The

Concept
of Society
Meaning and Nature of Society

Mrs. Clarizze Jaine M. Nicolas

THE CONCEPT OF SOCIETY
Meaning and Nature
of Society society
derived from the Latin
term "societas" which
means
companion or
associate.
THE CONCEPT OF SOCIETY
Meaning and Nature
of Society society
a group of people
with common
territory,
interaction, and
culture.
THE CONCEPT OF SOCIETY
Meaning and Nature
of Society society
a group of people
related to each other
through persistent
relations such as
kinship, marriage,
social status, roles and
social networks.
 THE REASONS
PEOPLE
LIVE TOGETHER
AS A SOCIETY
(Ariola, 2012):
 1 . FOR SURVIVAL
1.
No man is an island.
No man can live alone.
From birth to death, man always depends
upon his parents and from others.
The care, support, and protection given by
them are important factors for survival.
2. FEELING OF GREGARIOUSNESS
This is the desire of people to be with
other people, especially of their own
culture. People flock together for
emotional warmth and belongingness.
The need for approval,
sympathy and understanding to which
the individual belongs is a
psychosocial need.
3. SPECIALIZATION
Teachers, businessmen, students,
physicians, nurses, lawyers,
pharmacists, and other
professionals organize
themselves into societies or
associations to promote and protect
their own professions.
Characteristics
of Society
 A social system consists of
Characteristics of Society
individuals interacting
with each other.
1. It is a A system consists of sub-
parts whereby a change in
social one part affects the other
parts. Thus, a change in
system. one group of individuals
will affect the stability of
the other parts of the
system.
Characteristics of Society The people must be socially
integrated to be
considered relatively large
2. It is than if the people are
relatively individually scattered.
Thus, the people in a family,
large. clan, tribe, neighborhood,
community are
socially integrated to be
relatively large in scope.
Characteristics of Society Since most of
3. It society’s members are born
to it, they are taught the basic
socializes norms and expectations.
its members Those who come from other
societies, before being
and from accepted as functioning
those from members, are socialized and
taught the basic norms and
without. expectations of the society.
Characteristics of Society For society to survive, it
4. It endures, must have the ability to
produce, endure and sustain
produces and its new members for at least
sustains its several generations. For
instance, if a society cannot
members for assist its members during
generations. their extreme conditions of
hunger and poverty, that
society will not survive long.
Characteristics of Society
The individuals in a
society are held together
5. It holds
because that society has
its members symbols, norms, values,
through a patterns of interaction,
vision and mission that are
common commonly shared by
culture. the members of such
society.
Characteristics of Society
The members in a
6. It has society
clearly- must live in a certain
defined specific habitat or
geographical place and have a
common
territory.
belongingness and
sense of purpose.
Major Functions
of Society
1. It provides a system of socialization.
Knowledge and skills, dominant patterns
of behavior, moral and social values, and
aspects of personality are transmitted to
each members, especially to the young.
The family, the peer group, the school,
the church and other government and
non-government organizations play a role in
the individual’s development.
2. It provides the basic needs of its members.
Food, clothing, shelter, medicine,
education, transportations and
communication facilities,
among others must be provided by
society to satisfy the basic needs
of its members.
3. It regulates and controls people’s behavior.
Conformity to the prevailing norms of conduct
ensures social control. The police, armed
forces, law enforcement agencies and even
the church and other government and non-
government organizations exist as means of
social control. Peace and order are created
through a system of norms and
formal organizations.
4. It provides the means of social participation.
Through social participation, the individuals in a
society learn to interact with each other, present
and discuss their concerns and solve their own
problems or renew their commitment and values. The
people are given the opportunities to contribute to
their knowledge and skills for the betterment of
their family, neighborhood and community. Religious
organizations, civic organizations, people’s
organizations (PO) and non-government organizations
(NGOs) do their part in community developement.
5. It provides mutual support to the members.
Mutual support is provided to the
members of society in the form of relief
in any form and solution to problems met
by them. This form of assistance may
come from the family, neighbors, clans,
government and non-government
agencies, civic and religious
organizations.
 Types
of
Societies
 TYPES OF SOCIETIES
Societies are shaped by various factors, including resource
availability, cultural beliefs, and contact with other societies.
As societies evolve, changes occur in social structures and
relationships. Sociologists and anthropologists have identified
different types of societies, including those that are herding
or farming-based and industrialized societies with formal
relationships. It's worth noting that not all societies go
through all stages and some resist modernization.
 TYPES OF SOCIETIES

According to Economic and Material System

According to Evolutionary View

According to People’s Substinence

 According to
Economic and Material System
1. PRE-CLASS SOCIETIES
2. ASIATIC SOCIETIES
3. ANCIENT SOCIETIES
4. FEUDAL SOCIETIES
5. CAPITALISTS SOCIETIES
6. DEMOCRATIC SOCIETIES
 1. Pre-class Societies
They are characterized by
communal ownership of
property and division of labor.
Examples of these societies
are earliest clans and tribes.
TYPES OF SOCIETIES
 1. Pre-class Societies

TYPES OF SOCIETIES
 2. Asiatic Societies

The people are economically

self-sufficient but their
leaders are despotic and
powerful.

TYPES OF SOCIETIES
 2. Asiatic Societies

TYPES OF SOCIETIES
 3. Ancient Societies
These are characterized
by private land ownership. The rich
(those who haves) owned
big tract of private properties while
the poor (those who-have-nots)
worked as laborers. Thus, wealth is
limited to a few people.
TYPES OF SOCIETIES
 3. Ancient Societies

TYPES OF SOCIETIES
 4. Feudal Societies
The aristocrats (feudal lords) owned the
wealth of the country due to their ownership
of big tracts of lands. The peasants worked
on the lands of the feudal lords with only few
benefits received by them. However, these
types of societies collapsed due to the rise
of cities and metropolis as a result of the rise
of trades and industries.
TYPES OF SOCIETIES
 4. Feudal Societies

TYPES OF SOCIETIES
 5. Capitalists Societies
These societies existed in societies where two
classes of people appeared. The bourgeoise
(property owners) who owned the capital and
the means of production and the proletariat
(the laborers or workers) who are compelled
to work for the capitalists or sell their small
properties to the capitalists.

TYPES OF SOCIETIES
 5. Capitalists Societies

TYPES OF SOCIETIES
 6. Democratic Societies
These societies are characterized by
free enterprise where people are
free to engage in any lawful business
for profit or gain.
People had to work on their own
livelihood according to what the law
mandates.
TYPES OF SOCIETIES
 6. Democratic Societies

TYPES OF SOCIETIES
 According to Evolutionary View
1. SIMPLE SOCIETIES
1.
2.COMPOUND SOCIETIES
3. DOUBLY COMPOUND SOCIETIES
4. MILITANT SOCIETIES
5. INDUSTRIAL SOCIETIES
6. POST-INDUSTRIAL SOCIETIES
 1.1. Simple Societies
These were predominantly small,
nomadic and leadership is
unstable.
The people had no specialization
of skills, thus they lived in a
simple life.
TYPES OF SOCIETIES
 2. Compound Societies
Two or more simple societies merged
to form a new and bigger society.
These societies tended to be
predominantly settled agricultural
societies and tended to be
characterized by a division of four or
five social classes.
TYPES OF SOCIETIES
 3. Doubly Compound Societies

These are completely integrated,

more definite in political and religious
structure and more complex division
of labor. Considerable progress in
infrastructure and knowledge in arts
had taken place.

TYPES OF SOCIETIES
 4. Militant Societies
These are characterized by the following:
(a) the existence of military organization and military rank;
(b) individual lives and private possessions are at the
disposal of the State; and
(c) individual activities such as recreation, movements,
satisfaction of biological needs, and production
of goods are totally regulated by the State.

In other words, individuals exist to serve the state.

TYPES OF SOCIETIES
 5. Industrial Societies
These societies are characterized by the following:
(a) people elect their representatives to protect their individual
initiatives;
(b) freedom of belief, religion, production of industrial goods exist;
(c) disputes and grievances are settled through peaceful arbitration;
(d) business organizations appear where cooperative efforts between
management and labor are based on contractual agreement.
In other words, individual freedom, rights and initiatives are being
protected.

TYPES OF SOCIETIES
 6. Post-Industrial Societies
These are characterized by:
(a) spread of computer machines and existence
of information and communication;
(b) inventions and discoveries in medicines,
agriculture, business whether in physical and
natural sciences emerged;
(c) pollution, diseases, calamities are prevalent
as a result of the use of advanced technology.
TYPES OF SOCIETIES
According to People’s Substinence
1. FOOD GATHERING SOCIETY
2.HORTICULTURAL SOCIETIES
3. PASTORAL SOCIETIES
4. AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES
5. INDUSTRIAL SOCIETIES
6. POST-INDUSTRIAL SOCIETIES
 1.Food Gathering Societies
(more than 16, 000 years ago)

The people survived from day to

day through hunting larger animals,
collecting shellfish and vegetable
gathering. Their tools were made
of stones, wood and bones.
TYPES OF SOCIETIES
 1.Food Gathering Societies
(more than 16, 000 years ago)

TYPES OF SOCIETIES
 2.Horticultural Societies
(12, 000 to 15, 000 years ago)

The people planted seeds

as a means of production
for subsistence.

TYPES OF SOCIETIES
 2.Horticultural Societies
(12, 000 to 15, 000 years ago)

TYPES OF SOCIETIES
 3. Pastoral Societies
Most of the people are nomadic who follow
their herds in quest of animals for food and
clothing to satisfy their needs. They raised
animals to provide milk, fur and blood for
protein. These societies typically are relatively
small, wandering communities organized along
male-centered kinship groups.
TYPES OF SOCIETIES
 3. Pastoral Societies

TYPES OF SOCIETIES
 4. Agricultural Societies
In the early agricultural societies, people used plow
than hoe in food production. By the use of plow,
it turns the topsoil deeper allowing for better
aerating and fertilizing thus improving better yield
when harvested. Irrigation farming was introduced
which resulted to a larger yield of production that can
even feed large number of people who did not know
how to produce food by themselves.

TYPES OF SOCIETIES
 4. Agricultural Societies

TYPES OF SOCIETIES
 5. Industrial Societies -

These societies began in the 18th century during the

Industrial Revolution and gained momentum by the turn
of the 19th century. This period is characterized by the
use of machines as means of food production. Mass
production of guns, invention of steam locomotives and
large production of steel, and well-coordinated labor
force took place. Thus, the people began to be highly
skilled and highly diversified in their occupation.

TYPES OF SOCIETIES
 5. Industrial Societies -

TYPES OF SOCIETIES
 6. Post-Industrial Societies or
Information Societies
Information and Communication Technology is the
hallmark of these modern societies. These are
characterized by the spread of computer technology,
advances in this technology are made
by highly-trained computer specialists who work to
increase the capabilities of computers and internet.
The use of modern technology gave rise to several
technological problems such as pollution, lung illness,
skin problems and other.
TYPES OF SOCIETIES
 6. Post-Industrial Societies or
Information Societies

TYPES OF SOCIETIES
Dissolution
of a
Society
1 . When the people kill
1.
each other through
civil revolution;
2. When an outside force
exterminates the
members of the society
 3. When the members
become apathetic
among themselves or
have no more sense of
belongingness.
 4. When a small society
is absorbed by a stronger
and larger society by
means of conquest or
territorial absorption;
 5. When an existing
society is submerged in
water killing all the
people and other living
things in it;
6. When the people living
in such a society
voluntarily attach
themselves to another
existing society.