TELANGANA MAHILA UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY
PG DIPLOMA IN FAMILY AND MARRIAGE COUNSELLING
PAPER- I: BASICS IN SOCIOLOGY
ASSIGNMENT
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS IN ABOUT 350-400 WORDS.
(5X4=20MARKS).

1. Define Sociology. Explain Nature of sociology?

Sociology:
Sociology is the study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of
human behaviour. Sociologists investigate the structure of groups, organizations, and societies,
and how people interact within these contexts. Since all human behaviour is social, the subject
matter of sociology ranges from the intimate family to the hostile mob; from organized crime
to religious cults; from the divisions of race, gender and social class to the shared beliefs of a
common culture; and from the sociology of work to the sociology of sports. In fact, few fields
have such broad scope and relevance for research, theory, and application of
knowledge.Sociology provides many distinctive perspectives on the world, generating new
ideas and critiquing the old. The field also offers a range of research techniques that can be
applied to virtually any aspect of social life: street crime and delinquency, corporate
downsizing, how people express emotions, welfare or education reform, how families differ
and flourish, or problems of peace and war. Because sociology addresses the most challenging
issues of our time, it is a rapidly expanding field whose potential is increasingly tapped by
those who craft policies and create programs. Sociologists understand social inequality,
patterns of behavior, forces for social change and resistance, and how social systems work. As
the following pages convey, sociology is an exciting discipline with expanding opportunities
for a wide range of career paths.
Nature of Sociology:
►Sociology is an Independent Science
► Sociology is a Social Science and not a Physical Science
► Sociology is a Categorical and not a Normative Discipline
► Sociology is a Pure Science and not an Applied Science
► Sociology is Relatively an Abstract Science not a Concrete Science
► Sociology is a Generalizing and not a Particularsing or Individualizing Science
►Sociology is Both a Rational and an Empirical
 2. Illustrate the characteristics of society
A comprehensive understanding of society requires a through analysis of its characteristics.
But the term society could be understood both from a narrower and broader sense. In a
narrower sense society refers to a group of people but in a broader sense it refers to the whole
human society. However, society has the following characteristics:
(1) Population : A society must have population. Without a group of people no society could
be formed. Of course, society refers not to a group of people but to system of social
relationships. But for the establishment of social relationships a group of people is necessary.
This population is a self perpetuating individuals who reproduces itself through some sort of
mating relationship. Hence it is the first requirement of society.
(2) Likeness : Likeness is the most important characteristic of society. Famous sociologist
MacIver opines that society means likeness. Without a sense of likeness, there could be no
mutual recognition of ‘belonging together’ and therefore no society. This sense of likeness was
found in early society on kinship and in modern societies the conditions of social likeness have
broadened out into the principles of nationality. Society consists of like bodied and likeminded
individuals. Friendship intimacy and association of any kind would be impossible without
likeness. It also helps in the understanding of one by the other. That is why F.H. Giddings
opines that society rests on the ‘Consciousness of Kind’.
(3) Differences : Along with likeness, differences is another important characteristic of society.
Because society involves differences and it depends on it as much as on likeness. That is why
MacIver opines that “primary likeness and secondary differences create the greatest of all
institutions-the division of labour”. Because, differences is complementary to social
relationship. If people will be alike in all respect society could not be formed and there would
be little reciprocity and relationship became limited. Family as the first society based on
biological differences and differences in aptitude, interest and capacity. Though differences is
necessary for society but differences by itself does not create society. Hence differences are
sub-ordinate to likeness.
(4) Inter-dependence : Interdependence is another important characteristic of society. This
fact of interdependence is visible in every aspect of present day society. Famous Greek
Philosopher, Aristotle remarked that ‘Man is a social animal’. As a social animal he is
dependent on others. The survival and well being of each member is very much depended on
this interdependence. No individual is self sufficient. He have to depend on others for, shelter
and security and for the fulfillment of many of his needs and necessities. With the advancement
of society this degree of interdependence increases manifold. Family being the first society, is
based on the biological interdependence of the sexes. Not only individuals are interdependent
but also the groups, communities and societies.
(5) Co-operation and Conflict : Both co-operation and conflict are two another important
characteristics of society. Because famous sociologist MacIver once remarked that “Society is
Co-operation crossed by conflict”. Co-operation is essentially essential for the formation of
society. Without co-operation there can be no society. People can’t maintain a happy life
without co-operation Family being the first society rests on cooperation. Co-operation avoids
mutual destructiveness and results in economy in expenditure. Like co-operation conflict is
also necessary for society. Conflict acts as a cementing factor for strengthening social relations.
In a healthy and well developed society both cooperation and conflict co-exist. Because, with
the help of these two universal process society is formed. Conflict makes co-operation
meaningful. Conflict may be direct and indirect. However both are necessary for society.
(6) Society is a network or web of social relationship : Social relationships is the foundation
of society. That is why famous sociologist MacIver remarked that society is a network of social
relationship. Hence it is difficult to classify social relationships.
(7) Permanent Nature : Permanency is another important characteristic of society. It is not a
temporary organization of individuals . Society continues to exist even after the death of
individual members. Society is a co-he rent organization.
(8) Society is Abstract : Society is an abstract concept. As MacIver opines society is a web of
social relationships. We can’t see this relationship but we can feel it. Hence, it is an abstract
concept. Wright has rightly remarked that “society in essence means a state or condition, a
relationship and is, therefore, necessarily an abstraction”. Besides society consists of customs,
traditions, folkways, mores and culture which are also abstract. Hence, society is abstract in
nature.
(9) Society is Dynamic : The very nature of society is dynamic and changeable. No society is
static. Every society changes and changes continuously . Old customs, traditions, folkways,
more values and institutions got changed and new customs and values takes place. Society
changes from it’s traditional nature to modern nature. Hence it is one of the most important
characteristic of society.
(10) Comprehensive Culture : Culture is another important characteristic of society. Each
and every society has it’s own culture which distinguishes it from others. Culture is the way of
life of the members of a society and includes their values, beliefs, art, morals etc. Culture is
comprehensive because it fulfils the necessities of social life and is culturally self-sufficient.
Besides, each and every society transmits its cultural pattern to the succeeding generations.
 3. Explain Agencies and Stages of Socialization?
Agents of socialization :
1. The Family: Parents along with family play an important role in the process of socialization.
The child first comes into contact with parents and family. They are physically and emotionally
close to the child. He learns language and speech from parents and family. Family teaches him
societal morality. He learns many civic virtues from family. He learns his first lesson in love,
affection, cooperation, self-sacrifice and tolerance from family. Family moulds his character,
nature and personality. An individual is known by his family. Family inculcates right attitude,
beliefs and values among individuals. Family continues to exercise influence on him
throughout his life.
2. The School: It is the second important agency of socialization. During the age group of three
to five the child enters into school. Interaction with classmates and teachers in school is very
important in child socialization. In adolescent socialization stage also the school, classmates,
friends, sports and books matter more to the child. In the school the child gets his education
and learns many more which moulds his ideas, attitudes and personality. Education is very vital
in the process of socialization. A good school and its’ healthy atmosphere plays an important
role in making the child a good citizen. A well planned school system and a good system of
education can produce good socialized persons. It is said that, the school laid the foundation of
sociality in a person.
3. Peer Group: Next to family and the school, friends and peer groups are another important
agency of socialization. During different stages of his life an individual comes into contact with
different kinds of friends from whom he learns a lot. The relation between the individual and
his friends is one of equality and is based on mutual cooperation and understanding. He learns
from them many such things which he cannot learn from other agencies. It is said that a person
is known from the friends he keeps. This shows the importance of friends and peers in one’s
life.
4.The Mass Media:
Apart from newspapers which carry printed words, the two other mass media, viz., the radio
and television, exercise tremendous influence in the socialisation process. They “assault our
ears” and communicate directly their messages and these messages also “contain in capsule
form the premises of our culture, its attitudes and ideologies”. The role of television, in
particular, is very significant. It communicates directly to both our ears and eyes and thus leaves
a strong impression.
5. Religion: Religion is another important authoritative agency of socialization. As an earliest
social institution religion has been influencing human life since long by imparting beliefs and
patterns of behavior. Religion plays an important role in the life of an individual. Religion not
only exercises control over individual behavior but also socializes him from the very beginning.
Religion socializes individuals as per the norms of society and by inculcating different values.
It continues to mould beliefs, attitudes and personality of individuals in society. Religious
sermons and preaching shape the ideas of individual in society and develops philanthropic
attitudes among people and thereby brings social cohesion and social solidarity
6. The state: As an authoritarian agency of socialization the state not only makes laws for the
people but also guides their conduct and moulds their personality. It forces people to obey laws
and gives punishment to those who violates it. It socializes individual by prescribing modes of
behavior. State has the right to use legal force. State develops its’ education system and thereby
socializes the child.
Stages of socialization
The stages of socialization are as follows-
1. The first stage or the oral stage
The first stage or the oral stage of socialization starts with the birth of a child and lasts until he
is one year old. Before delivery, the child sleeps peacefully in the womb and is warm and
comfortable. He does not have to do anything but as soon as he is delivered in the world; he
must start breathing to survive. He must be protected from outside elements like heat, cold and
wet so that he remains comfortable.
2. The second stage or the anal stage
The second stage or the anal stage of socialization starts after the first year and lasts until the
third year. Here the child makes an essential realization that he cannot depend entirely on his
mother and he has to take some care of himself and depend on other people for his caretaking.
He learns to do some essential tasks like toilet training, not wetting his pants, and keeping his
clothes clean.
3. The third or the Oedipal stage
The third stage or the Oedipal stage of socialization starts from the fourth year and lasts until
puberty. Here the child becomes a member of the family and starts identifying himself with the
ascribed social role based on sex. A boy develops the feeling of love towards mother and
jealousy towards father whereas the case is vice-versa for a girl.
Here a boy is rewarded for behaving like a boy and the girl like a girl. As time passes the girl
identifies herself with the mother and the boy with his father. The boy and the girl internalize
their roles clearly and realize that the father is the dominant role player in the family.
4. The fourth or adolescence stage
The fourth or the adolescence stage of socialization starts from puberty and has great
importance because of numerous psychological and physiological changes that take place
within the people. Both the girl and the boy try to become free of parental control.
 4. Describe briefly about Types of Social Control?
Types or Forms of Social Control:
Different social thinkers have categorised social control in different ways. A few classifications
in regard to types and forms of social control are as follows:
(1) Forms of social control as given by Karl Mannheim:
(a) Direct social control:
That type of social control which directly regulates and controls the behaviour of the individual
is called Direct Social Control. This type of control is to be found in family, neighbourhood,
play-groups and other types of primary groups. In these institutions, parents, neighbours,
teachers, classmates etc., keep control over the behaviour of the individuals.
(b) Indirect social control:
In this type of social control distant factors keep control over the behaviour of the individual.
Such a type of control is exercised by secondary groups through customs; traditions,
rationalised behaviour etc. and public opinion are important forms of indirect social control.
(2) Forms of social control as given by Gurvitch:
According to Gurvitch social control is of the following four types:
(a) Organised social control:
In this type of social control, the behaviour of the individual is regulated either through
voluntary means or through democratic ways. This is done through natural ways of social
control.
(b) Unorganised social control:
This social control is exercised by values of culture and usages, traditions, fashion, symbol etc.
This is an elastic type of social control and is related to day-to-day life.
(c) Spontaneous social control:
This type of social control is exercised by ideas, rules and regulations, values, norms etc.
(d) More spontaneous social control:
Social control that is exercised by direct social and group experience, such as, aspirations,
decisions, desires, etc., is called more spontaneous social control.
(3) Forms of social control as given by Kimball Young:
(a) Positive social control:
In this type of social control positive steps such as reward, the policy of appreciation etc. are
used for keeping the person under control. As a result of these steps man tries to behave in the
best possible manner in the society.
(b) Negative social control:
This is just reverse of the positive form of social control. In this form of social control
individual on the fear of punishment and derecognition by the society is made to behave in
conformity with the values of the society.
(4) Hayes’s classification of social control:
He has classified social control under the following two heads:
(a) Control by sanction:
In this type of social control, those who act according to the values of the’ society are rewarded,
while to those who act against the norms of the society are punished.
(b) Control by socialisation and education:
Through education and socialisation, the child is taught to act according to the norms of the
society.
(5) Forms of social control as given by Lumbey:
The well-known social thinker Lumbey has classified social control under the following two
categories:
(a) Physical force method, (b) Human symbol method
Under the first form, man is made to behave in a particular manner by application of physical
force, but in the second form, he is made to behave in conformity with the values of the society
through language, traditions, customs, religion, rituals, etc.
(6) Forms of social control according to Cooley:
According to Cooley there are two forms of social control:
(a) Conscious. (b) Unconscious.
Through conscious form or social control, society compels an individual to act according to its
accepted objectives. Law, Propaganda, Education are such forms. Through unconscious
method, social institutions such as religion, customs, traditions, etc. keep control over the
behaviour of the individual.
General views about forms of social control:
(a) Formal social control:
This type of social control is exercised by known and deliberate agencies of social control, such
as law, punishment, army, Constitution etc. Man is forced to accept these forms of social
control. Generally these forms are exercised by secondary groups.
(b) Informal social control:
These agencies of Social Control have grown according to the needs of the society. Folk ways,
mores, customs, social norms etc. fall under this category of social control. Generally primary
institutions exercise this type of social control.
 5. Explain factors of social change?
Factors of Social Change: Social change occurs due to various factors. Some of these factors
are:
a. Demographic Factors
Changes in population, both in numbers and composition, have a far-reaching effect on society.
Changes in the size of population may bring about a change in the economic life of the people.
In the Indian context, we notice that an increase in population has resulted in an increase in
unemployment, in poverty, in urbanisation, in the number of slums and an increase in crime
rate, social tension and the burden on infrastructural facilities. These, in turn, have resulted in
the absence of adequate facilities, rise in nuclear families and over the time have altered social
relationships in a perceptible manner.
b. Technological Factors
Technological progress has often triggered a long lasting change in society. In earlier times,
technology was simple and societies were simple too. Traditional society was characterised by
manual labour and family was the unit of production. At that time, production was for domestic
consumption. There was neither a governing profit motive in economic transactions nor
whatever was produced were brought into the market. Today, modern industrial relationships
have given birth to companies, corporations, and share market, multinational companies, banks
and the union of industrial workers.
c. Cultural Factors
Social systems are directly or indirectly the creations of cultural values. Any change in values
or belief systems on the part of social group affects social institutions. To illustrate this, we can
see that the rise of nuclear families has changed the family system in India in a significant
manner. The joint family system has slowly disintegrated and this has altered relationships
within the family.
d. Political Factors
Law act as an instrument of socio-economic and political change in society. It protects the
interests of the weaker sections of society, particularly of those belonging to the scheduled
caste, scheduled tribe and other backward castes in India.
Law also protects the interests of women, children and other disadvantaged section of society.
In 1829, a law was passed banning sati. A century later, another law fixed the minimum age
for marriage. Still later, another law has banned the practice of giving and taking of dowry.
Article 17 of the Indian constitution has abolished untouchability. Thus, the role of law as an
instrument of social change finds full expression where law comes in confrontation with social
customs.
e. Economic Factors
Economic factors influence the quality and direction of social change.