Understanding Culture, Society and

Politics
HOW SOCIETY IS ORGANIZED
SOCIETY is a social system that is composed of people assigned to perform a definite task and function in a social system
called social institution.
A Human Society is a group of people involved in persistent social interaction, or a large social grouping having the same
geographical or social territory, typically subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations.
Human Societies are characterized by patterns of relationships (social relations) between individuals who share a distinct
culture and institutions.
WHAT IS A GROUP?
A group is composed of two or more persons who have something in common, are interacting with each other, and are
guided by a set of norms.
Any unit of people who interact with some regularity, and who identify themselves as one unit.
A group can be categorized based on number, common interest, purpose, and level of interactions.
Interaction occurs when the action of one person causes another person or persons to act.

Types of social groups

Social groups vary in size, quality of group interaction, purpose, structure, or combination of these
➢ Primary groups – those which are small but intimate, direct access and interaction with each other, emotional bond.
They are groups that person joins, and they provide for her with experiences in social relationships. Examples: Close
friends and family
➢ Secondary groups - formed to perform a specific purpose, members interact for the accomplishment of purpose,
usually formal and impersonal. Examples: A construction firm needs a driver who can operate a backhoe. The employer
is not concerned about the entire personality of the driver but instead whether or not he can operate a backhoe.
➢ Gemeinschaft - social relations between individuals, based on close personal and family ties, community. For the local
equivalent, Filipinos have used the terms damay and bayanihan.
➢ Gesellschaft - social relations based on impersonal ties, as duty to a society or organization. Relationships are
contractual and formal so that they are guided by specific rules and determined by a businesslike agreement.
➢ In-groups - those groups in which one belongs and those which elicit a sense of loyalty from the individual. One of the
important characteristics is the use of the pronoun “we” as in “we are engaged in this activities, we are loyal to each
other and help one another, or we work for the welfare of the society.” Example: Being part of the women’s basketball
team allows one bond with teammates and join pep rallies to support the team.
➢ Out-groups - those groups in which one does not belong and those which elicit sense of antagonism from the
individual. The out-group is generally viewed as outsiders by the in-group. Any member of the in-group as insufficient
contact with the members of the out-group. He may be aware of its existence but he tends to mock it or criticize it.
Example: Being part of the women’s basketball team gives one a sense of antagonism toward the men’s basketball team
as the latter gets more funding despite a bad performance during the last season.
➢ Reference groups - are those that provide an individual with a set of standards to check against and to know if one is
doing well or where he or she needs improvement. It represented groups that are significant to us as models even
though we ourselves may not be part of the group. Example: A neophyte scientist considers his superiors as reference
groups.
➢ Network - The entirety of social connections an individual takes part in for whatever purpose and through whatever
means. Example: the politician’s link with civil society organizations and NGOs is a good example of network

OTHER FORMS OF HUMAN CLUSTERS

AGGREGATE – A number of persons who come together in one place without interacting with each other. Ex: people
waiting for jeep or bus, people in line to buy movie tickets
SOCIAL CATEGORY - Is an agglomeration where members possess common identifying status characteristics interact
socially. We are talking of the males and females in the society, the infants, children, youth, adults and the aged; the
slumdwellers, the middle class, the millionaires, others. (note: definition of agglomeration: a mass or collection of
things)
COLLECTIVE – Consist of crowds, masses, public and social movements which are all temporary groups. Temporary
groups or clusters of people interacting with each other, but the interactions are temporary or short-lived.
Factors that influence groups
1. Motivational base shared by individuals. People find themselves together in a related social situation if we have
motivational implications for the development of groups.
2. Size of the group. The size of the group may range from 2 to two million members. Interaction and ability among
groups of various sizes will also vary.
3. Type of group goals. It is frequently understood that the structural patterns of social groups are affected by their
goals. Hence, the parts of the organization may be assumed to be well-versed in ways that will show the way to the
achievement of group goals.
4. The kind of group cohesion. Cohesion refers to the extent to which the members of the group have the capability to
function and interact collectively in the direction of their goals. Group cohesion could be influenced by size, goals, and
the possibility of attaining the goals of the group. Group cohesion is also determined by the extent to which individuals’
needs and interest are satisfied.

SOCIAL ORGANIZATION
- Is a process of bringing order and significance into human social life. An established pattern a relationship is called
social organization. It has its roots in social interaction. For example, when a boy and a girl get married, they
communicate and interact frequently with each other, and share common ideas. Some sort of order and meaning is
infused into their relationship. This social relationship becomes progressively more regulated, patterned, and orderly.

Social structure
- Refers to the independent network of roles and the hierarchy of statuses which defines the reciprocal expectations and
the power arrangement of the members of a social unit guided by norms.
➢ Social status refers to the members positions or ranks in the hierarchy of power relations.
➢ Role refers to the sum total of behavior expectations and activities associated with a social position which a Holder is
supposed to carry out an perform. Roles are mutually interdependent, and each individual member places his or her role
in relations to others.

SOCIAL FUNCTION
- Refers to the results of action that occur in relation to a particular structure and includes the results of the activities of
individuals occupying particular statuses. For example, expected function of the family is to produce offspring, socialize
them, and give security and protection to its members.
- Each social group is an organization with an overall structure governing the interaction of the members and performing
the necessary function of holding the group together.

STEREOTYPE
- Is a group-shared image of another group or category of people. Stereotype can be positive, negative or a combination
of both.
Stereotypes are applied indiscriminately to all members of the stereotype group without considering for individual
differences.