according to which those who fail to comply with group norms may be ostracized.

Reference group:

The term ‘Reference group’ was coined by Herbert Hyman.

Hyman distinguished between a membership group to which people actually belong to and a reference group which is used as a basis for comparison.

A reference group may or may not be a membership group.

We all have a world of our dreams and desires. In sociological perspective, we all live in a social world. We get fascinated and attracted towards a group which might appear to be leading a more fulfilling life. When we look up to other people or groups, we secretly aspire to be like them. We start identifying with them, we internalise their traits, behavioural patterns and actions so that we may like them. Thus we do not belong to our reference groups, we only identify them.

Newcomb (social psychologist) used reference groups to help explain the changing values and attitudes of students of a liberal women’s college. Many of the women who came from politically conservative background developed increasingly liberal attitudes over the course of their college careers, as they came to identify more with the college faculty and less with their family of origin. The girls who changed most were those characterised by independence from their parents, a sense of personal adequacy in social relations in achieving their goals.

For example, many a time school and college girls and boys who are basically members of students group admire, appreciate and identify with the stars of Bollywood e.g. Sadhna, Rajesh Khanna etc. and develop desire to become like them secretly. They initiate their life style, hair style, talking style, clothes etc. Basically their membership group is students group but they get fascinated with the film stars group which for them is the reference groups.

From sociological perspective if a society has strong healthy role models related to politics, religion, profession etc. as reference group then young generation do get influenced with them accordingly.

Question - 3 : -
What have you observed about the stratification system existing in your society? How are individual lives affected by stratification?

Answer - 3 : -

The term ‘stratification’ in sociology is usually applied to studies of structured social inequality i.e. studies of any systematic inequalities between groups of people, which

arise as the unintended consequence of social processes and relationships. When we ask why there is poverty, why Dalits and women in India are disadvantaged, we are posing questions about social stratification.

Social stratification is the core issue of micro sociology, the study of whole society. Social stratification is concerned in different ways with the issues of class and status – group formation as the key to understanding social integration, that is, the extent to which social relationships are cohesive (togetherness) or divisive which in consequence determines social order.

I have observed that stratification system in our society denotes existence of structure, of inequality between different groups of Indian society.

Indian society consists of a strata in hierarchy i.e. most favoured people at the top and least privileged people at the bottom of the society. Economic disparity leading to class system, caste system, etc. play significant role in stratification in Indian society.

In Indian caste stratification system, individual’s status is ascribed by birth rather than individual’s achievements and his/her contribution or his/her psychological attributes.
Against this stratification of Indian society there is a ray of hope. Due to economic growth, constitutional provision, urbanisation, industrialisation, education, easy communication and enlightened media our society is gradually changing towards betterment.
Stratification is a natural process of any society. As we know, society is a group. And group is an organised structure in which members have a status role.
Social stratification gets evolved to ensure that the most important position should be occupied by qualified people.
The roles refer to expectations which is dynamic and behavioural aspect of status. Status refers to position of each member in the society. The status of any member has an institutionalised role. The role becomes regularised, standardised and formalised in the society.
Social stratification begins from general assumption or based on the belief of functionalism that no society is classless or without stratification. The only thing required is coordination, balance, integration and development of everyone should be the objective of any healthy society.

Question - 4 : -
What is social control? Do you think the modes of social control in different spheres of society are different? Discuss.

Answer - 4 : -

The term ‘social control’ refers to the social process by which the behaviour of individuals or group is regulated.

Society is a harmonious organisation of human beings and expected to perform their functions accordingly. In order to exist and progress society has to exercise certain control over its members, such controls are termed as social control. Consequently social control is pervasive feature of any society.

Social control helps to restrain the unwanted behaviour of the individuals and the groups. It is an influence, exercised by society for promoting the welfare of the group as a whole.

Social control varies from one society to another because each society has its own rules and norms. Different types of societies like individualistic society or collectivistic societies have different expectations (roles) from their members.

Indian cultural values and general standards of life are different from western individualistic society, therefore both the societies have different patterns of social control. We emphasise on socialisation whereas technologically advanced western society focuses on individual liberty.

Social control considers customs, traditions, rituals, rules and sub rules according to the social demands. Accordingly in that particular society, family system, marriage system, positive and negative conventions, religion and education systems develop. Members of that particular society should conform these systems. Society develops an appropriate social control for that particular society.

Question - 5 : -
Identify the different roles and status that you play and are located in. Do you think roles and status change? Discuss when and how they change.

Answer - 5 : -

An individual (you) has many roles and status. For instance, a student whose duty is to study, also plays the role of a son or a daughter. He/she enjoys the status of being a son or a daughter. This status will not change but a new status of husband or wife would get attached to him/her once he/she gets married. Later, the status of being a mother or a father would also apply to him/her.

Not only this, but the individual also plays the role of a brother, sister, nephew, niece, friend, etc.

Similarly, the status and duties of being a student would change accordingly, once his/her studies get over and he/she gets employed.

In this way, the status and role of the individual (you) changes according to time and place and the new status and roles get attached to the individual.

Free - Previous Years Question Papers

Chapter 2 Terms Concepts and their Use in Sociology Solutions

Subscribe Now!