Maharashtra Board Class 11 Sociology Notes Chapter 3 Basic Concepts in Sociology

By going through these Maharashtra State Board Class 11 Sociology Notes Chapter 3 Basic Concepts in Sociology students can recall all the concepts quickly.

Maharashtra State Board Class 11 Sociology Notes Chapter 3 Basic Concepts in Sociology

→ Sociology studies every social phenomenon Therefore, sociology is a complex social science.

→ The concepts of sociology are difficult to understand as they are abstract in nature.

Basic Concepts in Sociology:

1. Society
2. Social Role
3. Community
4. Social Norms
5. Social Group
6. Social Status

→ According to Aristotle, ‘man is a social animal’ and cannot live without society.

→ Man is subjected to some elemental and derived needs that can be satisfied within the societal framework.

→ The term ‘society’ is derived from the Latin word ‘socius’ meaning companionship or friendship.

→ ‘Society’ is a broad concept and is used frequently or in day-to-day life.

→ Society denotes an ‘ association’, ‘organization’ or ‘group’.

Characteristics of Society:

• Likeness
• Difference
• Interdependence
• Co-operation
• Normative Nature
• Dynamic

→ Maclver and Page stated that the community possesses a distinctively territorial character. It implies a common soil as well as shared way of life.

→ Community is referred to a group of people living in a definite territory to fulfil their common objectives and needs.

Community includes

• Sense of ‘we-feeling
• Common interdependent life
• Common interests
• Common area

Elements of Community:

1. Locality
2. Community Sentiment

→ The term social group is used to refer to the entire human group as well as it means a small group which consists of two individuals.

→ Human beings are social animals and hence have always lived in social groups.

Social group indicates:

1. Common characteristics
2. Number of people with same goals and expectations
3. Regular social interaction

Characteristics of Social Group:

1. Consists of two or more persons
2. Social interaction is essential
3. Mutual awareness
4. ‘We feeling’ among group
5. Purpose to fulfil certain common interest
6. Has its own norms and rules
7. Dynamic in nature

→ Through various classifications of groups given by sociologists one can understand the diverse nature of social groups.

Types of Social Group:

1. In Group and Out Group
2. Voluntary and Involuntary Group
3. Small and Large Group
4. Primary and Secondary Group

Characteristics of Primary Group:

• Physical Proximity
• Small group
• Relationship is an end in itself
• Permanent relationship
• Informal control
• Face-to- face relationship
• Similar objectives and goals

Characteristics of Secondary Group:

• Large size
• Indirect relations
• Impersonal relations
• Deliberate establishment
• Formal relations

→ The concept of Reference Group is given by Robert Merton.

→ People refer to reference group when evaluating:

• Qualities
• Circumstances
• attitude
• values
• behaviours

Reference Group:

• Informal Group: Family, peer group, etc.
• Formal Group: Labour Unions, Supreme court, etc.

→ Social status, social role and social norms are correlated concepts of every society.

→ Every individual has a certain status and performs their role according to the status (position) in society.

→ There are certain rules and regulations to control societal behaviour, which are known as social norms.

Social Status- One’s position or status according to prestige and power.

Types of Status:

1. Ascribed Status: Age, sex, kinship, race, etc.
2. Achieved Status: Politics, sports, skill, education, etc.

Social Role: One’s behavioural aspects of duties associated with status or position.

Role:

• Role performance
• Role exit
• Role conflict
• Role strain
• Role set

Status and role are complementary to each other. They are two sides of the same coin.

Social Norms – Norms make orders and severs individual as a guide for conduct.

Types of Norms:

1. Folkways
2. Mores
3. Law
   • Customary Law
   • Enacted Law