Sociology For Every day Life
Module 1: Introduction to Sociology in Every day Life
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Sociology as a study of social interaction and its need in everyday
life
Role of Socialisation in establishing habits and practices (Action,
Thinking and Feeling)
Social Institution as established practices and customsDefinition and elements, Challenges and problems of everyday
life
What is Sociology?
• A dictionary defines sociology as the systematic study of society and social
interaction. The word “sociology” is derived from the Latin word socius (companion)
and the Greek word logos (Study), which together mean “study about
companionship”
• Auguste Comte is considered to be the father of sociology.
• Sociology is the science of social phenomena ‘subject to natural and invariable laws,
the discovery of which is the object of investigation’. —Auguste Comte
• ‘Sociology is a science which attempts the interpretative understanding of social
action in order thereby to arrive at a causal explanation of its course and effects.’ —
Max Weber
• ‘In the broadest sense, sociology is the study of human interactions and
interrelations, their conditions and consequences.’ —Morris Ginsberg
• Sociologists study all aspects and levels of society. Sociologists working from
the micro-level study small groups and individual interactions, while those
using macro-level analysis look at trends among and between large groups and
societies. For example, a micro-level study might look at the accepted rules of
conversation in various groups such as among teenagers or business professionals. In
contrast, a macro-level analysis might research the ways that language use has
changed over time or in social media outlets.
• In sociology, Social interaction is a dynamic sequence of social
actions between individuals (or groups) who modify their actions
and reactions due to actions by their interaction partner(s).
• Meaning: we ascribe to others’ actions, norms and values of
dominant culture.
• Dawson and Gettyes define Social Interaction as “it is a process by
which men interpenetrate the minds of each other”.
• According to Merrill, “Social-interaction is the general process
whereby two or more persons are in a meaningful contact, as a
result of which their behavior is modified however slightly.”
• According to Corkiness. “Social interaction is such a process which
influences the overt behavior or state of mind of the individuals.
Elements of Social
Interaction
• The following are the
elements of social
interaction:
• Two or more than two
persons
• Reciprocal relationship
among them
• Influence on the event,
behavior, brain of the
persons.
Forms of Social Interaction
Social
•Interaction between Two
Individuals
•Social Interaction between
Individual and Group
•Social Interaction between
Group and Group
•Social Interaction between
Individual and Culture
•
There are five common forms of social interaction— exchange, competition, conflict, cooperation, and
accommodation
EXCHANGE
• The most basic form of social interaction, exchange, is when individuals interact with one another to
receive a reward of some sort.It is assumed that most people perform social behaviours because they
can benefit from them in some way. We work for the reward of payment. We are friends with people
who we feel we can benefit from, whether emotionally, financially, or physically.
Eg: Most people will not surround themselves with people who they cannot benefit from in some way.
COOPERATION
• Cooperation is the process of two or more people working or acting together. Cooperation enables social
reality by laying the groundwork for social institutions, organizations, and the entire social system.
Without cooperation, no institution beyond the individual would develop; any group behavior is an
example of cooperation.
Eg: Cooperation in Politics
• Without cooperation, Congress would be unable to create any laws.
COMPETITION
• Competition is a contest between people or groups of people for control over resources. In this
definition, resources can have both literal and symbolic meaning. People can compete over tangible
resources like land, food, and mates, but also over intangible resources, such as social capital.
Competition is the opposite of cooperation and arises whenever two parties strive for a goal that cannot
be shared.
Eg: Cricket match between India and Pakistan
CONFLICT
• Conflict is when there is a clash between the personal interests of groups or
individuals. When groups or individuals fail to cooperate with one another in social
interaction and their desires do not overlap, conflict occurs.
• On a larger scale, conflict can result from the struggle for control of
resources. Conflict is an entirely common and natural part of human existence, as the
wants and needs of two individuals can never align perfectly. Conflict can occur for
other reasons, too.
• Eg: If in a social interaction, one party feels offended by the words or actions of
another, conflict can arise
ACCOMMODATION
• Accommodation is a sort of middle-ground between conflict and cooperation. You
could essentially think of accommodation as a compromise. When two parties
disagree (or have a conflict) and cannot come to an agreement, the next best option
is to compromise. This means that each party gives up something that they are
arguing for in order to be able to move forward. The result is that all parties get
something that they want, even if they don't get everything they want.
• Accommodation can take the form of a truce or mediation where the involved
parties work towards a solution.
•
Eg: A mother agreeing to buy her child an I Pad if she scores 90% in exams
Structuration Theory of Anthony Giddens
Structuration actually describes an action: ‘to structurate’ or “to do or
produce structure”
Social Interaction through Giddens’ theory of Structuration
• Agent - Structure Dualism: A group of theory views society from the point of
view that society determines the actions on an individual. The other theory
put emphasis on individual (agent) and that there are no structures that an
agent follows.
• Social Practice: Human agency: where the social actor is a rational actor who
has the ability to make decisions.
•
Reflexivity. This involves a self-consciousness on the part of the individual and
an ability to monitor the ongoing flow of social life and, at least sometimes,
take one’s understanding of this flow of social life into account when
considering appropriate action and deciding on a course of action.
•
Structure. These are the patterns in the social world that affect individuals
and are composed of rules, resources, and agency.
See notes for full answer.
The significance of Goffman’s work
ERVING GOFFMAN’S CONCEPT OF SOCIAL INTERACTION
• From a theoretical point of view Goffman criticises structuralist
theory of socialisation – Marxism for example argues that school
socialises children to passively accept authority and hierarchy thus
preparing them for exploitation in later life. What Goffman’s theory
suggests is that many children might just be acting out this
acceptance of hierarchy in order to get through school with as little
hassle as possible, while backstage they may think school is not
particularly important, and they may not accept authority.
• Concept of Dramaturgy
What: Theory by Erving Goffman, where he says life is like a theatre
where we are the actors.
How: In Day to Day interaction, we do nothing but carry out acting
Where: Presentation of self in everyday life (1956). For Goffmen, Self is
a dramatic effect as our ‘self’ depends on how we act infront of
others
Front Stage:
What we do in
front of others
Back stage:
When We are
alone and not
acting
Off Stage: Not
playing the role
For Goffman, a performer needs all these set of
skills
Belief
Front/ Mask
Realization
PERFORMER
Idealization
Maintenanc
eNo
Misrepresentation
Mystification
Role of Socialisation in establishing
habits and practices (Action, Thinking
and Feeling)
1. Nature of Socialization
2. Types of Socialization
3. Agents of Socialization
• What is Socialization?
• W H Ogburn says “ Socialization is a process by which
individual learns to conform to the norms of the group.
•
• Every Society prescribes its own ways and means of giving
social training to its new born members so that they may
develop their own personality.
• This Social training is called ‘Socialization’
• The process of socialization begins at birth. It is a
continuous process because social learning never ends.
However, childhood is the most important stage in the
process of socialization during which a child internalizes or
learns most of the values, beliefs, norms, attitudes and
behavior patterns of its family.
Three Goals of Socialization by Jeffrey J. Arnett
• First, socialization teaches impulse control and helps
individuals develop a conscience.
• Second, socialization teaches individuals how to prepare for
and perform certain social roles—occupational roles, gender
roles, and the roles of institutions such as marriage and
parenthood.
• Third, socialization cultivates shared sources of meaning and
value. Through socialization, people learn to identify what is
important and valued within a particular culture
George Herbert Mead’s four stages of socialization.
1. Preparatory stage/Imitation stage, children are only capable
of imitation: they have no ability to imagine how others see
things. They copy the actions of people with whom they
regularly interact, such as their mothers and fathers. A child’s
baby talk is a reflection of its inability to make an object of
itself through which it can approach itself.
2. Play stage, during which children begin to imitate and take on
roles that another person might have. Thus, children might try
on a parent’s point of view by acting out “grownup” behaviour,
like playing “dress up” and acting out the mom role, or talking
on a toy telephone the way they see their father do. However,
they are still not able to take on roles in a consistent and
coherent manner. Role play is very fluid and transitory, and
children flip in and out of roles easily
3. Game stage, children learn to consider several specific roles at the
same time and how those roles interact with each other. They learn
to understand interactions involving different people with a variety
of purposes. They understand that role play in each situation
involves following a consistent set of rules and expectations
4. Generalized other, the common behavioural expectations of general
society. By this stage of development, an individual is able to
internalize how he or she is viewed, not simply from the
perspective of specific others, but from the perspective of the
generalized other or “organized community.” Being able to guide
one’s actions according to the attitudes of the generalized other
provides the basis of having a “self” in the sociological sense. This
capacity defines the conditions of thinking, of language, and of
society itself as the organization of complex cooperative processes
and activities.
Types of socialization
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Conscious and unconscious socialization
Primary and Secondary socialization
Child and Adult Socialisation
Gender socialization
Extensive and Intensive Socialisation
Anticipatory Socialization and re-socialization
Developmental Socialization
Group Socialization
Primary and Secondary socialization
The primary needs are those which are in-born such as thirst and
hunger. Eg: Crying for mother’s attention
The secondary needs are, for example, the need for learning or to
work. Secondary needs are those which emerge, in the way, to
satisfy primary needs.
Child and Adult Socialization
As the individual becomes a member of different social groups and
institutions, it begins to learn new norms and values. For example,
when one joins school one has to learn the discipline of the school
and the role of a student. Later on, as an adult, one has to learn to
become a parent and to assume family responsibilities. When one
takes up an occupation and becomes a member of an occupational
group one has to learn the responsibilities and roles that are
implied in the membership of that particular group.
• Anticipatory socialization and Re-socialization:
Anticipatory socialization refers to the processes of
socialization in which a person “rehearses” for future
positions, occupations, and social relationships. Resocialization refers to the process of discarding former
behavior patterns and reflexes, accepting new ones as part
of a transition in one’s life. This occurs throughout the
human life cycle. Re-socialization can be an intense
experience, with the individual experiencing a sharp break
with his or her past, as well as a need to learn and be
exposed to radically different norms and values
Gender socialization:
• Gender socialization refers to the learning of behavior and
attitudes considered appropriate for a given sex. Boys learn
to be boys and girls learn to be girls. This “learning”
happens by way of many different agents of socialization.
• Parents plays a very significant role in gender socialization.
Sociologists have identified four ways in which parents
socialize gender roles in their children: Shaping gender
related attributes through toys and activities, differing their
interaction with children based on the sex of the child, and
communicating gender ideals and expectations.
Agents of socialization are groups of people or individuals that train new members
of society
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Family: The parents can be viewed as the socializing agents and the child as the
socialize. "Parents are usually the most potent socializing force working on the individual
in the early stages of childhood. Both consciously and unconsciously they push the child
in certain directions disposing him to learn in a particular way. Family inculcates
attitudes relating to proper behavior, decision-making and obedience to authority, etc
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School : Schools represent a conventional and deliberate effort by society to train and
socialize its young ones. Most Children spend one-fourth of their waking hours in school.
This underlines the importance of school in socializing a child. School not only impart
education but also norms and values. For example, Schools teach your children
sportsmanship when they participate in math/English competitions, even though it is
not explicit. Also, when children are grouped for project work, they learn the values of
cooperation and teamwork
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Peer group socialization begins in the earliest years, such as when kids on a playground
teach younger children the norms about taking turns, the rules of a game, or how to
shoot a basket. As children grow into teenagers, this process continues. Peer groups are
important to adolescents in a new way, as they begin to develop an identity separate
from their parents and exert independence. Eg:The interests of the peers can affect our
own interests in film, music, and other aspects of popular culture.
• Mass media: distribute impersonal information to a wide audience, via
television, newspapers, radio, and the Internet. With the average person
spending over four hours a day in front of the television and children
averaging even more screen time media greatly influence social norms.
• Religion: Difference in the socialization processes and practices is
noticeable among certain religious communities. As for example, the rites
and ceremonies, customs, dress, sometimes language and beliefs,
attitudes and values and the behavior patterns of Christians, Hindus, Sikhs
or Muslims are different.
• Community: The community provides a sense of identity to individuals
and helps to define what is right or wrong. Individuals belonging to same
community develops same pattern of lifestyles. Eg: The Mnaipuri dance is
different from the Bharatanatyam, Tamil Nadu. Each states in India has
different food habits and language
• Workplace, Government , Ethnicity, and Political parties are other types of
socialization agents.
Social Institution as established practices and
customs- Definition and elements, Challenges
and problems of everyday life
ELEMENTS OF SOCIAL INSTITUTION
• A group of people
• United by common interest
• Having material resources
• Having norms
• Fulfill some social need.
CHARACTERISTICS OF SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS
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Each institution performs two types of social function.
(a) primary functions, which are also called manifest, explicit, or
direct functions;
• (b) secondary functions, which are also called indirect, hidden, or
latent functions.
• Through these functions, social institutions fulfill important needs in
the society.
Challenges and problems established by social
institution practices and customs of everyday life
Institutions like religion, morality, state, government, law, legislation etc and they control
the behavour of men. The violation of such rules often results in condemnation and
prosecution
• Family : The family contributes to social inequality by reinforcing economic inequality
and by reinforcing patriarchy. The family can also be a source of conflict, including
physical violence and emotional cruelty, for its own members. The controlled nature
of family would put individuals to certain situation resulting to teen crimes, suicide,
confusion etc.
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Religion: Religious competition, superiority complex, inclination, discrimination and
persecution can lead to harmful effect and hatred towards other religion. Not only
might some individuals experience anxiety, depression, ore stress, some may be
victimized by acts of physical violence and communal riots.
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School: Differences in class, caste, ethnic, race and economic background can impact
the children in school environment. Divorce, single parents, poverty, health issues,
violence are some of the challenges students bring to school everyday. Problems like
apathy, tardiness, disrespect and absenteeism posed significant challenges for
teachers.
• Economy: Economy does not benefit all sector of society equally
resulting to income disparity and unequal distribution of goods and
resources. Economic institutions have decisive influence on
investments in physical and human capital, technology, and
industrial production resulting to inflation. Revenue declines owing
to impacts on natural assets, interruptions to supply chains or
temporary unemployment) and macroeconomic impacts (e.g., price
increases, increases in government debt, negative impact on stock
market prices and decline in GDP).
• State : Improper responsibility of a state can lead to failure of
education, healthcare, drinking water, basic infrastructure in both
rural and urban areas. State failure may result in political
disturbances ranging from minor political unrest to interstate war.
The consequences of state collapse include political unrest and
instability, civil war, conflict and state failure itself.