HOW SOCIETY IS ORGANIZED
Groups within Society
SOCIETY
• From the Latin word “socius” which
means “companion” and from the
French term “societas” meaning,
companionship.
• In general, society refers to “the web of
relationships and interactions among
human beings.” (society 2008)
Groups within society
Basic classification of groups within a society:
1. Primary and Secondary Groups
• Primary group: small group whose
members share intimate, personal and
lasting relationship.
family
childhood friends
close family friends
• Secondary Group: larger and less
personal, temporary rather than long
lasting and just based on interests and
activities. ..to a large extent therefore,
the concept of secondary groups
explain how modern society is
organized, and vice versa.
Primary and Secondary groups can be
contrasted in terms of the following aspects:
1. Size and quantity
In society, secondary group is more
than the primary.
2. Relationship and communications among
members
primary group is characterized by
personal, close and enduring relationship while
secondary are marked by informal, impersonal
and contractual relations (or lacks intimacy)
3. Goals and Membership
also called as “special interest groups”,
secondary groups are created for the
attainment of some specific interest or ends.
Secondary group is voluntary, that is, persons
are free to join or leave the membership.
4. Group structure and member’s statuses and
roles
in the case of secondary groups, the
various statuses and roles that members
assume are also established. Distinctions based
on class, caste, skin color, religion, ethnicity,
and the less rigid, unlike in most primary
group’s where one’s lineage, background,
traditions and custom do matter.
5. Influence to members and nature of group
control
primary group are marked by member’s
care, concern for each other and psychologically
comforting to the members. On the contrary,
secondary groups attachment and influence is
limited.
2. in-groups and out-groups
• in-group: group of people who show
loyalty and preferential treatment to
one another because they share
common interests, beliefs and
attitudes.
• out-groups: it is a social group towards
which a person feels dislike, disdain,
disagreement, unfriendliness,
opposition and disapproval –
sometimes, even hatred, contempt,
hostility, opposition or desire to
compete.
3. Reference Group
- is the social group that we use as a
standard of comparison for
ourselves regardless of whether or
not we are a part of that group
- a collection of people to which
people compare themselves,
basically for the purpose of self-
evaluation.
- we use reference group to assess
appropriateness, worth feelings,
behavior, role performance and
circumstances

4. Networks
In sociology, a social network is a series
or web of weak social ties involving
people or groups of individuals
connected to each other, such through
friendship, family, business
relationships, academic institutions,
religious organizations and socio-
political clubs.
Looking Back At Human Biocultural Neolithic Period
and Social Evolution • The term Neolithic is not
only limited to new stone-
Cultural Evolution working methods but also
new methods of food
Paleolithic Period production.
- Based on hunting, gathering, • Farming and stock raising
and fishing rather than stock also set the stage for
raising and farming profound alterations in
domestic and political
A. Subdivisions of Paleolithic Period economy centering on access
to land, water, and other
1. the long Lower Paleolithic basic resources, and for the
emergence of differences in
- -dominated by simple Oldowan
wealth and power.
tools, core biface tools and
• Without agriculture, the
simple flake tools
development of cities, states,
2. the brief Middle Paleolithic and empires could not have
occurred.
- enlarged and refined repertory
of core tools and flake points
3. the still briefer Upper Paleolithic
- enlarged and refined repertory
of blade tools and by specialized
ivory, bone and antler
implements and artifacts
Mesolithic Period
• The Mesolithic hunter achieved a
greater efficiency than did the
Paleolithic and was able to exploit a
wider range of animal and vegetable
food sources.
• Mesolithic people turned
increasingly to a broad spectrum of
plant foods and fish, mollusks, and
other riverine and maritime sources
of food
BECOMING A MEMBER OF THE SOCIETY
Enculturation and Socialization
Enculturation
 - the process by which
people learn the
requirements of their
surrounding culture and
acquire the values and
behavior appropriate or
necessary in that culture.
Socialization
 - refers to a lifelong
experience by which people
develop their human
potential and learn culture.
UNDERSTANDING SOCIALIZATION:
Agents of Socialization
FAMILY
 The first source through
which we commence our
social communication.
 It is with the aid of the family
that we become familiar with
social culture.
SCHOOL
 It has an explicit mandate to
socialize people in the
country and specially
children, into the norms and
values of our culture.
 Fulfils the function of
teaching children values and
customs of the larger society
PEER GROUP
 A group of people of
approximately the same age,
sharing similar interests and
probably belonging to similar
backgrounds.
MASS MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY
 It is the strongest and the
most argued indirect agent
of socialization.
 It sends across a multitude
idea without having any kind
of interpersonal
communication.
WORK PLACE
 a person meets people of
different age, groups and
belonging to different social
and cultural backgrounds.
 This makes him come in
close contact with different
thought processes, belief
systems, etc.
RELIGION
 It is a collection of cultural
systems, belief and
worldviews that relate
humanity to spirituality and
sometimes to moral values.
 Many religions have
narratives, symbols,
traditions and sacred
histories that are intended to
give meaning to life or to
explain the origin of life and
universe.
GOVERNMENT SOCIAL ORGANIZATION
 State or government is an
Roles – refer to the characteristic
indirect agent of
way of behaving of an individual
socialization.
according to his or her status.
 This means, though we do
not encounter the institution Status - defined by Max Weber as
directly, it does have an the esteem or “social honor” given
impact on our social life and to certain individuals or group.
well-being.
What will happen if citizens oppose
 The government sets rules
the norms, values, roles and even
and regulations which the
the status of the society?
people of state or country
need to follow and breach of
There will be a;
them often becomes not
Deviance –
only a moral wrong but a
 a behavior that elicits a
social wrong as well.
strong negative reaction
from group members and
involves actions that violate
NORMS AND VALUES:
commonly held social norms.
A Review
Norms - are formal understanding What happens when we follow the
that govern the behavior of set rules and regulations?
members of a society.
There will also be a;
Values - are the criteria people use
Conformity-
in assessing their daily lives which
 process of altering one`s
account for the stability of social
thoughts and actions to
order.
adapt to the accepted
Through the process of socialization, behavior.
the students learned that it is the
norm to greet their teacher. The
value from which this norm is
derived is RESPECT.
HUMAN DIGNITY, RIGHTS AND
COMMON GOOD

Human dignity- means that an

individual or group feels self-respect
and self-worth. It is concerned with
physical and psychological integrity
and empowerment.

Human rights - Rights inherent to all

human beings, regardless of race,
sex, nationality, ethnicity, language,
religion or any other status.

Common good- refers to either

what is shared and beneficial for all
or most members of a given
community.

Societies are organized around an

unequal division of labor and
decision-making.

Modern societies are expected to

provide protection, law and order,
economic security, and a sense of
belonging to their members.

Trying to understand how societies

organize themselves is the goal of
the SOCIAL SCIENCES.