Sociology

SOCIOLOGY: SOCIO- Relating to society; LOGY- Combining form used in names of

sciences or of bodies of knowledge.
 The scientific study of human activity in a society.

 The study of social behaviour or society including its origins, development,

organization, networks, structure and function.

SOCIOLOGY OF EDUCATION:
The study of how public institutions and individual experiences affect education and its
outcomes. It is mostly concerned with the public schooling systems of modern industrial
societies, including the expansion of higher, further, adult, and continuing education.

SOCIOLOGY OF FAMILY:
The sociology of the family examines the family as an institution and a unit of socialization.
This unit of socialization is identified through various sociological perspectives; particularly
with regards to the relationship between the nuclear family and industrial capitalism, and
the different gender roles along with concepts of childhood which arose with it.

SOCIOLOGY OF LAW:
Described as ―the systematic, theoretically grounded, empirical study of law as a set
of
social practices or as an aspect or field of social experience".
It has been seen as treating law and justice as
fundamental institutions of the basic
structure of society mediating "between political and
economic interests both between
culture and the normative order of society, establishing and
maintaining interdependence, and
SCOPE OFthemselves
constituting SOCIOLOGY:
as sources of consensus, coercion and social control".
Every science has its own field of inquiry. It becomes difficult to study a science
systematically unless its boundary or scope is determined precisely. There are two main
schools of thought regarding the scope of Sociology: (1) The Specialist or Formalistic school
and (2) the Synthetic school. The former of the first school believe that Sociology is a
specific science and the scope should be limited whereas others believe that it is a general
science and its scope is very vast.

1) SPECIALISTIC SCHOOL:
The main views of the school regarding the scope of Sociology are -
(i) It is a specific, pure and an independent social science.
(ii It studies the various forms of social relationships.
)
Its scope is very narrow and limited.
(ii
It deals with specific form of human relationships.
i)
It need not study all the events connected with social science
(i
v) It is a specific social science and it should deal with social relationships from
(v different angles.
)
(vi)
2) SYNTHETIC SCHOOL:
According to this school-
(i) It is a general and systematic social science.
(ii It is very vast.
)
Needs help from other social sciences.
(ii
It is a synthesis of social science.
i)
It is closely related with other social
(i
sciences
v)
(v)
CONCLUSION:
From the above
discussion, we
come to know
that formalistic
school believes in
the study of
the parts, which
makes up the
IMPORTANCE/UTILITIES
society and OF SOCIOLOGY:
synthetic school role of the institutions in the
Sociology studies
advocates
development ofthe the individuals eg: home and
study of the
family
whole ,the school and education, the church and
religion, the state and government, industry
society. However,
and
bothwork, the community and association, these are
the schools
institutions
complement
 Study through
each which society
of sociology is indispensable for understanding and planning of society.
other. They are
functions.
not opposed to
each
other. Thus,
Sociology is a
  Sociology is of great importance in the solution of social problems.

 Sociology has drawn our attention to the intrinsic worth and dignity of man.

 Sociology has changed our outlook with regard to the problems of crime.

 Sociology has made great contribution to enrich human culture.

 Sociology is of great importance in the solution of international problems.

 The value of sociology lies in the fact that it keeps us updated on modern situations.

SOCIETY:
A society is
a group of
people
involved in
persistent
social
interaction,
or a large
CHARACTERISTICS
social OF A SOCIETY:
 Likeness
grouping
sharing the
same Differences
geographic
 Interdependencies
al or social
territory,
 Co-operation and conflicts
typically
subject
 Web to of social relationship
the same
 Permanent in nature
political
authority
 Abstract -Can‘t see it, but can you feel it
and
dominant
 Dynamic – Ever changing
cultural
 Comprehensive Culture - Culture is another important characteristic of society. Each
expectation
s. It is a
and every society has its own culture which distinguishes it from others. Culture is the
web of
social way of life of the members of a society and includes their values, beliefs, art, morals
relationsetc.
which
is  Moreever than mere collection of individuals
changing.
Any group
of people
who have
lived and
worked
together
long
enough to
get them organized and to think of themselves as a social unit with well-defined limits.
CULTURE:
The ideas, customs and social behaviour of a particular people or society. It is that complex
whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom and any other
capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society.

COMMUNITY:
A community is
commonly
considered as a
social unit (a
group of three or
more people)
who
share something
in common, such
as norms,
values, identity,
CHARACTERISTICS OF A COMMUNITY:
and often a sense
 Have
of place that one or more roles that define its identity within society.
 Has ainset aof goals - provides a sense of direction.
is situated
given
 Is organized within a set of formal/informal beliefs, values, expectations and
geographical
area e.g. village, that defines the boundary of the community.
behaviours
town,
neighbourhood.
 The boundary may be explicit (physical) or implicit (defined by the shared
Social groups of
characteristics of its members).
any size whose
 Has reside
members ownership of its members.
in a specific
 There
locality, is some form of communication between members.
share
government and
 have
often Have
a skills and resources that are shared between the members.
 Balances the needs of the community with the needs of its members.
common
cultural and
 Often has clubs, teams, groups etc. within the community.
historical
heritage. A
social, religious,
occupational or
other groups
sharing common
characteristics
or interests and
perceived or
perceiving itself
as distinct in
some respect from the larger society within which it exists.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SOCIETY AND COMMUNITY:
RELEVANCE OF SOCIOLOGY TO ARCHITECTURE:
Relevance of Sociology to Architecture and urban space play an important role among the
sociological and psychological factors that influence humans and their wellbeing. Sociology
and psychology analyse the role of architecture in the conscious shaping of space. Sociology
of settlement, the city and the housing, deals, with building (or architectural) activity of man,
and his perception and needs.
One may ask, what is the relationship between the individual and his or her environment or
social setting? What is the relationship between people and their culture? Architectural
sociology approaches these questions in examining how architectural forms both influence
and react to sociocultural phenomena.
A large proportion of our human experience and social interaction occurs in the buildings in
which we live and work. Therefore, architectural sociologists use sociological perspective to
enhance building design.

Architectural sociology is defined as the application of social theory and methods to the
architectural design process. It provides quantitative and qualitative research tools to
anticipate how designs impact people on a variety of levels.

The following are reasons why architects must be sociologists:

The beliefs of the people affect the plan form. In indigenous
Ghanaian Societies, the Circle
is said to be a sacred shape it symbolises God's perfection.
Therefore the people have their
architecture portraying rounded plan forms. E.g. the people any
northern Ghana live in small
clusters of rounded huts. This is influenced by the belief that
rounded shapes present God‘s
perfection.
The geographical location of the people affects their architecture. This mainly affects the
materials used. In the temperate regions like the America‘s and the United Kingdom, more
glass is in their buildings. This help to trap heat indoors. They have a kind of "glassy
architecture. Also the kind of walls used in their building is affected. They use insulated walls
which trap heat between the walls. In the tropical world, where its relatively hot all year
round less glass is used to prevent the build-up of heat in the buildings.
In America, especially North America, due to the abundance of wood, the main building
material is wood. Which is not so in the tropical world (Ghana). In northern Ghana, the
people there build round huts with mud using the wattle and daub construction method. These
huts are usually roofed in thatch on straw. Their homes usually have small windows which
reduces the amount of heat entering the building. Generally the choice of materials here is to
cool the building to the maximum.
The kind of architecture done in the temperate regions cannot fit in the tropical world and
vice versa. This is because the sociology of the people (skin Colour and type) is not the same.
Hence the difference in architecture.
When people force foreign architecture into a place it becomes isolated and odd. An example
of misplaced architecture is the skyscrapers of DUBAI.

Religion is also another factor that Influences sociology. The kind of religious building
people put up vary from religion to religion. Religion as a whole, gave rise to various
architectural forms.
 The Greeks used these styles to decorate their temples. The ionic, Corinth, and Doric
techniques came about due to religion.

 Buddhist build temples with large domes on top called Stupas. The stupas were built
of stone or bricks to Commemorate important events or marls important places
associated with Buddhism. These were used to house the relics of Buddha. These
temples were rock-cut. That is carved out of the rocks.

 In Islamic architecture, mosques are built with large domes on top. These domes
usually carry the Islamic crescent moon and star. This is the symbol of Islam. Also,
Special courtyards called Sahn are almost always present. A courtyard is an enclosed
area often enclosed by a building which is open to the sky. ―Sahn‖ refers to
a
courtyard surrounded by an arcade at all sides. It contains asymmetrical pool where
ablutions are performed.
 With traditional African religion, (traditionalists). They are usually found in the
bushes with their gods beside them. They believe the gods are very powerful.
Therefore not everyone is allowed to see them.

 With respect to Christianity, churches are very huge. This is believed to represent
God‘s superiority to man. These are usually decorated with Statues of Jesus Christ
and the symbol of a Cross. Religion goes all the way to influence the plan shape of
churches. Especially Catholic churches. Most Catholic Churches take the basic shape
of the cross. It is believed by Christians that the Cross Symbolises atonement and
 reminds Christians of God's love in sacrificing his own son for humanity. It represents
Jesus' victory over sin and death. The St. Peter‘s Basilica, Italy Is a perfect example of
a church with a Cross shaped plan.

In Conclusion, Sociology affects every aspects of man‘s existence. Sociologists need not
necessarily be architects, but architects have to necessarily be sociologists to understand how
people think and react to element in the built environment. Architects therefore here to
understand how people reason in order to make them live comfortably.

ORIGIN, GROWTH & INFLUENCE OF SOCIETIES

ORIGIN OF SOCIETIES: The study of ‗Origins of Civilization‘ throws light on ‗how

civilized societies began, thrived and flourished consistently‘. Despite the fact that kingdoms
& empires rose and fell, political boundaries kept getting re-drawn , YET ‗civilized
society‘
kept marching progressively in the forward direction.
 The Mesopotamian civilization (modern day Iraq; then Babylon, Sumer & Assyria)
 The Indus Valley civilization (modern day India & Pakistan ; then Mohenjo Daro &
Harappa)
 Ancient Egyptian civilization
 Ancient Chinese civilization
 Ancient Persian civilization
 Ancient Greek civilization
 The Mayas, the Incas & the Aztecs (modern day South America)

Regardless of the geographical location of the above civilizations, the beginning of

‗civilized was always marked by eight common characteristic features,
society‘
primarily:
moral codes for ethical behaviour (known today as ‗Values & Belief
1. A set of shared
systems‘)
2. A set of ground-rules for social behaviour outside home (known today as ‗Socio-Cultural
Values‘)
3. A clear social hierarchy (with defined responsibilities for ‗community-leaders‘ at the apex)
4. A clear family-hierarchy within home (based on ‗patriarchal‘ or ‗matriarchal‘ system)
5. A recording-system of incidents & noteworthy occasions (using a lunar calendar / solar
calendar format)
6. Dress codes, Food habits & Standards of personal hygiene
7. Festivals & other celebrations (social gatherings)
8. Ownership & Usage of domesticated animals (beasts of burden; livestock & poultry)

GROWTH OF SOCIETIES: As societies grew in size (both geographical area and

population) & complexity, certain DIMENSIONS paved the way for progressive-evolution
right from ancient to medieval to modern times.
These DIMENSIONS are:
1. Agriculture
As ‗hunting & gathering‘ (pre-civilization) gave way to ‗farming‘, a major section of
every
society dedicated ALL of its members to the daily rigour of ‗producing food‘. Vast segments
of society dedicated their entire time towards Cultivation & cultivation-related practices, such
as:
 Clearing up of forest-spaces & grasslands for setting-up agricultural-fields
 Irrigation (via a complex network of canals, thus reducing the necessity of farming
right next to the river)

 Initial emphasis on food grains (cereals + pulses) with subsequent focus on fruits,
vegetables, etc.
 Discovery of Natural Fertilizers and manure.
 A keen observation of environmental factors : weather patterns, climatic conditions,
rainfall, snowfall.
 Decisions on ‗Timing‘ – for sowing & harvesting

Agriculture contributed to the ‗Growth of Society‘ in many ways. The notable ones:
a) Investment of social labour, time & energy in producing ‗food‘
b) The collective attention of rural society towards continuous innovation in farming-
practices [eg: Crop Rotation]
c) The genesis of ‗laws‘ pertaining to Ownership & Division of agricultural land
d) Harvest festivals
Architectural Design & Building Construction: Canals (ancient times), Granaries (medieval
times), Dams (modern times), etc.
2. Family Structures (including the concept of ‗marriage‘)

Definition of Family
Ancient Times: A unit of society where the elders provide Protection (against external
threats) and Nourishment (nutritional + emotional) to the progeny
Modern Times: A set of individuals (related by blood) co-habitating under a single roof,
wherein each individual serves the dual role of sharing and contributing.
The George Murdock definition: ―a social group characterized by common
residence,
economic collaboration and biological-reproduction‖. The family-structure may be classified
in multiple ways:
i. Nuclear family structure vs. Joint family structure
ii. Patrilineal (title & property inheritance passes down from father to son) vs. Matrilineal
(title & property inheritance passes down from mother to daughter)
Marriage - A socially approved union between two or more people in what is considered as a
steady, lasting relationship based in part on some form of sexual fidelity. It is an institution
that is regarded permanent and involves mutual rights and obligations. However, the practices
that define marriage ceremonies, the rights and responsibilities of marriage, the manner of
choosing a marriage partner as well as ―who is allowed to marry ?‖ => vary across cultures.
As societies grew and expanded, family structures & marriage-protocols evolved over time.
Eg: In medieval times, different societies around the world had different preferences for
Monogamy, Polygamy, Polyandry, etc

Significance in Architectural Design & Building Construction: Residential Spaces – size and
positioning of the living area, kitchen, kids area, guest-bedrooms, ‗merged-spaces‘,
‗isolated-
spaces – every tiny detail is influenced by the family-structures and family-values of Society.

3. Religion (organized faith)

The history of ‗civilized society‘ is marked by the earliest practices of worshipping elements
of nature / forces of nature / calamities & disasters of nature. Further evolution led to
‗paganism‘, ‗idol-worship‘ & ‗animal-sacrifices‘. Finally, the Prophet-based religions
arrived [Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Baha‘i, Buddhism, etc]

Religions may be ‗Monotheistic‘ or

‗Polytheistic‘.
Every single of the world‘s major religions has made the following impact on Society:
 A clear path towards ‗spirituality‘ and ‗self-enlightenment‘
 Concept of ‗heaven‘, ‗earth‘ and ‗hell‘ ; Concept of ‗blessing‘ and ‗curse‘
 Rites & Rituals of Worship (including prayer-ceremonies and official religious
symbols)

 Rules of Marriage & Family-protocols

 Values and Belief Systems (sanctioned by the divine entities & deities of the religion)
 Mythological stories / fables / characters / epics
 Relevant Interpretation of the original Scriptures (in every generation / era)
 Eligibility criteria for ‗priesthood‘ & ‗sainthood‘
 Omens (auspicious / inauspicious) and Supernatural Beliefs
 Divine Interventions (often witnessed by mortals)
 Religious Festivals

Significance in Architecture: Temples, Mosques, Churches, Synagogues, Monasteries,

Cemeteries, etc

4. Trade & Commerce

The barter system (before the invention of ‗currency‘) was by far the most successful
mechanism for acquiring goods & services, in exchange for other commodities. The 7 most
popular tradeable goods in medieval times:
 Precious metals (gold, silver etc) and Precious stones (diamonds, rubies, sapphires,
etc)
 Minerals mined from the earth as ‗ore‘ (iron, copper, mica, coal, etc)
 Surplus food produced by farmers
 Textiles (fabric / garments by tailors, weavers & craftsmen)
 Animals & Birds (livestock, poultry, etc) ; Animal Products (milk, hide, leather, fur,
wool, eggs, etc)
 Wood & wood products (small furniture, paper, etc)
 Oil
Finally, ‗people’ have always been a tradable commodity; until recent times, when
the
‗abolition of slavery‘ made this kind of trading illegal. Ancient Societies traded between
neighbouring villages & settlements. Medieval Societies appointed a ‗trader community‘ that
travelled far and wide (sometimes even across continents & oceans) in order to access
lucrative business opportunities in distant lands. This gave rise to :
i) The Silk Route
ii) The Spice Route and others
Significance in Architectural
known
Design:asVery
‗merchant
large navy‘)
boats &
ships, for seafaring traders
(today
5. Occupation (other than agriculture) : While primary occupation in ancient societies
remained ‗agriculture‘, a large number of secondary occupations rose and flourished
in
multiple societies around the world, such as : carpenter, blacksmith, miner, teacher,
fisherman, janitor, lumberjack, animal-breeder, warrior, priest and TRADERS. As societies
grew larger, there emerged more and more scope for people who wanted a fulfilling-
occupation other than ‗growing your own food‘! This, in turn, gave children more options to
decide from (especially for those children who had no interest in ‗farming‘ OR those children
whose parents were too poor to afford agricultural-land).

INFLUENCE OF SOCIETIES:
The evolution of societies led to a profound influence on the way mankind perceived the need
for:
1. Law & Governance
2. War
1. Law & Governance: Every society, around the world, established some format or the
other, for
 Appointment of gatekeepers & custodians of law (in modern times, the ‗police‘)
 A rulebook on what constitutes a ‗crime‘ and what constitutes
‗personal/social
misdemeanour, but not a crime‘
 A social system of checks & balances to prevent instances of ‗crime‘

 A set of codified practices for ‗punishment of criminals‘ (including ‗temporary

suspension of civil rights & liberties‘, known as ‗imprisonment‘ in modern times)
  A Governing body/ Council of Elders to hear grievances of community-members &
social-citizens
 Reward & Penalty clauses for Compliance / Violation of the Laws & Rules
 A tier-based system of Tax Collection (even in the earliest of kingdoms & empires)

Social Values and Belief systems, as well as the ‗Liberal‘ / ‗Conservative‘ /

‗Orthodox‘ /
‗Patriarchal‘ / ‗Egalitarian‘ nature of each Society --- determined the shape, context &
structure of Law & Governance in that Society.

2. War: The fear of an external military/aggressive force has always been a constant threat to
every society since the beginning of time (in every age, every era). To handle this threat, each
and every society (even in ancient times) designated a certain segment of society permanently
as the ‗warrior clan‘: Kshatriyas in Ancient India, Spartans in Ancient Greece, Samurai in
Ancient Japan, etc. The warrior clan formed the foundational resource for:
Protection of society against foreign invaders & aggressive untrustworthy neighbouring
kingdoms/villages
Plans for imperialist expansion (attacking other territories & annexing them)
Sadly, the territorial instincts of man (both at an individual level & collective level) have
always led to an insatiable appetite for ‗war‘. In turn, ‗wars‘ fought throughout the ages,
have
left an indelible impact on society, in terms of:
 Trust/distrust towards other communities.
 Positive cultural exchanges.
 Opening up of new avenues for trade and commerce.
 inter-societal marriages as part of the peace-treaty,
 wounds & scars