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Karnataka 1st PUC Sociology Question Bank Chapter 3 Social Process

You can Download Chapter 3 Social Process Questions and Answers, Notes, 1st PUC Sociology Question Bank with Answers Karnataka State Board Solutions help you to revise complete Syllabus and score more marks in your examinations.

1st PUC Sociology Social Process One Mark Questions and Answers

Question 1.
What is Social interaction?
Answer:
Social interaction is the foundation of society. It is very essence of social life.

Question 2.
What is social contact?
Answer:
Social contact means simply a coming together of independent units. It involves a mutual response, an inner adjustment of behavior to the actions of others.

Question 3.
What is Communication?
Answer:
Communication is the medium of interaction

Question 4.
Mention any one element of interaction.
Answer:
Contact and communication.

Question 5.
What is co-operation?
Answer:
Co-operation is one of the basic pervasive and continuous social process. It generally means “working together for the pursuit of the common goal”.

Question 6.
Mention any one feature of Co-operation.
Answer:

1. Co-operation is universal and continuous
2. Perception of common goals.

Question 7.
Mention any one form of Co-operation.
Answer:
Direct co-operation and Indirect Co-operation.

Question 8.
What is direct Co-operation?
Answer:
In the direct co-operation action the individuals involved to do the identical function. ,

Question 9.
What is indirect Co-operation?
Answer:
In this case people work individual for the attainment of a common end.

Question 10.
What is Competition?
Answer:
Competition is the most fundamental form of social struggle.

Question 11.
Mention any one form of competition.
Answer:
Social competition, economic competition etc.

Question 12.
Mention any one feature of Competition.
Answer:

1. Scarcity as a condition of competition
2. Competition and affluence.

Question 13.
State any one importance of Competition.
Answer:
Social Competition.

Question 14.
What is conflict?
Answer:
Conflict is an ever- present process in human relations.

Question 15.
State any one feature of conflict.
Answer:

1. Conflict is universal
2. Conflict is a conscious action.

Question 16.
Mention any one form of conflict.
Answer:
War, feud and factional strife, litigation, conflict of impersonal ideas.

Question 17.
” What is Feud?
Answer:
Feud is an extra group conflict. It may arise because of injustice alleged to have been done by one group to another.

Question 18.
What is litigation?
Answer:
Litigation is ajudicial form of conflict.

Question 19.
What is accommodation?
Answer:
Accommodation is one of the principal types of social processes.

Question 20.
Mention any one feature of accommodation.
Answer:

1. Accommodation is the natural result of Conflict
2. Accommodation is Universal.

Question 21.
Mention any one method of accommodation.
Answer:

1. Yielding to coercion
2. Compromise.

Question 22.
What is coercion?
Answer:
Coercion involves the use of force or the threat of force for making the weaker party to accept the conditions of agreement.

Question 23.
What is compromise?
Answer:
Compromise each party to the dispute makes some concessions and yield to some demand of the other.

Question 24.
What is sublimation?
Answer:
Adjustment by means of sublimation involves the substitution of non-aggressive attitudes and activities for aggressive ones.

Question 25.
What is assimilation?
Answer:
Assimilation is one of the types of interaction.

Question 26.
Mention any one characteristic of assimilation.
Answer:
Assimilation is not confined to single field only.

Question 27.
Mention any one factors that is favorable of assimilation.
Answer:
Intimate social relationships.

1st PUC Sociology Social Process Two Marks Questions and Answers

Question 1.
Mention any two types of communication.
Answer:
The two types of communication are:

1. Emotions,
2. Sentiments.

Question 2.
What is social processes?
Answer:
Social interaction is the foundation of society. It is the very essential of social life.

Question 3.
Mention any two types of social process.
Answer:
Co-operation, competition, conflict, accommodation and assimilation.

Question 4.
How is the term ‘Co-operative’ derived.
Answer:
The term co-operation is derived from the Latin word ‘co’ meaning ‘together’ and ‘operari’ meaning to work.

Question 5.
Mention two types of Co-operation.
Answer:
Direct co-operation and indirect co-operation.

Question 6.
Mention two advantages of Co-operation.
Answer:

1. Co-operation helps society to achieve progress
2. Co-operation provides solutions for many international problems and disputes.

Question 7.
What is competition.
Answer:
According to Biesanz and Biesanz: “ Competition is the string of two or more persons for the same goal which is limited so that all cannot share”.

Question 8.
Mention any two types of competition.
Answer:

1. Social competition
2. Economic competition
3. Political competition
4. Cultural competition.

Question 9.
Mention any two functions of competition.
Answer:

1. Source of motivation
2. Assigns statuses to the individuals
3. Provides for new experience
4. Provides for social mobility.

Question 10.
What is conflict?
Answer:
According to A.W. Green “ Conflict is the deliberate attempt to oppose, resist or coerce the will of another or others”.

Question 11.
Mention Simmel’s foul types of conflict.
Answer:

1. War
2. Feud and factional strife
3. Litigation
4. Conflict of impersonal ideas.

Question 12.
What is accommodation?
Answer:
According to Ogburn and Nimkoff: “Accommodation is a term used by the sociologists to describe the adjustment of hostile individuals or groups”

Question 13.
Mention any two types of accommodation.
Answer:

1. Yielding to coercion
2. Compromise
3. The role of third party in compromise
4. Toleration.

Question 14.
What is rationalization?
Answer:
This involves excuses or explanations for ones’ behavior. One is not prepared to acknowledge one’s failures or defects for it may indicate guilt or the need for change.

Question 15.
What is assimilation?
Answer:
According to Young and Mack: “Assimilation is the fusion or blending of two previously distinct groups into one”.

Question 16.
Mention any two features of assimilation.
Answer:

1. Assimilation is not confined to single field only
2. Assimilation is a slow and gradual process

Question 17.
Mention any two factors that is favorable of assimilation.
Answer:

1. Toleration
2. Intimate social relationships
3. Amalgamation or intermarriage.
4. Culture similarity.

1st PUC Sociology Social Process Five Marks Questions and Answers

Question 1.
What is Social interaction? Explain the conditions of social interaction?
Answer:
Social interaction is the foundation of society. It is the very essence of social life. Hence, the concept is crucial to any study of the dynamics of society and culture without interaction there would be no group life. Thus, it can be said that interaction is the basic social process, the broadest term for describing dynamic social relationships. Social interaction represents the dynamic nature of human society. It is true the life is stable, confined and defined by traditional systems, norms and patterned ways.

Life is dynamic. People are on the move they are striving, competing, conflicting, Co-operation, appeasing, adjusting, reconciling and then challenging again. This action element or functional element itself represents social interaction Direct and Symbolic interaction Interaction may be direct or symbolic. Direct interaction refers to the activities of person which may be seen in such conduct as pushing fighting, pulling, embracing dishing or in other forms of bodily contact with other gestures and language, spoken or written.

A symbol is a summary of experience. It may represent an object, act, quality, value idea or any expected response. Language is the rich storehouse of such symbols. The centre nature of interaction is inter stimulated and response. One stimulates the actions, thoughts or emotions of another persons and response to the similar behavior of the others. Interaction increases mental activity, fosters comparison of ideas, sets new tasks, accelerates and discovers the potentialities of the individual.

According to N. P. Gish “Social interaction is the reciprocal influence human begins exert on each other through inter stimulation and response”. According to Dawson and Gettys: “Social interaction is a process where by men interpenetrate the minds of each other”.

Question 2.
What is social processes? Explain.
Answer:
According to Maclver and Page: “Social processes is the manner in which the relationship of the members of a group, once brought together, acquire a distinctive character”.

According to A. W. Green: The social processes are merely the characteristics ways in which interaction occurs”.
The society’ is a system of social relationship. We may witness such relationship between father and son, employer and employee, teacher and student, merchant and customer, leader and follower or between friends and enemies, between children etc., socialogy must analyze and classify social relationship because they represent social fact and social data.

Social relationship represents the functional aspects of society. Analyzing and classifying social relationship is a difficult task. Social relationship involve reciprocal obligations. It refers to a pattern of interaction between these individuals thus social relationships may be studied by the kind or mode of interaction. It exhibit kinds of interaction are called social processes. Social processes are the fundamental ways in which men interact and establish relationships.

Types of Social processes:

There are five types of social process.
Social interaction assumes different forms, Cooperation, competition, conflict, accommodation and assimilation are very necessary social interactions.

Question 3.
Describe the two fold classified of Co-operation.
Answer:
Types of Co-operation:
The types of co-operation can be discussed in the following ways:

1. Direct Co-operation: In the direct cooperation action the individual involved to do the identical function. Ex. Playing together worshiping together, tilling the field together, taking out a cut from the mud, etc., people do work in company with other members, performance of a common task with joint efforts brings them social satisfaction.

2. Indirect Co-operation: In this case people work individually for the attainment of a common end. People do tasks towards a similar end. This is based on the principle of division of labor and specialization. For ex. Farmers, spinners, weavers, dyers, tailors are different and engaged in different activities. But their end remains the same, that of producing clothes. The modem technological age requires specialization of skill and functions, hence it depends on Co-operation.

Sociologi st have also spoken of three other types of Co-operation, namely Primary Co¬operation Secondary Co-operation and tertiary Co-operation. These types are witnessed in primary groups, secondary groups and between two or more groups respectively.

Question 4.
Co-operation has becomes an inseparable aspects of our modern social life? Explain
Answer:
The importance of Co-operation are:

1. Co-operation is universal and continuous: It is a form of social process is not only universal but also continuous. Co-operation makes possible same understanding and adjustment between individuals and groups without which social life is impossible. Co-operation is hailed as the very basis of the communication life of men.

2. Perception of common goals: Individual indulging in Co-operative interaction are aware of some goals. The goal may be winning a victory in a battle, winning a hockey match, students making a combined study and so on perception of a common goal often draws people together.

3. Collective work for common rewards: Co-operation involves combined or collective efforts, rewards are normally shared by them, for example the reward may be match victory or profit shared in an Industry.

4. Co-operation is not necessarily unselfish: It is generally believed to be unselfish, but men may also find that their selfish goals are best served by working together with their fellows. Groups may Co-Operate for self-advancement as in the case of a monopoly or mutual protection, or for the welfare of all groups of people.

5. Essential conditions of Co-operation: According to Young and Marck Co-operation takes under some conditions. They are as follows. Firstly, Co-operation requires a motivation to seek a goal. Secondly, people must have some knowledge of the benefits of Co-operative activity. This requires some kind of education and must have a favorable attitude towards sharing both the work and the rewards involved.

6. Psychological qualities necessary for the developing Co-operative attitudes: Co-operation requires sympathy and identification, Sympathy depends upon the capacity of the individual to imagine himself in the place of another, particular when the other person is in difficulties. Mutual aid is another name for Co-operation. Co-operation is possible only when there is like mindedness. Similarity of purpose, mutual awareness, mutual understanding, mutual helpfulness and selfless attitudes.

Question 5.
What is competition? Explain its major types.
Answer:
Competition plays an important role in social life. Competition performs a number of useful functions in society.
The major types are:

(a) Social Competition: People always compete to get into higher status and position, Competition of this kind is mostly observed in ‘open’ societies. Wherever individual ability, merit, talents and capacities are recognized.

(b) Economic Competition: The most important and at the same time the most vigorous forms of Competition is the economic Competition. It is witnessed in the processes of production, distribution and consumption of goods

(c) Political Competition: In the modern world Competition for political power is always present. Political parties are always engage in Competition to secure power. Such a Competition becomes apparent especially during elections.

(d) Cultural competition: Some sociologists have also spoken of cultural competition. It may take place between two or more cultural groups. Human history provides various example of such a Competition.

(e) Racial competition: Competition may also take place between racial groups such as the Blacks and the Whites, Aryans and Dravidians etc.

Question 6.
Describe the characteristics of Co-operation.
Answer:
The nature of Co-operations are:

1. Co-operation is universal and continuous: It is a form of social process is not only universal but also continuous. Co-operation makes possible same understanding and adjustment between individuals and groups without which social life is impossible, Co-operation is hailed as the very basis of the communication life of men.

2. Perception of common goals: Individual indulging in Co-operative interaction are aware of some goals. The goal may be winning a victory in a battle, winning a hockey match, students making a combined study and soon perception of a common goal often draws people together.

3. Collective work for common rewards: Co-operation involves combined or collective efforts, rewards are normally shared by them, for example the reward may match the victory or profit shared in an Industry.

4. Co-operation is not necessarily unselfish: It is generally believed to be unselfish, but men may also find that their selfish goals are best served by working together with their fellows. Groups may Co-Operate for self-advancement as in the case of a monopoly or mutual protection, or for the welfare of all groups.

5. Essential conditions of Co-operation: According to Young and Marck Co-operation takes under some conditions. They are as follows. Firstly, Co-operation requires a motivation to seek a goal. Secondly, people must have some knowledge of the benefits of Co-operative activity. This requires some kind of education and must have a favorable attitude towards sharing both the work and the rewards involved.

6. Psychological qualities necessary for the developing Co-operative attitudes: Co-operation requires sympathy and identification, Sympathy depends upon the capacity of the individual to imagine himself in the place of another, particular when the other person is in difficulties. Mutual aid is another name for Co-operation. Co-operation is possible only when there is like mindedness. Similarity of purpose, mutual awareness, mutual understanding, mutual helpfulness and selfless attitudes.

Types of Co-operation:

The types of co-operation can be discussed in the following ways:

1. Direct Co-operation: In the direct cooperation action the individual involved to do the identical function. Ex. Playing together worshiping together, tilling the field together, taking out a cut from the mud, etc., people do work in company with other members, performance of a common task with joint efforts brings them social satisfaction.

2. Indirect Co-operation: In this case people work individually for the attainment of a common end. People do tasks towards a similar end. This is based on the principle of division of labor and specialization. For ex. Farmers, spinners, weavers, dyers, tailors are different and engaged in different activities. But their end remains the Same, that of producing clothes. The modem technological age requires specialization of skill and functions, hence it depends on Co-operation.

Sociologist have also spoken of three other types of Co-operation, namely primary Co-operation Secondary Co-operation and tertiary Co-operation. These types are witnessed in primary groups, secondary groups and between two or more groups respectively.

Question 7.
Explain functions of competition.
Answer:
Importance or function of competition:
Competition plays an important role in social life. Competition performs a number of useful functions in society. Some of them may be noted here

1. Source of motivation: Competition is a source of motivation for the individuals. It makes the individual to show his ability and express the talent. It increases individual efficiency. Assigns statuses to the individuals: Competition assigns individuals their respective place in the social system. Social status and competition are always associated Some people complete with others to retains their status, other complete to enhance their status.

2. Provides for new experiences: As Ogburn and Nimkoff has pointed the individuals better opportunities to satisfy their desires for new experiences and recognition. As far as the group is concerned Competition means experimental charge.

3. Competition contributes to Socio-economic progress: Fair Competition is conducive to economic as well as social progress. It even contributes to general welfare because it spurns individuals and groups on to exert their best efforts. When the Competition is directed to promote the general interests of community as a whole, it can bring about miraculous results.

4. Provides for social mobility: As far as the individual is concerned. Competition implies mobility and freedom. The spirit of Competition helps the individual to improve his social status.

Question 8.
Competition has become an separable aspect of our life? Explain.
Answer:
Competition has become an separable aspect of our life in following ways:

1. Scarcity as a condition of competition: Wherever there are community desired goods and services, there is Competition. In fact, economics starts with its fundamental proposition that while human wants are unlimited the resources that can satisfy these wants are strictly limited. Hence people complete for the possession of these limited resources. As Hamilton pointed out Competition is necessitated by “a population of insatiable wants and a world of stubborn and inadequate resources”.

2. Competition and affluence: Competition may be found even in circumstances of abundance or affluence. In a time of full employment, Competition may take place for the status of the top class. There is Competition not only for food, shelter and other basic needs but also for luxuries, power, name, fame, social position, mates and so on.

3. Competition is Universal: Modem civilized society is marked by the Phenomenon of Competition. Competition is covering almost all the areas of customers, lawyers for clients, doctors for patients, students for ranks or distinctions, athletes and sportsmen for trophies, political parties for power, no society can be said to be exclusively Competition or co-operative.

4. Competition is continuous: Competition is continuous. It is found virtually in every area of social activity and social interaction. Particularly Competition for status, wealth and fame is always present in almost all societies.

5. Competition is dynamic: It stimulates the achievement and contributes to social change to higher level. A college student who completes with others to get selected to the college cricket team. After becoming successful may later struggle to get selected to the University cricket team, to the state team to the national team and so on.

6. Competition is always governed by norms: Competition is not limitless nor is it unregulated. There is no such things as ‘unrestricted competition’ such a phrase I contradiction in terms. Moral norms or legal rules always govern and control competition competitors are expected to use ‘fair tactics’ and not ‘cut-throat devices’.

7. Competition may be unconscious also: Competition may take place on an unconscious level. Many times individuals engaged in Competition are not always aware of the fact that they are in a Competitive race.

8. Competition may be constructive or destructive: Competition may be healthy or unhealthy. If one of the two or more competitor tries to win only at the expense of the others, it is destructive. Sometimes, big industrialists or businessmen to become virtually bankrupt. But constructive competition is mutually stimulating and helpful. It contributes to the welfare of all at large.

9. Competition may be personal or impersonal: Competition is normally directed towards a goal and not against any individual. Sometimes, it takes place without a actual knowledge of other’s existence. Ex. It is impersonal as in the case of civil service examination in which the contestants are not even aware of one another’s identity. Competition may

also be personal as when two individuals contest for election to an office. As competition becomes more personal., it leads to rivalry and shades into conflict. Competition in the social world is largely impersonal. The individual may be vaguely aware of, but has no personal contact with other competitors.

Question 9.
Explian Simmel’s typology of conflict.
Answer:
George Simmel has distinguished four types of conflict
(a) war
(b) feud or rational strife
(c) litigation
(d) conflict of impersonal ideas.

(a) War: According to Simmel war represents a deep seated antagonistic impulse in men. But to bring out this impulse into action some define objectives is needed. The objective may be the desire to gain material interests.

(b) Feud and factional strife: This is an intra-group conflict. It may arise because of injustice alleged to have been done by one group to another.

(c) Litigation: Litigation is a judicial form of conflict. It is a judicial struggle by an individual or group to protect right to possessions. This kind of conflict is more objectives in nature.

(d) Conflict of impersonal ideas: This is a conflict carried on by the individuals not for themselves but for an ideal. In such a conflict each party attempts to justify truthfulness of its own ideas. For ex, the communists and Capitalists carry on conflicts to prove that their own system can bring in a better world order.

Question 10.
Explain the characteristics of accommodation.
Answer:
According to Ogburn and Nimkoff: “Accommodation is a term used by the sociologists to describe the adj ustment of hostile individuals or groups”. Maclver says that “the term Accommodation refers particularly to the process in which man attains a sense of harmony with his environment.

Characteristics of Accommodation:

1. Accommodation is the natural result of Conflict: Since conflicts cannot take place continuously they involved in conflict do not relish the sense of conflict they sit down for it settlement. Such settlements temporary or permanent may be called “Accommodation” in the absence of conflict the question of arriving at accommodation does not arise.

2. Accommodation may be a conscious or an unconscious: Man’s adjustment with the social environment is mostly unconscious. From birth to death man to be behave in conformity with the normative order. The new bom individual learns to accommodate himself with the social order which is dedicated by various norms such as customs, morals, traditions etc. Thus, unconsciously the new bom individual accommodation himself with his family, caste or race, neighborhood. Life is full of such unconscious accommodative activities.

3. Accommodation is Universal: Accommodation as a ‘condition’ and as a ‘process’ is universal. Human society is composed to antagonistic elements and hence conflicts are inevitable. Since no society becomes necessary. Thus accommodation is found in all societies and in all fields of social fife.

4.  Accommodation is continuous: The process of accommodation is not confined to any particular stage in the life of an individual It is not limited to any fixed social situation also. On the contrary, throughout the life one has to accommodate oneself with various situations, further, as and when conflicts take place sooner or later accommodation would follow not only the individuals but also the groups within the society are obliged to accommodate among themselves.

5. The effects of accommodation may vary with the circumstances: It may act to reduce the conflict between persons or groups as an initial step towards assimilation. It may serve to postpone outright conflict for a specific period of time, as in a treaty between nations or labor.

Management agreement. It may permit groups marked by sharp social-psychological distance to get along together. It may prove to be beneficial for the parties involved in it. Sometimes it may help the superior or more powerful party to party to impose it on the weaker party.

Question 11.
Describe the role of the third party of compromise.
Answer:
The role of third party in compromise:

1. Arbitration: When the contending parties themselves are not able to resolve their differences they may resort to arbitration. Arbitration is a device for bringing about compromise in which a third party tries to bring about an end to the conflict. Here the decision of the third party is binding on both the parties. Labour management disputes, some political disputes are often resolved in this way.

2. Mediation: Mediation is more a kin to arbitration. This involves the introduction into the conflict of a neutral agent whose efforts are directed towards bringing about a peaceful settlements. But the mediator has no power to settle the conflict as but the mediator has no power to settle the conflict as such for his decisions are not binding on the parties.

3. Conciliation: Closely related to compromise is conciliation. This is an attempt to persuade the disputants to develop friendship and come to an agreement. Conciliation has been used in industrial, racial and religious struggles. Conciliation implies a milder response to an opponent than coercion. In the end conciliation, like toleration opens the door to assimilation.

4. Toleration: It is another form of accommodation in which the conflict are avoided rather than settled or resolved. Toleration is an outgrowth of the “live and let-live” policy. It is a form of accommodation without formal agreements. Here there is no settlements of difference but there is only the avoidance of over conflict. Each group tries to bear with the others. The groups realized that their differences are irreconcilable. Hence they decided to coexist with their differences. Racial groups castes political parties wedded to mutually opposite ideologies.

5. Conversion: This form of accommodation involves a sudden rejection of one’s beliefs, convictions and loyalties context to refer to one’s conversion into some other religion. This concept is now used in the literary, artistic, economic and political fields.

6. Sublimation: Adjustments by means of sublimation involves the substitution of non- aggressive attitudes and activates for aggressive ones. It may take place at the individual as well as at the group level. The method suggested by Gandhij i and most of the religious prophets to conquer violence and hatred by non-violence, love and compassion is that of sublimation.

7. Rationalization: This involves excuses or explanations for one’s behavior. One is not prepared to acknowledge one’s failure or defects for its may indicate guilt or the need for change. Hence one blames other for one’s own fault. By ascribing one’s failure to others instead of accepting one’s own defects, one can retain self-respect.

Question 12.
Mention Gillin typology of accommodation.
Answer:
Methods of Accommodations:
Accommodation arrangements between groups or individuals take variety of forms, Gillin and Gillin have mentioned. They are:

1. Yielding to coercion: Coercion involves the use of force or the threat of force for making the weaker party to accept the conditions of agreement. This can take place when the parties are of unequal strength in wars the victorious nation imposes its will on the vanquished. Various political dictatorship are also instances of coercive accommodation in which a strong minority group which seizes political power imposes its will on the masses.

2. Compromise: When the contending parties are almost equal in power they attain accommodation by means of compromise. In compromise each party to the dispute makes some concessions dnd yields to some demand of the other. The “all or nothing” attitudes gives way to willingness to give up certain points in order to gain others. Certain international agreements and management labour agreements on wages, hours of work are example of compromise.

The role of third party in compromise:

1. Arbitration: When the contending parties themselves are not able to resolve their differences they may resort to arbitration. Arbitration is a device for bringing about compromise in which a third party tries to bring about an end to the conflict. Here the decision of the third party is binding on both the parties. Labour management disputes some political disputes are often resolved in this way.

2. Mediation: Mediation is more a kin to arbitration. This involves the introduction into the conflict of a neutral agent whose efforts are directed towards bringing about a peaceful settlements. But the mediator has no power to settle the conflict as but the mediator has no power to settle the conflict as such for his decisions are not binding on the parties.

3. Conciliation: Closely related to compromise is conciliation. This is an attempt to persuade the disputants to develop friendship and come to an agreement. Conciliation has been used in industrial, racial and religious struggles. Conciliation implies a milder response to an opponent than coercion. In the end conciliation, like toleration opens the door to assimilation.

Question 13.
Examine the characteristics of assimilation?
Answer:
According to Young and Mack: “Assimilation is the fusion or blending of two previously distinct groups into One”.
Characteristics of Assimilation:

1. Assimilation is not confined to single field only: The term assimilation is generally applied to explain the fusion of two distinct cultural group. Thus, it is an universal process. The process occur in every walks of Human life ex: social, economic, political, art, music, agriculture, food and dress, habit etc. But this process is by no means limited to any single field. In the religious field, assimilation may take place when an individual or a group of individuals or a particular religious background get converted into some other religious sect or group. As a process assimilation encompasses life in general.

2. Assimilation is a slow and gradual process: Assimilation cannot take place all of a sudden it takes. Fusion of personalities and groups usually takes time. It occurs only when there is relatively continuous and direct contact. The speed of the process of assimilation depends on the nature of contacts. If the contacts are primary then assimilation occurs naturally and rapid. On the contrary, if the contracts are. Secondary assimilation takes place very slowly. The formation of American Culture due to the assimilation of British, Scottish, German and other European Cultures also has taken several decades and centuries.

3. Assimilation is an unconscious process: In the process of assimilation the individual or group is usually unconscious of what is taking place. Mostly it occurs in an unconscious manner individual and groups discard cultural heritage and substitute it with the new one.

4. Assimilation is a two-way process: Assimilation involves the principle of give and take. It is normally preceded by another process called ‘acculturation’Acculturation is a preliminary and necessary step towards assimilation. It takes place when one cultural group which is in contact with another borrows from it certain cultural elements and incorporate them into its own culture. Contact between two groups essentially affects into its own culture. Contac between two groups essentially affects both. Usually the culturally ‘weaker’ group borrows must of the trails from the culturally ‘stronger’ group.

Question 14.
Explain the factors that is favorable of assimilation.
Answer:
Factors Favoring Assimilation:

1. Toleration: Assimilation is possible only when individual and groups are tolerated towards cultural differences of others. Tolerance helps people to comet ether, to develop contacts and to participate in common social and cultural activities. on the majority group or the dominant group itself is secure.

2. Intimate social relationships: Assimilation is the final product of social contacts. The relative speed in which it is achieved depends on the nature of the contacts. It takes place naturally in primary groups such as family and friendship groups.

3. Amalgamation or intermarriage: It is an effective favoring assimilation process. It does not combine two opposite sexes but also two different families, castes, religious and regional groups together. A factor which helps complete assimilation is amalgamation

4. which refers to the intermarriage of different groups without biological amalgamation complete assimilation is not possible. Mere inter mixture of the groups to a limited degree does not guarantee assimilation but intermarriage or amalgamation must be accepted in the mores and become a part of the institutional; structure, before assimilation exists.

Cultural similarity: If there are striking similarities between them an constituents of cultures of groups assimilation is quick to take place. In America, for example English

1. speaking protestants are assimilated with greater aped than non-Christians who do not speak English;

2. Education: Education is another conductive factor for assimilation. For immigrant people public education has played a prominent role in providing culture contact. Maurice R Davis has pointed out in his “world immigration” that in American public schools has been playing the vital role in the process of Americanizing the children of foreign born parents.

3. Equal Social and economic opportunity: Public education alone is not enough. People of all groups must have equal access to socio-economic opportunities. Only then, they can come closer and establish relations among themselves with mutual trust. As it has been observed in the case of America, full assimilation is possible only when full participation in social, cultural and economic life is allowed. Assimilation is a two way process when it happens between two culture groups. Each group contributing varying proportions of the eventual blend.

Question 15.
Explain three levels of assimilation?
Answer:
Forms of assimilation
The process of assimilation takes place mainly at three levels:

• Individual level
• Group level
• Culture level.

1. Individual level: A social individual when enters or joins a new patterns of different cultural patterns, he or she has to adopt new patterns of values, habits, customs and beliefs of the other group in order to be fully accepted by new group. In course of time, he or she becomes assimilated into the second group. An Indian woman after marriage starts with dissimilar backgrounds and develops a surprising unity of infests and identifies herself with the family of her husband. The tendency is to conform to other’s behaviors pattern and differences in the time may largely disappear.

2. Group level: When two groups with dissimilar patterns of behavior come in close contact, they inevitably affect each other. In this process, it is generally seen that the weaker group would do more of the borrowing from and would give very little to stronger group. For instance, when we came in contact with Britishers, being a weaker group, we have adopted many cultural elements of Britishers but they have adopted many cultural elements from Indian society. The adoption of elements of dominant cultural paves the way for

total absorption., if not checked, of the new culture group with the dominant culture.

3. Cultural level: When two cultures merge to produce a third culture which, while somewhat distinct, has features of both merging cultures. In western countries to some extent, rural and urban cultures which were radically different are, with rapidly increasing communication, merging as differences continue to disappear although they still exist.

Question 16.
Explain the types of assimilation?
Answer:
Forms of assimilation The process of assimilation takes place mainly at three levels:

• Individual level
• Group level
• Culture level.

Individual level: A social individual when enters or joins a new patterns of different cultural patterns, he or she has to adopt new patterns of values, habits, customs and beliefs of the other group in order to be fully accepted by new group. In course of time, he or she becomes assimilated into the second group. An Indian woman after marriage starts with dissimilar backgrounds and develops a surprising unity of interests and identifies herself with the family of her husband. The tendency is to conform to other’s behaviors pattern and differences in the time may largely disappear.

Group level: When two groups with dissimilar patterns of behavior come in close contact, they inevitably affect each other. In this process, it is generally seen that the weaker group would do more of the borrowing from and would give very little to stronger group. For instance, when we came in contact with Britishers, being a weaker group, we have adopted many cultural elements of Britishers but they have adopted many cultural elements from Indian society. The adoption of elements of dominant cultural paves the way for total absorption, if not checked, of the new culture group with the dominant culture.

Cultural level: When two cultures merge to produce a third culture which, while somewhat distinct, has features of both merging cultures. In western countries to some extent, rural and urban cultures which were radically different are, with rapidly increasing communication, merging as differences continue to disappear although they still exist.

1st PUC Sociology Social Process Ten Marks Questions and Answers

Question 1.
What is Social Interaction? Explain its elements?
Answer:
Social interaction is the foundation of society. It is the very essence of social life. Hence, the concept is crucial to any study of the dynamics of society. And nature without interaction there would be no group life. Thus, it can be said that interaction is the basic social process, the broadest term for describing dynamic social relationships. Social interaction represents the dynamic nature of human society.

It is true the life is stable, confined and defined by traditional systems, norms and patterned ways. Life is dynamic. People are on the move they are striving, competing, conflicting, Co-operation, appeasing, adjusting, reconciling and then challenging again. This action element or functional element itself represents social interaction

Direct and Symbolic interaction: Interaction may be direct or symbolic. Direct interaction refers to the activities of person which may be seen in such conduct as pushing fighting, pulling, embracing dishing or in other forms of bodily contact with other gestures and language, spoken one written. A symbol is a summary of the experience. It may represent an object, act, quality, value idea or any expected response. Language is the rich storehouse of such symbols.

The centre nature of interaction is inter stimulated and response. One stimulates the actions, thoughts or emotions of another persons and response to the similar behavior of the others. Interaction increases mental activity, fosters comparison of ideas, sets new tasks, accelerates and discovers the potentialities of the individual.

According to N. P. Gish “Social interaction is the reciprocal influence human begins to exert on each other through inter stimulation and response”. According to Dawson and Gettys: “Social interaction is a process where by men interpenetrate the minds of each other”. Two conditions of Interaction: Park and Burgess are of the opinion that Contact and Communication are the two main condition of social interaction.

Contact: It is the first stage of interaction. Contact means simply a coming together of independent units. It involves a mutual response, an inner adjustment of behavior to the actions of others. The two kinds of contact are: 1) Contact in time 2) Contact in space. The first one refers to contact of a group with the earlier generations through customs, traditions, folkways, morals etc. The second one refers to the relationship between contemporary individuals and groups within a particular area. The contacts may be primary and personal or secondary and impersonal in nature.

Communication: It is the medium of interaction. In communication one person infers from the behavior of another the idea or feeling of the other person. It may take place at three levels-through the sense, the emotions and the sentiments and ideas. The first two are called the natural forms of communication.

They are common to man and the animals on the sensory level, seeing* hearing, smelling and touching all play a role in evoking responses on the emotional level such thing as facial expression, blushing and laughing arouse response, communication on the third level, taking place through the intellect is strictly limited to men.

Direct and Symbolic interaction:
Interaction may be direct or symbolic. Direct interaction refers to the activities of person which may be seen in such conduct as pushing fighting, pulling, embracing dishing or in other forms of bodily contact with other gestures and language, spoken or written. A symbol is a summary of experience. It may represent an object, act, quality, value idea or any expected response. Language is the rich storehouse of such symbols.

The centre nature of interaction is inter stimulated and response. One stimulates the actions, thoughts or emotions of another persons and response to the similar behavior of the others. Interaction increases mental activity, fosters comparison of ideas, sets new tasks, accelerates and discovers the potentialities of the individual.

Question 2.
What are the social processes? Explain?
Answer:
The society is a system of social relationship. We may witness such relationship between father and son, employer and employee, teacher and student, merchant and customer, leader and follower or between friends and enemies, between children, etc., socialogy must analyze and classify social relationship because they represent social fact and social data.

Social relationship represents the functional aspects of society. Analyzing and classifying social relationship is a difficult task. Social relationship involve reciprocal obligations. It refers to a pattern of interaction between these individuals thus social relationships may be studied by the kind or mode of interaction. It exhibit kinds of interaction are called social processes.

Social processes are the fundamental ways in which men interact and establish relationships. According to Maclver and Page:” Social processes is the manner in which the relationship of the members of a group, once brought together, acquire a distinctive character”According to A. W. Green: The social processes are merely the characteristics ways in which interaction occurs”

Types of Social processes: Social processes refers to the kinds or types of social interaction. Social interaction assumes different forms, Cooperation, competition, conflict, accommodation and assimilation are very necessary social interactions. These five types social interaction or social processes may be deeply analyzed here.

Question 3.
Describe the nature and importance of co-operation?
Answer:
Co-operation is one of the basic pervasive and continuous social process. It is very basic of .men’s social existence. Co-operation generally means “working together for the pursuit of the common goal”.
According to Merrill and Eldredge: “Co-operation is a form of Social interaction wherein two or more persons work together to gain a common end”.

The nature of Co-operation are:

Co-operation is universal and continuous: It is a form of social process is not only universal but also continuous. Co-operation makes possible same understanding and adjustment between individuals and groups without which social life is impossible. Co-operation is hailed as the very basis of the communication life of men.

Perception of common goals: Individual indulging in Co-operative interaction are aware of some goals. The goal may be winning a victory in a battle, winning a hockey match, students making a combined study and so on perception of a common goal often draws people together.

Collective work for common rewards: Co-operation involves combined or collective efforts, rewards are normally shared by them, for example the reward may be match victory or profit shared in an Industry.

Co-operation is not necessarily unselfish: It is generally believed to be unselfish, but men may also find that their selfish goals are best served by working together with their fellows. Groups may Co-Operate for self-advancement as in the case of a monopoly or mutual protection, or for the welfare of all groups.

Essential conditions of Co-operation: According to Young and Marck Co-operation takes under some conditions. They are as follows. Firstly, Co-operation requires a motivation to seek a goal. Secondly, people must have some knowledge of the benefits of Co-operative activity. This requires some kind of education and must have a favorable attitude towards sharing both the work and the rewards involved.

Psychological qualities necessary for the developing Co-operative attitudes: Co-operation requires sympathy and identification, Sympathy depends upon the capacity of the individual to imagine himself in the place of another, particular when the other person is in difficulties, Mutual aid is another name for Co-operation. Co-operation is possible only when there is like mindedness. Similarity of purpose, mutual awareness, mutual understanding, mutual helpfulness and selfless attitudes.

The types of co-operation can be discussed in the following ways:

Direct Co-operation: In the direct cooperation action the individual involved to do the identical function. Ex. Playing together worshiping together, tilling the field together, taking out a cut from the mud, etc., people do work in company with other members, performance of a common task with joint efforts brings them social satisfaction.

Indirect Co-operation: In this case people work individually for the attainment of a common end. People do tasks towards a similar end. This is based on the principle of division of labor and specialization. For ex. Farmers, spinners, weavers, dyers, tailors are different and engaged in different activities. But their end remains the same, that of producing clothes. The modern technological age requires specialization of skill and functions, hence it depends on Co-operation.

Sociologist have also spoken of three other types of Co-operation, namely primary Co-operation Secondary Co-operation and tertiary Co-operation. These types are witnessed in primary groups, secondary groups and between two or more groups respectively.

Question 4.
Analyze the nature and importance of Competition.
Answer:
The characteristics of Competition are:

Scarcity as a condition of competition: Wherever there are community desired goods and services, there is Competition. In fact, economics starts with its fundamental proposition that while human wants are unlimited the resources that can satisfy these wants are strictly limited. Hence people complete for the possession of these limited resources. As Hamilton pointed out Competition is necessitated by “a population of insatiable wants and a world of stubborn and inadequate resources”.

Competition and affluence: Competition may be found even in circumstances of abundance or affluence. In a time of full employment, Competition may take place for the status of the top class. There is Competition not only for food, shelter and other basic needs but also for luxuries, power, name, fame, social position, mates and so on.

Competition is Universal: Modem civilized society is marked by the Phenomenon of Competition. Competition is covering almost all the areas of customers, lawyers for clients, doctors for patients, students for ranks or distinctions, athletes and sportsmen for trophies, political parties for power, no society can be said to be exclusively Competition or co-operative.

Competition is continuous: Competition is continuous. It is found virtually in every area of social activity and social interaction. Particularly Competition for status, wealth and fame is always present in almost all societies.

Competition is dynamic: It stimulates the achievement and contributes to social change to higher level. A college student who completes with others to get selected to the college cricket team. After becoming successful may later struggle to get selected to the University cricket team, to the state team to the national team and so on.

Competition is always governed by norms: Competition is not limitless nor is it unregulated. There is no such things as ‘unrestricted competition’ such a phrase is contradiction in terms. Moral norms or legal rules always govern and control competition competitors are expected to use ‘fair tactics’ and not ‘cut-throat devices’.

Competition may be unconscious also: Competition may take place on an unconscious level. Many times individuals engaged in Competition are not always aware of the fact that they are in a Competitive race.

Competition may be constructive or destructive: Competition may be healthy or unhealthy. If one of the two or more competitor tries to win only at the expense of the others, it is destructive. Sometimes, big industrialists or businessmen to become virtually bankrupt. But constructive competition is mutually stimulating and helpful. It contributes to the welfare of all at large.

Competition may be personal or impersonal: Competition is normally directed towards a goal and not against any individual. Sometimes, it takes place without a actual knowledge of other’s existence. Ex. It is impersonal as in the case of civil service examination in which the contestants are not even aware of one another’s identity. Competition may also be personal as when two individuals contest for election to an office. As competition becomes more personal., it leads to rivalry and shades into conflict. Competition in the social world is largely impersonal. The individual may be vaguely aware of, but has no personal contact with other competitors.

Importance or function of competition:
Competition plays an important role in social life. Competition performs a number of useful functions in society. Some of them may be noted here

Source of motivation: Competition is a source of motivation for the individuals. It makes the individual to show his ability and express the talent. It increases individual efficiency.

Assigns statuses to the individuals: Competition assigns individuals their respective place in the social system. Social status and competition are always associated. Some people complete with others to retains their status, other complete to enhance their status.

Provides for new experiences: As Ogbum and Nimkoff has pointed the individuals better opportunities to satisfy their desires for new experiences and recognition. As far as the group is concerned Competition means experimental charge.

Competition contributes to Socio-economic progress: Fair Competition is conductive to economic as well as social progress. It even contributes to general welfare because it spurns individuals and groups on to exert their best efforts. When the Competition is directed to promote the general interests of community as a whole, it can bring about miraculous results.

Provides for social mobility: As far as the individual is concerned. Competition implies mobility and freedom. The spirit of Competition helps the individual to improve his social status.

Question 5.
Examine the nature and type of conflict.
Answer:
The characteristics of Conflict:

Conflict is Universal: Conflict or cash of interests is Universal in nature. It is present in almost all the societies. In some societies conflict may be very acute and vigorous while in some others. It may be very mild. Karl marx, Frederich Engels, Saint Simon and others have emphasized the role of conflict as a fundamental factor in the social life of man.

Karl Marx, the architect of communism, has said that “The history of the hitherto existing human society is nothing but the history of the class struggle.” He has mentioned the capitalists and the labourers as belonging to two distinct social classes which have mutually opposite interests.

Conflict is a conscious action: Individual and group who are involved in Conflict are aware of the fact that they are Conflicting As Park and Burgess have pointed out conflict is always conscious and evokes the deepest emotions and stronger passions.

Conflict is personalized by competition: When competition is personalized it leads to conflict. In the struggle to overcome the other person or group, the goal is temporarily related to a level of secondary importance.

Conflict is not continuous but intermittent: Conflict never takes place continuously. It takes place occasionally. No society can sustain itself in a state of continuous Conflict.

Conflict is conditioned by culture: Conflict is affected by the nature of the group and its particular culture. The objects of Conflicts maybe property, power and status, freedom of action and thought, or any other highly desired value when the stability of a political order is threatened, political Conflict may be the result. If sectarianism is ripe, we may expect Conflict to occur in region. The culturally determined values of a society will set the stage for this struggles.

Conflict and norms: Not only culture modifies conflict and its forms but also controls and governs it. When conflict is infrequent and when no adequate techniques have been worked out, more violent and unpredictable sorts at Conflict such as race, riots arise.

Frustration and insecurity promote Conflict: Sometimes, factors like frustration and insecurity promote Conflicts within the same society, individual feel frustrated if they are thoroughly disturbed in their attempts to reach their goals. These goals may be desire for power, position, prestige, status, wealth, money etc.

insecurities like economic crisis, unemployment, the fear of deprivation of love and affection may add to the frustration. In extreme case of this sort one may even lose mental balance or even commit suicide. A society marked by widespread insecurity is one in which Conflict is potential.

Types of conflict:

George Simmel has distinguished four types of conflict (a) war (b) feud or rational strife (c) litigation (d) conflict of impersonal ideas.

War: According to Simmel war represents a deep seated antagonistic impulse in men. But to bring out this impulse into action some define objectives is needed. The objective may be the desire to gain material interests.

Feud and factional strife: This is an intra-group conflict. It may arise because of injustice alleged to have been done by one group to another.

Litigation: Litigation is a judicial form of conflict. It is ajudicial struggle by an individual or group to protect right to possessions. This kind of conflict is more objectives in nature.

Conflict of impersonal ideas: This is a conflict carried on by the individuals not for themselves but for an ideal. In such a conflict each party attempts to justify truthfulness of its own ideas. For ex, the communists and Capitalists carry on conflicts to prove that their own system can bring in a better world order.

Question 6.
What is accommodation? What are the methods of accommodation? Explain.
Answer:
According to Ogbum and Nimkoff: “Accommodation is a term used by the sociologists to describe the adjustment of hostile individuals or groups”.
Maclver says that “the term Accommodation refers particularly to the process in which man attains a sense of harmony with his environment.

Characteristics of Accommodation:

Accommodation is the natural result of Conflict: Since conflicts cannot take place continuously they involved in conflict do not relish the sense of conflict they sit down for it settlement. Such settlements temporary or permanent may be called “Accommodation” in the absence of conflict the question of arriving at accommodation does not arise.

Accommodation may be a conscious or an unconscious: Man’s adjustment with the social environment is mostly unconscious. From birth to death man to be behave in conformity with the normative order. The new born individual learns to accommodate himself with the social order which is dedicated by various norms such as customs, morals, traditions etc. Thus, unconsciously the new bom individual accommodation himself with his family, caste or race, neighborhood. Life is full of such unconscious accommodative activities

Accommodation is Universal: Accommodation as a ‘condition’ and as a ‘process’ is universal. Human society is composed to antagonistic elements and hence conflicts are inevitable. Since no society becomes necessary. Thus accommodation is found in all societies and in all fields of social life.

Accommodation is continuous: The process of accommodation is not confined to any particular stage in the life of an individual. It is not limited to any fixed social situation also. On the contrary, throughout the life one has to accommodate oneself with various situations, further, as and when conflicts take place sooner or later accommodation would follow not only the individuals but also the groups within the society are obliged to accommodate among themselves.

The effects of accommodation may vary with the circumstances: It may act to reduce the conflict between persons or groups as an initial step towards assimilation. It may serve to postpone outright conflict for a specific period of time, as in a treaty between nations or labor.

Management agreement. It may permit groups marked by sharp social-psychological distance to get along together. It may prove to be beneficial for the parties involved in it. Sometimes it may help the superior or more powerful party to party to impose it on the weaker party

Methods of Accommodations:
Accommodation arrangements between groups or individuals take variety of forms, Gillin and Gillin have mentioned. They are:

Yielding to coercion: Coercion involves the use of force or the threat of force for making the weaker party to accept the conditions of agreement. This can take place when the parties are of unequal strength in wars the victorious nation imposes its will on the vanquished. Various political dictatorship are also instances of coercive accommodation in which a strong minority group which seizes political power imposes its will on the masses.

Compromise: When the contending parties are almost equal in power they attain accommodation by means of compromise. In compromise each party to the dispute makes some concessions and yields to some demand of the other. The “all or nothing” attitudes gives way to willingness to give up certain points in order to gain others. Certain international agreements and management labour agreements on wages, hours of work are example of compromise.

The role of third party in compromise:

Arbitration: When the contending parties themselves are not able to resolve their differences they may resort to arbitration. Arbitration is a device for bringing about compromise in which a third party tries to bring about an end to the conflict. Here the decision of the third party is binding on both the parties. Labour management disputes some political disputes are often resolved in this way.

Mediation: Mediation is more akin to arbitration. This involves the introduction into the conflict of a neutral agent whose efforts are directed towards bringing about a peaceful settlement. But the mediator has no power to settle the conflict as but the mediator has no power to settle the conflict as such for his decisions are not binding on the parties.

Conciliation: Closely related to compromise is conciliation. This is an attempt to persuade the disputants to develop friendship and come to an agreement. Conciliation has been used in industrial, racial and religious struggles. Conciliation implies a milder response to an opponent than coercion. In the end conciliation, like toleration opens the door to assimilation.

Toleration: It is another form of accommodation in which the conflict are avoided rather than settled or resolved. Toleration is an outgrowth of the “live and let-live” policy. It is a form of accommodation without formal agreements. Here there is no settlements of difference but there is only the avoidance of over conflict. Each group tries to bear with the others. The groups realized that their differences are irreconcilable. Hence they decided to coexist with their differences. Racial groups castes political parties wedded to mutually opposite ideologies.

Conversion: this form of accommodation involves a sudden rejection of one’s beliefs, convictions and loyalties context to refer to one’s conversion into some other religion. This concept is now used in the literary, artistic, economic and political fields.

Sublimation: Adjustments by means of sublimation involves the substitution of non- aggressive attitudes and activates for aggressive ones. It may take place at the individual as well as at the group level. The method suggested by Gandhiji and most of the religious prophets to conquer violence and hatred by non-violence, love and compassion is that of sublimation.

Rationalization: This involves excuses or explanations for one’s behavior. One is not prepared to acknowledge one’s failure or defects for its may indicate guilt or the need for change. Hence one blames other for one’s own fault. By ascribing one’s failure to others instead of accepting one’s own defects, one can retain self-respect.

Question 7.
Analyse the nature and factors that favorable of assimilation.
Answer:
According to Young and Mack: “Assimilation is the fusion or blending of two previously distinct
groups into one”.
Characteristics of Assimilation:

Assimilation is not confined to single field only: The term assimilation is generally applied to explain the fusion of two distinct cultural group. Thus, it is an universal process. The process occurs in every walks of Human life ex: social, economic, political, art, music, agriculture, food and dress, habit etc. But this process is by notifications limited to any single field. In the religious field, assimilation may take place when an individual or a group of individuals or a particular religious background get converted into some other religious sect or group. As a process assimilation encompasses life in general.

Assimilation is a slow and gradual process: Assimilation cannot take place all of a sudden it takes. Fusion of personalities and groups usually takes time. It occurs only when there is relatively continuous and direct contact. The speed of the process of assimilation depends on the nature of contacts. If the contacts are primary then assimilation occurs naturally and rapid. On the contrary, if the contracts are Secondary assimilation takes place very slowly. The formation of American Culture due to the assimilation of British, Scottish, German and other European Cultures also has taken several decades and centuries.

Assimilation is an unconscious process: In the process of assimilation the individual or group is usually unconscious of what is taking place. Mostly it occurs in an unconscious manner individual and groups discard cultural heritage and substitute it with the new one.

Assimilation is a two-way process: Assimilation involves the principle of give and take. It is normally preceded by another process called ‘acculturation’ Acculturation is a preliminary and necessary step towards assimilation. It takes place when one cultural group which is in contact with another borrows from it certain cultural elements and incorporate them into its own culture. Contact between two groups essentially affects into its own culture. Contact between two groups essentially affects both. Usually the culturally ‘weaker’ group borrows must of the trails from the culturally ‘stronger’ group.

Factors Favoring Assimilation:

Toleration: assimilation is possible only when individual and groups are tolerated towards cultural differences of others. Tolerance helps people to come together, to develop contacts and to participate in common social and cultural activities. When the majority group or the dominant group itself is secure.

Intimate social relationships: Assimilation is the final product of social contacts. The relative speed in which it is achieved depends on the nature of the contacts. It takes place naturally in primary groups such as family and friendship groups.

Amalgamation or intermarriage: It is an effective favoring assimilation process. It does not combine two opposite sexes but also two different families, castes, religious and regional groups together. A factor which helps complete assimilation is amalgamation which refers to the intermarriage of different groups without biological amalgamation complete assimilation is not possible.

Mere intermixture of the groups to a limited degree does not guarantee assimilation but intermarriage or amalgamation must be accepted in the mores and become a part of the institutional; structure, before assimilation exists.

Cultural similarity: If there are striking similarities between them an constituents of cultures of groups assimilation is quick to take place. In America, for example English – speaking protestants are assimilated with greater aped than non-Christians who do not speak English.

Education: Education is another conductive factor for assimilation. For immigrant people public education has played a prominent role in providing culture contact. Maurice R Davis has pointed out in his “world immigration” that in American public schools has been playing the vital role in the process of Americanizing the children of foreign born parents.

Equal Social and economic opportunity: Public education alone is not enough. People of all groups must have equal access to socio-economic opportunities. Only then, they can come closer and establish relations among themselves with mutual trust. As it has been observed in the case of America, full assimilation is possible only when full participation in social, cultural and economic life is allowed.

Assimilation is a two way process when it happens between two culture groups. Each group contributing varying proportions of the eventual blend.
Forms of assimilation The process of assimilation takes place mainly at three levels:

• Individual level
• Group level
• Culture level.

Individual level: A social individual when enters or joins a new patterns of different cultural patterns, he or she has to adopt new patterns of values, habits, customs and beliefs of the other group in order to be fully accepted by new group. In course of time, he or she becomes assimilated into the second group. An Indian woman after marriage starts with dissimilar backgrounds and develops a surprising unity of interests and identifies herself with the family of her husband. The tendency is to conform to other’s behaviors pattern and differences in the time may largely disappear.

Group level: When two groups with dissimilar patterns of behavior come in close contact, – they inevitably affect each other. In this process, it is generally seen that the weaker group would do more of the borrowing from and would give very little to a stronger group. For instance, when we came in contact with Britishers, being a weaker group, we have adopted many cultural elements of Britishers but they have adopted many cultural elements from Indian society. The adoption of elements of dominant cultural paves the way for total absorption, if not checked, of the new culture group with the dominant culture.

Cultural level: When two cultures merge to produce a third culture which, while somewhat distinct, has features of both merging cultures. In western countries to some extent, rural and urban cultures which were radically different are, with rapidly increasing communication, merging as differences continue to disappear although they still exist.

Question 8.
Explain the process of assimilation at individual level.
Answer:
According to Young and Mack: “Assimilation is the fusion or blending of two previously distinct groups into one”.
Individual level: A social individual when enters or joins a new patterns of different cultural patterns, he or she has to adopt new patterns of values, habits, customs and beliefs of the other group in order to be fully accepted by new group. In course of time, he or she becomes assimilated into the second group.

An Indian woman after marriage starts with dissimilar backgrounds and develops a surprising unity of inrests and identifies herself with the family of her husband. The tendency is to conform to other’s behaviors pattern and differences in the time may largely disappear.

Question 9.
Explain the process of assimilation at group level?
Answer:
According to Young and Mack: “Assimilation is the fusion or blending of two previously distinct groups into one”.
Group level: When two groups with dissimilar patterns of behavior come in close contact, they inevitably affect each other. In this process, it is generally seen that the weaker group would do more of the borrowing from and would give very little to stronger group.

For instance, when we came in contact with Britishers, being a weaker group, we have adopted many cultural elements of Britishers but they have adopted many cultural elements from Indian – society. The adoption of elements of dominant cultural paves the way for total absorption, if not checked, of the new culture group with the dominant culture.

Question 10.
Explain the process of assimilation at cultural level.
Answer:
Characteristics of Assimilation:
Assimilation is not confined to single field only: The term assimilation is generally applied to explain the fusion of two distinct cultural group. Thus, it is an universal process. The process occur in every walks of Human life ex: social, economic, political, art, music, agriculture, food and dress, habit etc.

But this process is by no means limited to any single field. In the religious field, assimilation may take place when an individual or a group of individuals or a particular religious background get converted into some other religious sect or group. As a process assimilation encompasses life in general.

Assimilation is a slow and gradual process: Assimilation cannot take place all of a sudden it takes. Fusion of personalities and groups usually takes time. It occurs only when there is relatively continuous and direct contact. The speed of the process of assimilation depends on the nature of contacts.

If the contacts are primary then assimilation occurs naturally and rapid. On the contrary, if the contracts are Secondary assimilation takes place very slowly. The formation of American Culture due to the assimilation of British, Scottish, German and other European Cultures also has taken several decades and centuries.

Assimilation is an unconscious process: In the process of assimilation the individual or group is usually unconscious of what is taking place. Mostly it occurs in an unconscious manner individual and groups discard cultural heritage and substitute it with the new one.

Assimilation is a two-way process: Assimilation involves the principle of give and take. It is normally preceded by another process called acculturation is a preliminary and necessary step towards assimilation. It takes place when one cultural group which is in contact with another borrows from it certain cultural elements and incorporate them into its own culture. Contact between two groups essentially affects into its own culture. Contact between two groups essentially affects both. Usually the culturally ‘weaker’ group borrows must of the trails from the culturally ‘stronger’ group.

According to Young and Mack: “Assimilation is the fusion or blending of two previously distinct groups into one”.

SociaAy Frothy
Cultural level: When two cultures merge to produce a third culture which, while somewhat distinct, has features of both merging cultures. In western countries to some extent, rural and urban cultures which were radically different are, with rapidly increasing communication, merging as differences continue to disappear although they still exist.

Question 11.
Explain the cause of conflict.
Answer:
The characteristics of Conflict:
Conflict is Universal: Conflict or cash of interests is Universal in nature. It is present in almost all the societies. In some societies conflict may be very acute and vigorous „ while in some others. It may be very mild. Karl marx, Frederich Engels, Saint Simon and others have emphasized the role of conflict as a fundamental factor in the social life of man.

Karl Marx, the architect of communism, has said that “The history of the hitherto existing human society is nothing but the history of the class struggle.” He has mentioned the capitalists and the labourers as belonging to two distinct social classes which have mutually opposite interests,

Conflict is a conscious action: Individual and group who are involved in Conflict are aware of the fact that they are Conflicting As Park and Burgess have pointed out conflict is always conscious and evokes the deepest emotions and stronger passions.

Conflict is personalized by competition: When competition is personalized it leads to conflict. In the struggle to overcome the other person or group, the goal is temporarily related to a level of secondary importance.

Conflict is not continuous but intermittent: Conflict never takes place continuously. It takes place occasionally. No society can sustain itself in a state of continuous Conflict.

Conflict is conditioned by culture: Conflict is affected by the nature of the group and its particular culture. The objects of Conflicts may be property, power and status, freedom of action and though, or any other highly desired value when the stability of a political order is threatened, political Conflict may be the result. If sectarianism is ripe, we may ’ The causes of Conflict:

There are many other causes of conflict, which may be briefly stated as under:

Individual differences: No men are alike in their nature, attitudes, ideals, opinions and interests. These differences lead them to some or the other sort of conflict to fulfill their individual interest. Because of these differences, they fail to accommodate themselves with each other.

Cultural differences: Culture differs from society to society and also group to group. These differences, sometimes cause tension and lead to conflict. The religious differences have often led to wars and persecution in history. In India, often, communal conflicts broke out which are the results of religious differences.

Clash of interests: The interests of different people or groups occasionally clash. For example, the interests of workers clash with those of the employers which leads to conflict in the form of strike, bandh or dharma etc. among them. ‘

Social change: All parts of society do not change with the same speed. This causes Tag’ in the parts which may cause of generations is the result of such social changes.

Question 12.
Explain the role of conflict?
Answer:
Role of conflict: Conflict has always captured the attention of the people and the society. As other forms of social interaction, it has both positive and negative effects. Conflict both terminates and commences to serve the interests of man in society. Cooley maintained “Conflict of some sort is the life of society, and progress emerges from a struggle in which each individual, class or institutions seeks to realize its own ideals of good”.

Lewis A. Coser, in his work “The functions of conflict”, has also analyzed the role of conflict in promoting unity in detail. Thus, the above discussion about the role of conflict may be summed up as given below, Conflict determines the status of the individual in the social organization. Rivalry, war and other forms of personal struggle determine superiority and subordination of men and groups.

Conflict is not always an unmitigated evil everywhere as it is generally assumed. It is a chief role in the development and spread of culture.
Conflict may eventuate-in the peace through victory of one contestant over others.

Conflict helps to define social issues and brings about a new equilibrium of contending, forces. It may lead to the working out of non-violent techniques for resolved at least for a time.

Conflict keeps groups alert to members ‘ interests. Conflict generates new norm and new institutions. It happens mostly in economic and technological realms. Economic historians often have pointed out that much technological improvement has resulted from the conflict activity of trade unions.

Conflict within and between bureaucratic structures provides means of avoiding the ossification and ritualism which threatens their form of organization.

Conflict leads not only to over-changing relations within the existing social structure, but the total system undergoes transformation through conflict. Conflict between vested interests and the new strata and groups demanding share of power, wealth and status have proved to be productive of vitality.

Karnataka 1st PUC Sociology Question Bank Chapter 2 Basic Concepts

You can Download Chapter 2 Basic Concepts Questions and Answers, Notes, 1st PUC Sociology Question Bank with Answers Karnataka State Board Solutions help you to revise complete Syllabus and score more marks in your examinations.

1st PUC Sociology Basic Concepts One Mark Questions and Answers

Question 1.
Who was the first person to say “Man is social animal”?
Answer:
Aristotle was the first person to say “Man is social animal”.

Question 2.
How is the term society derived?
Answer:
The term Society is derived from Latin word ’Socius’ which means “companionship or friendship’

Question 3.
What does the web of social relations symbolises?
Answer:
The reciprocal contact between two or more persons. Social relationships have a wide range.

Question 4.
What is co-operation?
Answer:
The mutual co-operation between male and female is essential for the reproduction of human race and lead to the growth of culture and civilization.

Question 5.
Give one example for community.
Answer:
Caste community, Lingnistic community.

Question 6.
What is locality?
Answer:
Locality means Geographical area.

Question 7.
What is association?
Answer:
According to Maclver and Page “An association is an organisation deliberately formed for the collective pursuit of some interest or a set of interests, which its members share”.

Question 8.
Give one example for association.
Answer:
Political parties, trade union, student union, rotary clubs, lion club, professional association etc

Question 9.
What is an institution?
Answer:
According to Kingsley Denis “ Institution is a set of interwover of folkways, mores and laws built around one or more functions”.
According to Maclver and Page “Institutions may be defined as the “Established forms or conditions of procedure characteristics of group activity”.

Question 10.
Give one example for institution
Answer:
Family, marriage, education, religion, school college etc.

Question 11.
Give an example for primary institutions.
Answer:
Religious, Morality, Family kinship, Marriage etc.

Question 12.
Give an example for secondary institutions?
Answer:
Education, Law, Legislation etc.

Question 13.
Give an example for evolved institutions?
Answer:
Family, Marriage.

Question 14.
What is social groups?
Answer:
Marshal Jones is of the opinion that a social group is ‘two or more people between whom there is an established pattern of interaction’.

Question 15.
Who classified the social groups into “in-groups” and “out-groups”?
Answer:
W.GSumner classified the social groups into in-groups and out-groups.

Question 16.
Who introduced the term primary groups.
Answer:
C. H. Cooley introduced the term primary groups.

Question 17.
Who classified groups into “Gemeinschaft” and “Geselleschaft”?
Answer:
German Sociologist Ferdinand Tonnies classified groups into Gemeinschaft and Geselleshaft.

Question 18.
Give an example of gemeinschaft
Answer:
The family kin group. Neighborhood, the rural Community, the friend group represent the gemeinschaft.

Question 19.
Give an example of gaselleschaft.
Answer:
Business contract, legal pacts between individuals represent the geselleschaft relationships, Business companies, corporations, cities, towns, etc.

Question 20.
Who classified groups into voluntary and involuntary groups?
Answer:
C.H. Cooley. Classified groups into voluntary and involuntary groups.

Question 21.
Who classified groups into horizontal and vertical groups?
Answer:
American sociologist PA Sorokin

Question 22.
Give an example of vertical group.
Answer:
Economic classes, (upper, middle and lower classes) and caste group.

Question 23.
Who classified groups into territorial and non-territorial groups.
Answer:
American sociologist Park and Burgess.

Question 24.
Give an example of organized groups.
Answer:
College, University, Bank, Hospital, Club etc.

Question 25.
Give an example of unorganized groups.
Answer:
Mob, audience, spectators, group, public etc

Question 26.
Who introduced the concept of social control?
Answer:
E.A. Ross introduced the concept of social control.

Question 27.
Who wrote the book of social control?
Answer:
E.A. Ross. Written the book of social control.

Question 28.
Give an example of formal control.
Answer:
Laws and legislation, courts, police Jail, armed force, Bureaucracy etc.

Question 29.
Give an example of informal control.
Answer:
Folkways, mores, customs, morality etc.

Question 30.
Who introduced the concept of folkways?
Answer:
W. G. Sumner introduced the concept of folkways.

Question 31.
What is a folkway?
Answer:
According to Land burg says that the “Folkways are the typical or habitual beliefs, attitudes and style of conduct observed within a group or community”.

Question 32.
Give an example of folkways?
Answer:
The ways of eating, talking, dressing, playing, walking, greeting, conversing, expressing love and affection etc.

Question 33.
What is more?
Answer:
According to Maclver and Page. “When the folkways have added to them conceptions of group welfare, standards of right and wrong they are converted into morals”

Question 34.
What is law?
Answer:
According to J.S. Roucek “Laws are a form of social rule emanating from political agencies”

Question 35.
What do you mean by Food gathering and hunting society?
Answer:
Hunting and food gathering societies, characterised by small number of people, gaming their livelihood from hunting, fishing, and gathering of edible plants.

Question 36.
Give a feature of agrarian society.
Answer:
Agrarians societies based on small rural communities without towns or cities. Lively hood gained through agriculture, often supplemented by hunting and gathering it was ruled by a chief and inequalities exited among themselves”.

Question 37.
Define Patrol society.
Answer:
Size of this society ranges from five hundred people to many thousand depends on the tending of domesticated animals for their subsistence.

Question 38.
Light a feature of traditional society.
Answer:

1. Traditional societies are large in size.
2. This society is based on agriculture.

Question 39.
Define first world societies.
Answer:
“Companionship or friendship”.

Question 40.
What do you mean by second world societies?
Answer:
It refers to the social nature of man, companionship thus means sociability.

Question 41.
Write a feature of developing societies.
Answer:
These societies existed from 18“ century to the present day.

Question 42.
Name any one country that comes under new industrialized country.
Answer:
America comes under new industrialized country.

Question 43.
Who introduced the concept of the consciousness of kind?
Answer:
F H Giddings introduced the concept of consciousness of kind.

1st PUC Sociology Basic Concepts Two Marks Questions and Answers

Question 1.
What is basic concept?
Answer:
“A word or set of words that expresses a general idea concerning with the nature of something or the relations between things” is called basic concepts.

Question 2.
Define society.
Answer:
According to Maclver and Page “Society is the web of social relationship” According to G. D. M. Cole “Society is a complex of organised association and institutions within the community”.

Question 3.
What is division of labor?
Answer:
The division of labor depends on peoples interest, ability, sex, and age etc. Due to division of labor in various fields task are performed more efficiently. In modem society, skilled and specialized persons have more importance”.

Question 4.
What do you mean by principles of likeness?
Answer:
The principle of “Likeness” is essential for society. It exists among the people who have similarities with regards to their needs, works, aims, ideals, values and so on.

Question 5.
What do you mean by principles of differences?
Answer:
It refers to the physical, mental and social differences found among people. Likeness and differences are like the two faces of the same coin.

Question 6.
Why society is called dynamic?
Answer:
Society is not static it is dynamic. Society is like water in a stream or river that ever flows. It is always in flux. Old men die and new ones born.

Question 7.
Mention any two characteristics of society.
Answer:

1. Society is the group of groups
2. Society is a web of Social Relations
3. Similarity or Likeness
4. Differences in Society.

Question 8.
Define community.
Answer:
According to Kingsly Devis “Community is the smallest territorial group that can embrace all aspects of social life”
According to E.S. Bagardus: “Community is a Social Group with some degree of “we feeling” and living in a given area”.

Question 9.
What are two essential elements of community?
Answer:

1. Locality or Geographical area
2. Community Sentiment
3. Stability or Relative Permanence
4. Naturalness.

Question 10.
What is community sentiment?
Answer:
Community sentiment is “a feeling of belongingness towards” or “a kind of conscious identification with the local group.

Question 11.
What is tribal community?
Answer:
Tribal community consist of mostly Indigenous people living far away from the area of influence of civilisation. It constitutes a group speaking a common dialect inhabiting in a common area and following a common culture.

Question 12.
What is rural community?
Answer:
Rural community consist of people living in village and depending mainly on agriculture and • allied occupations. Rural community is homogeneous in nature relatively smaller in size and has a dominance of primary relations.

Question 13.
What is urban community?
Answer:
Urban community consist of people living in towns and cities and depending mainly on non- agricultural occupations. This is heterogeneous in nature, relatively bigger in size and has a dominance of non- intimate or secondary relations.

Question 14.
Define association?
Answer:
According to Maclver and Page “An association is an organization deliberately formed for the collective pursuit of some interest or a set of interests, which its members share”.

Question 15.
Mention any two characteristics of association?
Answer:

1. Association-A Human group
2. Specific Interest
3. Co-Operative Spirit
4. Organized Group.

Question 16.
Define institution.
Answer:
Kingsley Devis says “Institution is a set of interwoven of folkways, mores and laws built around one or more functions”.
According to Maclver and page “Institutions may be defined as the “established forms or conditions of procedure characteristics of group activity”.

Question 17.
Mention any two characteristics of institution?
Answer:

1. Universal
2. Institutions are Standardized Norms
3. Institutions are Controlling Mechanism
4. Abstract in Nature.

Question 18.
What is primary institution?
Answer:
Primary institutions are those that cater to the primary needs of man.
Ex: Religion, Morality.

Question 19.
What is secondary institution?
Answer:
Secondary institutions are those that cater to the secondary needs of people.
Ex: Education, Law.

Question 20.
Mention any two characteristics of social groups.
Answer:

1. Collection of Interacting Individuals
2. Sense of Group Unity and Solidarity.

Question 21.
Define social groups.
Answer:
According to Marshal Jones opinion that a social group is two or more people between I whom there is an established pattern of interaction.

Question 22.
What is in-group?
Answer:
In group is one to which an individual belongs, or feels that he belongs.

Question 23.
What is out-group?
Answer:
Outgroup is one to which an individual does not belong or feels that he does not belong, in a
particular context. Ex. Religious group, cast group.

Question 24.
What is primary group?
Answer:
C.H. Cooley classified groups into primary group refers to a “social groups characterized by fact-to-face relationship, mutual aid and companionship” example family neighborhood, friends, club, peer groups etc.

Question 25.
What is secondary group?
Answer:
According to Ogburn and Nimkoff say that “Groups which provide experience lacking in intimacy can be called secondary groups”. Ex. Schools and Colleges.

Question 26.
What is voluntary group?
Answer:
Voluntary groups are those whose membership is not compulsory. Individuals have the freedom to join or not to join them.
Example: Political parties, Recreational clubs, Cultural associations, Sports clubs, Rotary club etc.

Question 27.
What is organized group?
Answer:
Organized groups are also called associationaf group. These group come to be established through a formally articulated process known as organisation.
Examples: political parties, Trade union, college, university, company, club etc.

Question 28.
What is unorganized group?
Answer:
Social groups that conspicuously lack the attribute of organization can be called unorganized group. They are unorganized in the sense.
Examples: Crowd, Mob, audience, spectator’s, group, public etc.

Question 29.
What is genetic group?
Answer:
Genetic groups are involuntary a nature and the individuals are born in them.
Ex : Family groups.

Question 30.
Define social control.
Answer:
According to E.A. Ross: Social control refer to the “system of devices whereby society brings its members into conformity With the accepted standards of behavior”.

Question 31.
Give any two objectives of social control.
Answer:

1. Social control Brings about Social Conformity
2. Social control Brings about Social Solidarity.

Question 32.
Mention two types of social control.
Answer:

1. Informal control.
2. Formal control.

Question 33.
What is informal control?
Answer:
Informal control refers to that type of social control. Which is not purposefully created, but spontaneously evolved and which includes informal ways and means for maintenance of social control.

Question 34.
What is formal control?
Answer:
Formal control refers to those types of social control which is deliberately created and which includes some fixed formal means and procedure for the maintenance of social control.

Question 35.
Mention any two characteristics of primary groups.
Answer:

1. Dominance of primary or face to face relationships
2. Small in size
3. Physical Proximity or Nearness
4. Durability of the groups.

Question 36.
Mention any two characteristics of Secondary groups.
Answer:

1. Dominance of Secondary Relations
2. Large in size
3. No physical basis
4. Nature of Membership.

Question 37.
Mention any two characteristics of organized groups.
Answer:

1. Common interests and goals
2. Elements of organization
3. Size of the Groups
4. Nature of social relations.

Question 38.
Mention any two characteristics of unorganized groups.
Answer:

1. Lack of organization
2. Spontaneous in origin
3. Shorter life span
4. Lack of organization in social interaction.

Question 39.
Mention any two characteristics of folkways.
Answer:

1. Social in Nature
2. Unplanned Origin
3. Informal Enforcement
4. Folkways are Innumerable.

Question 40.
Mention any two characteristics of Mores.
Answer:

1. 1. Mores are the regulators of social life
2. Mores are relatively more persistent.
3. Mores vary from group to group or time to time.
4. Mores are often backed by values and religion.

Question 41.
Mention any two characteristics of laws.
Answer:

1. Laws are the general conditions of human activity prescribed by the state for its members
2. Law is called law, only if enacted by a proper law making authority. Hence it is a product of conscious through deliberate attempts and careful planning.

Question 42.
Write any two characteristics of food gathering and hunting society.
Answer:
Hunting and food gathering societies, characterized by small number of people, gaining their livelihood from hunting, fishing, and gathering of edible plants.

Question 43.
Write any two features agrarian society.
Answer:
Agrarians societies based on small rural communities without towns or cities. Lively hood gained through agriculture, often supplemented by hunting and gathering it was ruled by a chief and inequalities exited among themselves”.

Question 44.
Write any two features traditional society.
Answer:
Size of this society ranges from few hundred people to many thousand depends on the tending of domesticated animals for their subsistence.

Question 45.
Write any two modern societies.
Answer:
America and Indian societies.

Question 46.
Write any two characteristics of New Industrial society.
Answer:

1. Industrial societies have existed only in the very modem era.
2. The very invention of machines to produce goods has proved to be an event of great historical importance.

1st PUC Sociology Basic Concepts Five Marks Questions and Answers

Question 1.
What is society? Explain.
Answer:
The term society is the most fundamental concept in sociology. Sociology is established as a separate science to study human society scientifically. Human life and society are two faces of the same coin. Man cannot live alone. He lives everywhere in groups in society. Society has become an essential condition for all round development of personality. Hence “Aristotle” recognized that “Man is a social animal” man has created his own society because of his intellectual capacity. Sociology only deals with human society.

In simple term, society is very loosely used in their daily life. Thus the expression- the agricultural society, women’s society, rural society, the weaver’s society, Cooperative Society, etc, But in sociology the term society has a specific meaning. The term Society is derived from Latin word ‘Socious’ which means “companionship or friendship”. According to Maclver and page: “Society is “the web of social relationships”.

Question 2.
Explain any five characteristics of society.
Answer:
Characteristics of society.

(a) Society- The Group of Groups: People collect together to form groups. Such groups combine together to give rise to society. Each society has family, neighbor, village, city, labor association, religious gathering, Political Parties etc, H.M.Johnson – Has thus remarked that “society is the group of groups”, but it is not’just like a crowd. It is a system. It consists of innumerable groups which fulfill the various needs of the people.

(b) Society is a web of Social Relations: Social relation means -’’The reciprocal contact between two or more persons. Social relationships have a wide range. For example Teacher – student, Parent-children, patient-doctor, husband-wife and so on. One individual enters into several social relationships at the same time. Maclver and Page- Point out that “society exists only where social beings behave towards one another in ways determined by their recognisation of one another. Thus society is a web of social relations.

(c) Similarity or likeness: The principal of ‘ likeness’ is essential for society. It exists among the people who have similarities with regards to their needs, work, aims, ideals, values and so on. these similarities inspire the people to interact and like each other and live together. Hence mutual intimacy, Co-operation, love and affection, Sympathy, sacrifice and feeling of oneness among people develop. Similarly the people of same nature and behavior live together in society.

(d) Differences in Society: Likeness and differences are two faces of the same coin. Therefore we see natural differences among people in their interest, ability, talent, attitude, intelligence and so on. Thus we find farmers, labors. Teachers, soldiers, businessmen, advocates, doctors, engineers and other working in different capacities, Maclver and page – Said that “Primary likeness and Secondary differences are the chief features of human society.

(e) Co-operation and Division of Labor: Human Society is essentially based on ‘co-operation and division of labour. Due to the feeling of co-operation people share their joys and Sorrows. The division of labour depends on people’s interest, ability, sex, and age etc. Due to division of labor in various fields task are performed more efficiently. In modem society, skilled and specialized persons have more importance. Thus co-operative and division of labor are reciprocal.

Question 3.
Explain the elements of community.
Answer:
Elements of community E.A. Bogardus identified the following elements by community. Geographical area or locality and community sentiments are considered as the essential elements of community. They are also considered as characteristics of community.

(a) Locality or Geographical area: A community is a territorial group. It always occupies some geographic area. Locality is the physical basis of a community. Locality Means – “a group of people became a community only when it starts to reside permanently in a definite locality”.

In contrast with Society a community is more or less locally limited. Living together facilitates people to develop social contacts, provides to fulfill their common interests. In community physical conditions may influence people’s social life, family, religion, belief, employment etc.

(b) Community Sentiment: Community sentiment: “A feeling of belongingness towards, or “a kind of conscious identification with the local group.” Community sentiment makes the people share their joys and sorrows and brings social integrity in them. Common interests, and similar lifestyles awakens community sentiments in pepple.

Other Characteristics of community:

1. Stability or Relative Permanence: A community is not temporary group like a crowd or a mob. It includes a permanent life in a definite territory. As along as there is life on the earth, People continue to reside permanently all through their life in the communities.

2. Naturalness: Communities are normally established in a natural way. They are not deliberately created. They are not made by planned efforts. The members of a community are the individual who are born in a community. As people live over a period of time in a particular territory naturally the community feeling develops.

3. Size of the Community: Community has no certain size. A community may be big or small. A village is small community where as a city is a big one. A city and a village may be included in a wider community called the district. Hence there are communities within communities. Nation as a big community, may include communities like, Village, towns cities etc.

4. Social Control: Every community has its own rules and regulations to control the relationship of its members. The nature of this regulation depends very much on the nature and type of the community. For example. In the rural and tribal communities informal means of regulations such as customs, folkways, mores, beliefs, rites and rituals etc are enough to exercise social pressure on the behavior of the people.

5. A Specific Name: Every community has some particular name, whether community is a village or a city or a tribe it has its own name and identity, on the basis of these one community is distinguished from the other.

Question 4.
Explain the characteristics of community.
Answer:
Elements of community E.A. Bogardus identified the following elements by community. Geographical area or locality and community sentiments are considered as the essential elements of community. They are also considered as characteristics of community.

(a) Locality or Geographical area: A Community is ja territorial group. It always occupies some geographic area. Locality is the physical basis of a community. Locality Means – “A group of people became a community only when it starts to reside permanently in a definite locality.

In contrast with Society a community is more or less locally limited. Living together facilitates people to develop social contacts, gives fulfill their common interests. In community physical conditions may influence peoples social life, family, religion, belief, employment etc.

(b) Community Sentiment: Community sentiment: “a feeling of belongingness towards, or “a kind of conscious identification with the local group.” Community sentiment makes the people share their joys and sorrows and brings social integrity in them. Common interests, and similar lifestyles awaken community sentiments in people.

Other Characteristics of community:

1. Stability or Relative Permanence: A community is not temporary group like a crowd or a mob. It includes a permanent life in a definite territory. As along as there is life on the earth, People continue to reside permanently all through their life in the communities.

2. Naturalness: Communities are normally established in a natural way. They are not deliberately created. They are not made by planned efforts. The members of a community are the individual who are born in a community. As people live over a period of time in a particular territory naturally the community feeling develops.

3. Size of the Community: Community has no certain size. A community may be big or small. A village is small community where as a city is a big one. A city and a village may be included in a wider community called the district. Hence there are communities within communities. Nation as a big community, may include communities like, Village, towns cities etc.

Question 5.
Explain the characteristics of association.
Answer:
Characteristics of Association.

(a) Association – A Human Group: An association is formed by people. It is basically a social group. Without people there can be no association. However all groups are not associations. Because an association is basically an organized group. An unorganized group like a crowd or a mob cannot be an association.

(b) Specific Interest or Interests: An association is not only collection of individuals. But also consists of those individuals who have more or less the same interests. According those who have political interests may join political parties and those who have sports interest may join sports association and so on.

(c) Co-operative Spirit: An association is based on the co-operative spirit of its members. People work together to achieve common purpose. For example: Workers to work together on a co-operative basis in order to fulfill their objective of getting good working conditions.

(d) Organized Group: Association is not just a collection of individuals. It is an organized collections for some specific ends. Organization gives stability and proper shape to an association. Organization refers to the way in which the status and roles are distributed among its members.

(e) Regulation of Relations: Every association has its own rules and regulation applicable to its members. These are called associational norms. Organization depends on this elements of regulation. Association reports to formal or informal means to regulate the relations of its members. For Example: Family through the institution of marriage controls the sexual behavior of its members, professional organization have formal norms to control members.

(f) Element of Stability: An association may be permanent or temporary. There are some long standing association like the political parties, trade union etc. Some associations may be purely temporary in nature, Example: Association that are established to felicitate some great writers, scientists and religious leaders.

Question 6.
Explain any five characteristics of institution?
Answer:
Characteristics of institution
Universal: Social institution are universal in nature. They are found everywhere and at all stages of social development. There can be no society in the absence of institutions. The basic institutions such as marriage, family, property, Religion are observed even in the tribal or primitive societies. Institutions are Standardized Norms: Social institution must be understood as well recognized or standardized procedures and norms. They prescribe the way of doing thing. They also prescribe rules and regulations that are to be followed.

For example – marriage, as an institution that governs the relation between the husband and wife. Similarly the school or college has its own established or standardized rules and procedures. Institutions are Controlling Mechanism: Institutions like religion, education, morality, state, government, legislation etc Control the behavior of man. These mechanisms preserve the social order and give stability to it. Institutions is the machinery through human society carries on its activities. They are like wheels on which human society marches on towards the desirable goals.

Institutions are Relatively Permanent: Institutions normally do not undergo sudden or rapid changes. Changes take place gradually. Many institutions are rigid and enduring. They in course of time became the conservative element in society. Examples- caste, religion etc. But under the pressure of circumstances they also undergo changes.

Abstract in Nature: Institutions are not external visible or tangible things. They are abstract. Thus marriage cannot be kept in a mueseum. Religion cannot be brought to the laboratory experiments and so on. However They can be compared and evaluated on the basis of values and ideologies.

Question 7.
Explain any five characteristics of social groups.
Answer:
Marshal Jones is of the opinion that “a social group is two or more people between whom there is an established patter of interaction”.
Characteristics of social group:

1. Collection of Interacting Individuals: Social groups consists of people. Social interaction is the very basis of group life, hence mere collection of individual does not make a group. The members must have interaction. A social group is, in fact, a system of social interaction. Different interaction patterns exists in different groups such as family, friendship, and recreational associations etc.

2. Sense of Group Unity and Solidarity: Depending on the nature of the group, its members are tied together by a sense of unity. The solidarity or unity of a group is largely dependent upon the frequency, the variety, and the emotional quality of the interactions of its members. A friends group or a peer group, or a professional association is highly united because its members are related by several common interests.

3. Group Goals and Interests: The interest and goal of a group are said to be common. Groups are mostly formed or established for the fulfillment of certain interests. In fact, men do not join groups but also form groups for the realization of their objectives or interests. Forms of the group differ depending upon the interests of the groups, educational groups, professional groups, recreational groups and so on.

4. Groups are Stronger than their Individual Members: A group is more than the sum of its parts. As Durkheim noted a group has a reality of its own or “suigeneris”. For example, the age and size of a group are not simple derived from the ages and sizes of its members. As Wallace and Wallace have pointed out. “groups are generally stronger and collective than even the strongest individual members”.

5. Group Norms: Every group has its own rules or norms which the members are supposed to follow. These norms may be in the form of customs, folkways, mores, traditions, conventions, laws etc. They may be written or unwritten norms or standards. Every group has its own ways and means of correcting those who go against the rules. The continued groups-life of man practically becomes impossible without some norms.

6. Size of the Group: Every group involves an idea of size. Social groups vary in size. A group may be small as that of a dyad as big as that of a political party having lakhs of members. Size will have its own impact on the character of the group. Membership is limited or unlimited depending on its purpose.

Question 8.
Explain the characteristics of primary groups.
Answer:
The concept of ‘primary groups’ is a significant of C.H. Cooley to the social thought. Building black of human societies throughout the world history.
Characteristics of primary groups.

(a) Dominance of primary or face-to-face relationships: Primary groups are characterized by close and intimate relationships. These exists a face-to-face relationship among the members. In primary groups everyone knows everyone else; one’s name and fame, one’s status, wealth, occupation, level of education etc.

(b) Small in size: Primary groups are generally small in size, because its consists of few members. Size of primary groups should be small if the relations among members are to be close personal and intimate.

(c) Physical Proximity or Nearness: Face-to-face relations can be found only when members reside in particular area more or less permanently. Seeing and talking with each other facilitates the exchange of ideas, opinions and sentiments.

(d) Durability of the groups: Primary groups are relatively a permanent groups. Other
things equal, the longer the groups remains together, the more numerous and deeper are the contacts between its members.

(e) Similarity of Background: The members of the primary groups may have more or less the same background, these must be some approximations in their levels of experience. Each must have something to contribute to give as well as to take.

(f) Shared Interest: The shared interests of the groups also hold them together. Any interest becomes focused and enriched in the group process. Since all are working for a common cause each acquires stimulation and a heightening of the emotional significance of the interest.

Question 9.
Explain the characteristics of secondary groups.
Answer:
In the secondary groups the relationships secondary, relatively impersonal contractual task – oriented, hence I limited focus of its activities.

(a) Dominance of Secondary Relations: The relationships that are found within secondary groups are formal indirect impersonal and secondary for example the relationship between the teachers and the students.

(b) Large in size: The secondary groups are generally large in size in comparision to primary groups that may contain thousands of members. Trade union, corporation, international associations, etc. are secondary groups and they have thousands of members.

(c) No physical basis: Secondary groups are not necessarily characterized by physical proximity. Many secondary groups are not limited to any definite area. The members such a groups are scattered over vast area.

(d) Nature of Membership: Membership is the case of secondary groups in mainly voluntary. Individuals are at liberty to join or go away from the groups, for example: they are at liberty to join political parties.

(e) Specific Ends and interest: Secondary groups are formed for the realization of some specific interests ends. They are often called ‘Special interest groups’. Members are interested in the groups because they have specific ends to aim at.

(f) Nature of Group control: Informal means of social control are loss effective in regulating the relations of members. Moral control is only secondary formal means of social control such as law, legislation, police, court, etc. are made use of to control the behavior of members.

Question 10.
Explain the characteristics of folkways.
Answer:
The term folkways was introduced to the sociological literature by W.GSummer in his book with the little “Folkways” published in 1906. The word literately means “The ways of the folk or people”. Folkways are the accepted ways of behavior.

(a) Social in Nature: Folkways are the product of man’s group life. They are created by the groups for their sustenance and maintenance. Individuals get social recognition by conforming to the folkways. Every new generation absorbs folkways partly by deliberate teaching but mainly by observing and taking part in life about them.

(b) Unplanned Origin: The origin of folkways are very obscure. Sumner believed that they arise automatically and unconsciously, they are not the result of any advance planning.

(c) Informal Enforcement: Folkways are not as compulsive and obligatory as those of laws or morals. Conformity to the folkways is neither required by law nor enforced by any special agency of the society.

(d) Folkways are Innumerable: It is not possible for anyone to enlist all the folkways. No encyclopedia could contain all the folkways observed by all of the people of history. They are very diverse and numerous.

(e) Folkways are subject to change: Folkways are not static, but dynamic, folkways are change with changing social conditions. Some folkways undergo relatively rapid change, some are resist change very often.

Question 11.
Explain the characteristics of mores.
Answer:
According to Maclver and Page “When the folkways have added to them conceptions of groups welfare, standards of right and wrong are converted into mores”.

Characteristics of Mores are:

1. More are the regulators of social life: Mores represent the living character of the group or community. They are always considered right by the people who share them. They are morally right and their violation morally wrong. Hence they are more compulsive in nature. They put restrictions on our behavior.

2. Mores are relatively more persistent: More are relatively long lasting than ordinary folkways. In fact, they even become conservative elements in society. They also put up resistance to change.

3. Mores vary from group to group or time to time: What is prescribed in one group is prohibited in another Eskimos for example: often practice female infanticide, whereas such a practice is strictly forbidden in the modern societies. Mores not only differ with culture but also with time. What is right at one time may be wrong at another and vice versa. Ex; the practice of “Sat” was “moral” then, but today it is illegal and immoral.

4. Mores are often backed by values and religion: More normally receive the sanction and backing of values and religion. When this occurs they become still more powerful and binding. Mores backed by religious sanctions are strongly justified people.

Question 12.
Explain the characteristics of law.
Answer:
Law is the most powerful formal means of social control in the modern society. It is an l indispensable part of the modem social life. Laws appear only in societies where a political organization called “Government” is found. According to J.S. Roucek “Laws are a form of social rule emanating from political agencies”.

Characteristics:

• Laws are the general condition of human activity prescribed by the state for its members.
• Law is called law, only if enacted by a proper law making authority. Hence it is a product of conscious thought deliberate attempts and careful planning.
• Law is written definite, clear, precise and unambiguous.
• Law applies equally to all without exception in identical circumstances.
• Violation of law is followed by penalties and punishments determined by the authority of the state.
• Laws are always written down and recorded.
• Laws are not the result of voluntary consent of persons against whom they are directed.
• Laws a dynamic and subject to change. Law. is not a static body of rules handed down from generation to generation. Rather, it reflects continuously changing standards of, what is right and wrong of how violations are to be determined, and of what sanctions are to be applied.
• Laws differ from country to country. Though the outward pattern of the legal system to be same every where. The content of laws often differ significantly.

Question 13.
Explain the importance of Groups.
Answer:
The study of human society is essentially the study of human groups. Society consists of groups of innumerable kinds and variety. That is why H. M. Johnson calls human society “the group of groups” No man exists, without a society and no society exists without groups.
Groups; have become a part and parcel of our life. Man’s life, to an enormous extent, is lived and controlled by groups of different kinds.

(a) Survival becomes problematic without groups: Groups have become so necessary that our very survival becomes problematic and doubtful in their absence. Groups are complementary to the development of human nature, human faculties, and capacities.

Man by birth itself have the biological potentiality of getting transformed into a social being. The biological or physical survival of man has been made possible by groups. The very important needs of man such as the need for protection and security need for companionship or fellowship; need for food, clothing and shelter etc. are fulfilled by the context of the group life of man.

(b) Man becomes man only among men: Man becomes man only among men. Various studies have convincingly proved that man fails to develop human qualities in the absence of human environment.

Example: The most interesting feral case of the two Hindu female children Kamala and her sister found in an wolf’s den, and the pitiable case of Anna, an illegitimate American child who was kept away from human contacts for more than five years, and several other similar instances have proved beyond doubts that only a human environment makes a man; a biological animal, a human being.

(c) Groups help social survival also: Not only from the point of view of physical survival but also from the viewpoint of leading a successful social life man depends on groups. By engaging himself in constant relation with others, he learns things and mends his way. He _ keeps his eyes wide open, lends his ears to what others say, tries to keep his memory ever fresh to remember the good things of the post to refrain from repeating the blunders of the past.

(d) Groups give us our identity: Social groups are important because they provide us our identity in the larger society. According to Merton, people who interact in a group are also seen by others as belonging to a group. Because, the group acquires an identity in the eyes of outsiders. The social esteem of the group depends on its identity. An urban gang known for rowdism has its own identity in the neighborhood. At the same time, a youth club committed to selfless social service, too has its own identity.

(e) Groups contribute to the development of personality: Personality is the product of the group life. The self that every individual develops. Though unique, is itself a product of the group. No self arises in isolation. Groups provide scope for the individuals to express their real nature, their talents and abilities. Hidden potentialities can find their expression only in the context of social groups. What is latent in man becomes manifest only in groups. The groups shape man’s attributes, his beliefs, his morals and his ideals.

(f) Groups help transmission of culture: According to Richard T. Schaefer, social groups “play a key role in the transmission of culture”. By functioning as the agents of socialisation, groups such as family, peer group, friends group, neighborhood, school and various other formal as well as informal groups, transmit the culture of the group and the larger society to the younger generation. Groups, thus assure the continuity of the cultural tradition.

Question 14.
Explain the pre-modern societies.
Answer:
Societies can be divided into pre-modern and modem societies. In the pre-modem societies

(1) Hunting and food gathering societies, characterized by small number of people gaining their livelihood from hunting, fishing and gathering of edible plants. There were few differences based on age and gender.

(2) Agrarians societies based on small rural communities without towns or cities. Lively hood gained through agriculture, often supplemented by hunting and gathering. It is ruled by a chief and inequalities existed among themselves.

(3) Pastoral Societies Size of this society ranges from few hundred people to many thousands depends on the tending of domesticated animals for their subsistence. It is marked by distinct inequalities and ruled by a chief or warrior kings.

(4) Traditional societies or civilizations. This kind of societies were existed from 6000B.C to 19th century. These relatively disappeared. Traditional societies were large in size some numbering millions of people though small compared with industrialized societies. Some cities exists in which trade and manufacturing are concentrated.

Societies in the modern world are divided into

(1) The first world societies which existed since 18th century to the present. First world societies are based on industrial production and generally free enterprise. The majority of the people live in towns and cities, a few work in rural agriculture persists.

(2) Second world Societies-These societies period of existence: In early 20th century to the early 1990s. It is based on industry, but the economic system is centrally planned. Small proportion of the population work in agriculture, most live in towns and cities major class inequalities persists. Distinct political communities are Nations State. Until 1989, composed of the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. But Social and Political changes began to transform them into free enterprise, economic system according to the model of first world’s societies.

(3) Developing Societies These societies existed from 18th century to the present day. Majority of the population work in agriculture, using traditional methods of production. Some have free enterprise system while the others are centrally planned distinct political communities are Notions State, including China, India, and most Africa and South American Nations come under this category.

(4) Newly industrialized societies. These societies came into existence since 1970 onwards. Former developing societies now based on industrial production and generally free enterprises. Majority of the people live in towns arid cities, a few work in agricultural pursuits. Major class inequalities found than the first world societies. Average per capita income is considerably less than first world societies. The countries like Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Brazil and Mexico etc.

Question 15.
Explain the modern societies.
Answer:
Our social world consist of thousands of human societies. For the sake of comparison, and analysis, it is necessary for us to classify them on some basis. According to Lenski, these diverse societies which are existing at present can be classified into a limited number of basic.

types depending upon the technologies or the subsistence strategies that they use to exploit the natural environment. Different societies have used different subsistence strategies, and those societies that have tended to grow larger and more complex! These complex societies often enjoy their success at the expense of societies using more primitive technologies.

Thus, it is on the basis of the level of technology or reliance on the basic type of subsistence strategy, societies can be generally classified into the following types:

Hunting and Gathering Societies. Pastoralism or Pastoral Societies. Horticultural Societies

• Agricultural Societies, and
• Industrial Societies

Hunting and Gathering Societies: As Gerhard Lenki pointed out in his “Human Societies” the oldest and the simplest type of society is the “Hunting and Gathering a nomadic way of life and a very primitive technology. They have the most primitive tools such as stone axes, spears and knives.

Characteristics: hunting-gathering societies consist of small but scattered groups. They are nomadic in nature. There is limited or no division of labour among them for there is no scope for different occupation roles. Since they are wandering in nature they need to face danger constantly. Family and kinship are the only defined institutions among them and there is no ground for the development of political institutions.

Even their religious faith is. also very simple and it has. not developed into a complex institution. It is interesting to note that they do not have desire to acquire wealth for sharing a norm in such societies. Also, there is no wealth worth calling, to be acquired among them.

Herding or Pastoral Societies.“Herding society refers to any form of society whose main subsistence comes from tending flocks and herds of domesticated animals. In practice, subsistence needs are often met by a combination of herding with hunting and gathering and other forms of agriculture”.

Characteristics: Herding societies are relatively larger in size and their size ranges between some hundred to a few thousands of members. Herding people like the hunters and gatherers, are nomadic because of their seasonal need to find sufficient grazing areas for their herds. Pastoralist has proved to be a better productive strategy than hunting and gathering for it provides an assured food supply and permits the accumulation of surplus resources. Accumulation of surplus resources has contributed to the beginning of inequality among them.

Horticultural Societies:“A horticultural society is a society system based on horticulture, a mode of production in which digging sticks are used to cultivate small gardens” Horticulturists specialize in the domestication of plants such as wheat, rice etc. the simplest horticulturalists cultivate manually with hoes or digging sticks in relatively small gardens without using the metal tools and weapons. The subsistence’s strategy of the horticulturists is typically based on a “slash and bum” technology. Horticulturalists are better settled than pastoralists.

This society assures better food supply and the possibility of surplus. Existence of surplus leads to specialization of roles, such as those of Shaman trader, or craft worker. We find the emergence of political allows institutions among these people. The surplus production allows some wealthy individuals to become more powerful than others. This leads to the emergence of political institutions in the form of chieftainships.

Agricultural or Agrarian Societies: Around 3000 B. C the invention of the plough led to the beginning of the agrarian society. Agrarian societies first arose in ancient Egypt and were based on the introduction of the plough and the harnessing of animal power “An agricultural society focuses its mode of production primarily on agriculture and the cultivation of large field. Cultivation of land through the plough is the main feature of this society.

Based on the invention of the plough around 3000 B.C the agrarian revolution marked its beginning. This invention enables animal power to pull the plough enables a person to achieve great productivity. Size of the agricultural societies is much greater than that of horticultural or pastoral communities. The full-time specialists who engage themselves in non agricultural activities tend to concentrate in some compact places which ultimately led to the birth of cities. Agricultural societies, in source of time, lead to the establishment of more elaborate political institutions.

Industrial Societies: The industrial mode of production began in England about 250 years ago. The very invention of machines of produce goods has proved to be an event of great ” historical importance. Industrial societies have existed only in the very modern era, dating from the industrialization of Great Britain in the late 18 century. Industrial society is associated with Industrial Revolution and industrialism.

Industrialism is based on the application of scientific knowledge to the technology of production, enabling new energy sources to be harnessed. Technology based on modem scientific knowledge leads to higher rate of technology innovations. These innovations in turn, bring about a flood of social changes.

Industrial societies have huge populations and large scale division of lab our. Division of labor is also complex for it gives scope for thousand of new specialized jobs. Science and education assume more importance here and at the same time, family and kind ship and religion start losing their hold and control over the members.

1st PUC Sociology Basic Concepts Ten Marks Questions and Answers

Question 1.
What is society? Explain its characteristics.
Answer:
The term society is the most fundamental concept in sociology. Sociology is established as a separate science to study human society scientifically. Human life and society are two faces of the same coin. Man cannot live alone. He everywhere in groups in society, society has became an essential condition for all round development of personality. Hence “ARISTOTLE” recognized that “man is a social animal” man has created his own society because of his intellectual capacity. Sociology only delay with human society.
Characteristics of society

(a) Society- The Group of Groups: People collects together to form groups. Such groups combine together to give rise to society, each society has family, neighbour, village, city, labor association, religious gathering, Political Parties etc. H.M.Johnson – Has thus remarked that “society is the group of groups”. But it is not just like a crowd. It is a system. It consists of innumerable groups which fulfill the various needs of the people.

(b) Society is a web of Social Relations: Social relation means -’’The reciprocal contact between two or more persons. Social relationships have a wide range, for example Teacher – student, parent-children, patient-doctor, husband-wife and so on. One individual enters into several social relationships at the same time. Maclver and Page- Point out that “society exists only where social beings behave towards one another in ways determined by their recognisation of one another. Thus society is a web of social relations.

(c) Similarity or likeness: The principal of likeness is essential for society. It exists among the people have similarities with regards to their needs, work, aims, ideals, values and soon. These similarities inspire the people to interact and like each other and live together. Hence mutual intimacy, Co-operation, love and affection, sympathy, sacrifice and feeling of oneness among people develops. Similarly of the people of same nature and behavior live together in society.

(d) Differences in Society: Likeness and differences are two faces of the same coin. Therefore we see natural differences among people in their interest, ability, talent, attitude, intelligence and so on. Thus we find farmers, labours. Teachers, soldiers, business men, advocates, doctors, engineers and other working in different capacities, Maclver and page – Said that “Primary likeness and Secondary differences are the chief features of human society.

(e) Co-operation and Division of Labor: Human Society is essentially based on ‘Co-operation and divisions of labour. Due to the feeling of Co-operation people share their joys and sorrows. The division of labor depends on peoples interest, ability, sex, and age etc. Due to division of labor in various fields task are performed more efficiently. In modem society, skilled and specialized persons have more importance, thus co-operative and division of labor are reciprocal.

(f) Interdependence: Interdependence is another characteristic of society. An individual seeks the satisfaction of his wants and the fulfillment of his goals with the co-operation of others. For example “Family is a primary institution is based on interdependence of members, with the growth of civilization and industrialization the need of interdependence has increased. Today not only individuals are interdependent but even communities are also interdependent.

(g) Society is Dynamic: Society keeps on changing forever. No society can ever remain constant for a long period. New associations, institutions and groups may come into being and old ones may die a natural death. Changes may take place slowly or suddenly at a rapid pace. For example-in the rural society changes may occur at a slower pace, where as in an urban society changes will occur at a faster pace.

Question 2.
Define community. Describe the element?
Answer:
Generally the term community is very loosely used Thus the expressions like a caste community, a racial community, a religious community, a linguistic community are used in a very limited since. But its sociological meaning is different and specific. Elements of community E.A. Bogardus identified the following elements by community. Geographical area or locality and community sentiments are considered as the essential elements of community. They are also considered as characteristics of community.

(a) Locality or Geographical area: A community is a territorial group. It always occupies some geographic area. Locality is the physical basis of a community, locality Means- “a group of people became a community only when they start to reside permanently in a definite locality. In contrasct with Society a community is more or less locally limited. Living together facilitates people to develop social contacts, gives fulfill their common interests. In community physical conditions may influence peoples social life, family, religion, belief, employment etc.

(b) Community Sentiment: Community sentiment: “a feeling of belongingness towards’’. Or “a kind of conscious identification with the local group.” Community sentiment makes the people share their joys and sorrows and brings social integrity in them. Common . interests, and similar life styles awaken community sentiments in people.

Other Characteristics of community:

1. Stability or Relative Permanence: A community is not temporary group like a crowd or a mob. It includes a permanent life in a definite territory. As a along as there is life on the earth, People continue to reside permanently all through their life in the communities.

2. Naturalness: Communities are normally established in a natural way. They are not deliberately created. They are not made by planned efforts. The members of a community are the individual who are born in a community. As people live over a period of time in a particular territory naturally the community feeling develops.

3. Size of the Community: Community has no certain size. A community may be big or small. A village is small community where as a city is a big one. A city and a village may be included in a wider community called the district. Hence there are communities within communities. Nation as a big community, may include communities like, Village, towns cities etc.

4. Social Control: Every community has its own rules and regulations to control the relationship of its members. The nature of this regulation depends very much on the nature and type of the community. For example. In the rural and tribal communities informal means of regulations such as customs, folkways, mores, beliefs, rites and rituals etc are enough to exercise social pressure on the behavior of the people.

5. A Specific Name: Every community has some particular name, whether community is a village or a city or a tribe it has its own name and identity, on the basis of these one community is distinguished from the other.

Question 3.
Define Association. Explain its characteristics.
Answer:
In day to day life, associations and institutions are used very commonly. Sometimes these words are used inter changeably to mean one and the same. But in Sociology these words have specific meaning Definition of Association: According to E.S. Bogardus “Association is usually working together . of people to achieve some common purpose”.

Accordingto William P. Scott “An Association refer to a formal group organised for a specialised and specifically stated pupose”.

Characteristics of Association.

(a) Association – A Human Group: An association is formed by people. It is basically a social group. Without people there can be no association. However all groups are not associations. Because an association is basically an organized group. An unorganized group like a crowd or a mob cannot be an association.

(b) Specific Interest or Interests: An association is not only collection of individuals. But also consists of those individuals who have more or less the same interests. According those who have political interests may join political parties and those who have sports interest may join sports association and so on.

(c) Co-operative Spirit: An association is based on the co-operative spirit of its members. People work together to achieve common purpose. For example: Workers to work together on a co-operative basis in order to fulfill their objective of getting good working conditions.

(d) Organized Group : Association is not just a collection of individuals. It is an organized collections for some specific ends. Organization gives stability and proper shape to an association, organization refers to the way in which the status and roles are distributed among its members.

(e) Regulation of Relations: Every association has its own rules and regulation applicable to its members. These are called associational norms. Organization depends on this elements of regulation. Association resorts to formal or informal means to regulate the relations of its members. For Example: Family through the institution of marriage controls the sexual behavior of its members, professional organization have formal norms to control members.

(f) Element of Stability: An association may be permanent or temporary. There are some long standing association like the political parties, trade union etc. Some associations may be purely temporary in nature, Example rAssociation that are established to felicitate some great writers, scientists and religious leaders.

Question 4.
What is institution? Explain its characteristics.
Answer:
The concept of institution is another important concept in the field to sociology. It is basic to the understanding of society. Therefore French sociologist Durkheim has gone to the extent of defining “sociology as the science of social institutions. “F.H.Giddings regards “Institutions are the organ that conserve what is best in the part of human race.

Characteristics of institution

(a) Universal: Social institution are universal in nature. They are found everywhere and at all stages of social development. There can be no society in the absence of institutions. The basic institutions such as marriage, family, property. Religion are observed even in the tribal or primitive societies.

(b) Institutions are Standardized Norms: Social institution must be understood as well recognized or standardized procedures and norms. They prescribe the way of doing thing. They also prescribe rules and regulations that are to be followed. For example – marriage, as an institution that governs the relation between the husband and wife. Similarly the school or college has its own established or standardized rules and procedures.

(c) Institutions are Controlling Mechanism: Institutions like religion, education, morality, state, government, legislation etc Control the behavior of man. These mechanisms preserve the social order and give stability to it. Institutions is the machinery through which human society carries on its activities. They are like wheels on which human society marches on towards the desirable goals.

(d) Institutions are Relatively Permanent:Institutions normally do not undergo sudden or rapid changes. Changes take place gradually. Many institutions are rigid and enduring. They in course of time became the conservative element in society. Examples- caste, religion etc. But under the pressure of circumstances they also undergo changes.

(e) Abstract in Nature:Institutions are not external visible or tangible things. They are abstract. Thus marriage cannot be kept in a museum. Religion cannot be brought to the laboratory experiments and so on. However They can be compared and evaluated on the basis of values and ideologies.

(f) Oral and Written Traditions institutions may persist in the form of oral or written traditions. In simple and preliterate societies, institutions, were in the oral form, Institutions are based on either customs and dogmas. But in modem societies, they are found in written as well as oral forms. There may be institutional forms like law, constitution, Sacred text, governmental orders, business contracts, political, educational and economic institutions and so on.

(g) Symbolic Traits: Every social institution may have their own symbols, material or non-material. Examples: The Nation has flag, emblem and anthem as its symbols. Religion may have its own symbols like Idol, holy cross, crescent, star, swastika, Marriage may have own wedding ring or mangle-sutra and so on: Symbolic traits are common to all well established institutions of the modem society.

(h) Institutions are Interrelated: Institutions are interrelated. Understanding of one institution requires an understanding of other related institutions. Example: religious, moral, educational, political, economic, and other types of institutions are essentially interlinked.

Question 5.
What is social groups? Explain its characteristics.
Answer:
According to Marshal Jones is of the opinion that a social group is ‘two or more people between whom there is’an established patter of interaction’.
Characteristics of social group:

1. Collection of interacting individuals: Social groups consists of people. Social interaction is the very basis of group life, there more collection of individual does not make a group. The members must have interaction. A social group is, in fact, a system of social interaction. Different interaction patterns exists in different groups such as family, friendship, and recreational associations etc.

2. Sense of group unity and solidarity: Depending on the nature of the group, its members are tied together by a sense of unity. The solidarity or unity of a group is largely dependent upon the frequency, the variety, and the emotional quality of the interactions of its members. A friends group, or a peer group, or a professional association is highly united because its members are related by several common interests.

3. Group goals and interests: The interest and goal of a group are said to be common. Groups are mostly formed or established for the fulfillment of certain interests. In fact, men not join groups but also form groups for the realization of their objectives or interests. Forms of the group differ depending upon the interests of the groups, educational groups, professional groups, recreational groups and so on.

4. Groups are stronger than their individual members: A group is more than the sum of its parts. As Durkheim noted a group has a reality of its own or “suigeneris”. For example, the age and size of a group are not simple derived from the ages and sizes of its members. As Wallace and Wallace have pointed out. “Groups are generally stronger collectively than even the strongest individual members”.

5. Group Norms: Every group has its own rules or norms which the members are supposed to follow. These norms may be in the form of customs, folkways, mores, traditions, conventions, laws etc. They may be written or unwritten norms or standards. Every group has its own ways and means of correcting those who go against the rules. The continued groups-life of man practically becomes impossible without some norms.

6. Size of the Group: Every group involves an idea of size. Social groups vary in size. A group may be small as that of a dyad as big as that of a political party having lakhs of members. Size will have its own impact on the character of the group. Membership is limited or unlimited depending on its purpose.

7. Groups are Dynamic: Social groups are but dynamic. They are subject to changes whether slow or rapid. Old members die and new members are bom. Some existing groups may disintegrate and new groups may come to be formed. Small groups may develop into gigantic groups, and the larger ones may shrink in size.

8. Degree of Stability: Groups are formed to.be stable or unstable: permanent or temporary in character. Some groups like, the crowd, mob, audience, spectators, groups etc. are purely temporary and unstable. But many groups such as political parties, student’s union, professional organizations and trade unions are relatively permanent and stable in character.

Question 6.
What is social control? Explain its features.
Answer:
Social control is one of the mechanisms of society. E.A. Ross was the first sociologist to the concept of “Social Control” in his famous book “Social Control” published in 1901. Since then, the concept has become quite popular. Society has to make use of its mechanisms to accomplish the necessary order and discipline. RosS has stressed upon the roles of public opinion, law, belief, suggestion, religion, ideals, ceremony, etc., in establishing social control.
Types of Social Control
(a) Informal control, (b) Formal control.

(a) Informal control: Refers to that types of social control. Which is not purposefully created, but spontaneously evolved and which includes informal ways and means for maintenance of social control. Eg Folkways mores, customs, morality etc., ‘

(b) Formal control: Refers to those types of social control which is desperately created and which includes some fixed formal means and procedures for the maintenance of social control. Eglaws and legislation, courts, police Jainl, armed force, Bureaucracy etc.

Question 7.
What are primary groups? Explain its characteristics.
Answer:
The concept of ‘primary groups’ is a significant of C.H. Cooley to the social thought. Building black of human societies throughout the world history.

Characteristics of Primary Group:

(a) Dominance of primary or face-to-face relationships: Primary groups are characterized by close and intimate relationships. These exists a face-to-face relationship among the members. In primary Groups everyone knows everyone else; one’s name and fame, one’s status, wealth, occupation, level of education etc.

(b) Small in size: Primary groups are generally small in size, because its consists of few
members. Size of primary groups should be small if the relations among members are to be close personal and intimate. ‘

(c) Physical proximity or nearness: Face-to-face relations can be found only when members reside in particular area more or less permanently. Seeing and talking with each other facilitates the exchange of ideas, opinions and sentiments.

(d) Durability of the groups: Primary groups are relatively a permanent groups. Other things equal, the longer the groups remains together, the more numerous and deeper are the contacts between its members.

(e) Similarity of background: The members of the primary groups may have more or less
the same background. These must be some approximations in their levels of experience. Each must have something to contribute to give as well as to take.

(f) Shared interest: The shared interests of the groups also hold them together, any interest becomes focused and enriched in the group process. Since all are working for a common cause each acquires stimulation and a heightening of the emotional significance of the interest.

Question 8.
What is secondary groups? Explain its characteristics.
Answer:
In the secondary groups, the relationships secondary, relatively impersonal contractual task oriented, hence limited focus of its activities.
(a) Dominance of secondary relations: The relationships that are found with hi secondary groups are formal indirect impersonal and secondary for example the relationship between teacher and students.

(b) Large in size: The secondary groups are generally large in size incomparision to primary groups that may thousands of members. Trade union, corporation, international association, etc. are secondary groups and they have thousands of members. .

(c) No physical basis: Secondary groups are not necessarily characterized by physical proximity. Many secondary groups are not limited to any definite area. The members such a groups are scattered over vast area.

(d) Nature of membership: Membership in the case of secondaiy groups in mainly voluntary. Individuals are at liberty to join or go away from the groups, for example : they are at liberty to join political parties.

(e) Specific ends and interest: Secondary groups are formed for the realization of some specific interest’s ends. They are often called ‘Special interest groups’. Members are interested in the groups because they have specific ends to aim at.

(f) Nature of group control: Informal means of social control are loss effective in regulating the relations of members. Moral control is only secondary formal means of social control such as law, legislation, police, court etc. are made use of to control the behavior of members.

Question 9.
What is a folkway? Explain its characteristics.
Answer:
The term folkways was introduced to the sociological literature by W.G. Summer in his book with the little “Folkways” published in 1906. The word literately means “The ways of the floor people”. Folkways are the accepted ways of behavior.

Characteristics
(a) Social in Nature: Folkways are the product of man’s group life. They are created by the groups for their sustenance and maintenance. Individuals get social recognition by conforming to the folkways. Every new generation absorbs folkways partly by deliberate teaching but mainly by observing and talking part in life about them.

(b) Unplanned Origin: The origin of folkways are very obscure. Sumner believed that they arise automatically and unconsciously. They are not result of any advance planning.

(c) Informal Enforcement: Folkways are not as compulsive and obligatory as those of laws or morals. Conformity to the folkways is neither required by law nor enforced by any special agency of the society.

(d) Folkways are Innumerable: It is not possible for anyone to enlist all the folkways. No encyclopedia could contain all the folkways observed by all of the people of history. They are very diverse and numerous.

(e) Folkways are subject to change: Folkways are not static, but dynamic; folkways are change with changing social conditions. Some folkways undergo relatively rapid change; some are resist change very often.

Question 10.
What are mores? Explain its characteristics.
Answer:
According to Maclver and Page “When the folkways have added to them conceptions of groups welfare, standards of right and wrong they are converted into mores”.

Characteristics of Mores are:

More are the regulators of social life: Mores represent the living character of the group or community. They are always considered right by the people who share them. They are morally right and their violation morally wrong. Hence they are more compulsive in nature. They put restrictions on our behavior.

Mores are relatively more persistent: More are relatively long lasting than ordinary folkways. In fact, they even become conservative elements in society. They also put up resistance to change.

Mores vary from group to group or time to time: What is prescribed in one group is prohibited in another Eskimos for example: often practice female infanticide, whereas such a practice is strictly forbidden in the modern societies. Mores not only differ with culture but also with time. What is right at one time may be wrong at another and vice versa. Ex; the practice of “Sati” was “moral” then, but today it is illegal and immoral.

Mores are often backed by values and religion: More normally receive the sanction and backing of values and religion. When this occurs they become still more powerful and binding. Mores backed by religious sanctions are strongly justified people.

Question 11.
What is law? Explain its characteristics.
Answer:
Law is the most powerful formal, means of social control in the modem society. It is an indispensable part of the modem social life. Laws appear only in societies where a political organization called “Government” is found.
According to J.S. Roucek “Laws are a form of social rule emanating from political agencies”

Characteristics:

• Laws are the general condition of human activity prescribed by the state for its members.
• Law is called law, only if enacted by a proper law making authority. Hence it is a product of conscious thought deliberate attempts and careful planning.
• Law is written definite, clear, precise and unambiguous.
• Law applies equally to all without exception in identical circumstances.
• Violation of law is followed by penalties and punishments determined by the authority of the state.
• Laws are always written down and recorded.
• Laws are not the result of voluntary consent of persons against whom they are directed.

Laws a dynamic and subject to change. Law is not a static body of rules handed down from generation to generation. Rather, it reflects continually changing standards of what is right and wrong of how violations are to be determined, and of what sanctions are to be applied.

Laws differ from country to country. Though the outward pattern of the legal system to be same every where the content of laws often differ significantly.

Question 12.
Explain briefly pre-modern society.
Answer:
Societies can be divided into pre-modem and modem societies. In the pre-modem societies

(1) Hunting and food gathering societies, characterized by small number of people gaining their livelihood from hunting, fishing and gathering of edible plants. There were few differences based on age and gender.

(2) Agrarians societies based on small rural communities without towns or cities. Lively hood gained through agriculture, often supplemented by hunting and gathering. It was ruled be a chief and inequalities existed among themselves.

(3) Pastoral Societies Size of this society ranges from few hundred people to many thousands depends on-the tending of domesticated animals for their subsistence. It is marked by distinct inequalities and ruled by a chief or warrior kings.

(4) Traditional societies: This kind of societies were existed from 6000B.C to 19th century. These were relatively disappeared. Traditional societies were large in size some numbering millions of people though small compared with industrialized societies. Some cities exists in which trade and manufacturing are concentrated.

Societies in the modern world are divided into:

(1) The first world societies which existed since 18th century to the present. First world societies are based on industrial production and generally free enterprise. Majority of the people live in towns and cities, a few work in rural agricultural persists.

(2) Second world societies-These societies period of existence: In early 20th century to ’ the early 1990s. It is based on industry, but the economic system is centrally planned. Small proportion of the population work in agriculture, most live in towns and cities major class inequalities persists. Distinct political communities are Nations State. Until 1989, composed of the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. But Social and Political changes began to transform them into free enterprise, economic system according to the model of first world’s societies.

(3) Developing societies These societies existed from 18th century to the present day. Majority of the population work in agriculture, using traditional methods of production. Some have free enterprise system while others are centrally planned distinct political communities are Notions State, including China, India, and most Africa and South American Nations come under this category.

(4) Newly Industrialized societies: These societies come into existence since 1970 onwards. Former developing societies now based on industrial production and generally free enterprises. Majority of the people live in towns and cities, a few work in agricultural pursuits. Major class inequalities found than the first world societies. Average per capital income considerably less than first world societies. The countries like Hong Kong, South, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Brazil, and Mexico etc.

Question 13.
Explain briefly the types of modern societies.
Answer:
Our social world consists of thousands of human societies. For the sake of comparison, and analysis, it is necessary for us to classify them on some basis. According to Lenski, these diverse societies which are existing at present can be classified into a limited number of basic types depending upon the technologies or the subsistence strategies that they use to exploit the natural environment. Different societies have used different subsistence strategies, and those societies that have tended to grow larger and more complex. These complex societies often enjoy their success at the expense of societies using more primitive technologies.

Thus, it is on the basis of the level of technology or reliance on the basic type of subsistence  strategy, societies can be generally classified into the following types:

• Hunting and Gathering Societies.
• Pastoralism or Pastoral Societies.
• Horticultural Societies
• Agricultural Societies, and Industrial Societies

Hunting and Gathering Societies.
As Gerhard Lenki pointed out in his “Human Societies” the oldest and the simplest type of society is the “Hunting and Gathering a nomadic way of life and a very primitive technology. They have the most primitive tools such as stone axes, spears and knives.

Characteristics: Hunting-gathering societies consist of small but scattered groups. They are nomadic in nature. There is limited or no division of labour among them for there is no scope for different occupation roles. Since they are wandering in nature they need to face danger constantly. Family and kinship are the only defined institutions among them and there is no – ground for the development of political institutions. Even their religious faith is also very simple and it has not developed into a complex institution. It is interesting to note that they do not have desire to acquire wealth for sharing is a norm in such societies. Also, there is no wealth worth. calling, to be acquired among them.

Herding or Pastoral Societies.
“Herding society refers to any form of society whose main subsistence comes from tending flocks and herds of domesticated animals. In practice, subsistence needs are often met by a combination of herding with hunting and gathering and other forms of agriculture”.

Characteristics: Herding societies are relatively larger in size and their size ranges between some hundred to a few thousands of members. Herding people like the hunters and gatherers, are nomadic because of their seasonal need to find sufficient grazing areas for their herds. Pastoralism has proved to be a better productive strategy than hunting and gathering for it provides an assured food supply and permits the accumulation of surplus resources. Accumulation of surplus resources has contributed to the beginning of inequality among them.

Horticultural Societies: “A horticultural society is a society system based on horticulture, a mode of production in which digging sticks are used to cultivate small gardens”

Characteristics: Horticulturists specialize in the domestication of plants such as wheat, rice etc. the simplest horticulturalists cultivate manually with hoes or digging sticks in relatively , small gardens without using the metal tools and weapons. The subsistence’s strategy of the horticulturists is typically based on a “slash and bum” technology. Horticulturalists are better settled than pastoralists.

This society assures better food supply and the possibility of surplus. Existence of surplus leads to specialization of roles, such as those of Shaman trader, or craft worker. We find the emergence of political allows institutions among these people. The surplus production allows some wealthy individuals to become more powerful than others. This leads to the emergence of political institutions in the form of chieftainships.

Agricultural or Agrarian Societies
Around 3000 B. C, the invention of the plough led to the beginning of the agrarian society. Agrarian societies first arose in ancient Egypt and were based on the introduction of the plough and the harnessing of animal power “An agricultural society focuses its mode of production primarily on agriculture and the cultivation of larga fields”

Characteristics: Cultivation of land through the plough is the main feature of this society. Based on the invention of the plough around 3000 B.C the agrarian revolution marked its beginning. This invention enables animal power to pull the plough enables a person to achieve great productivity. Size of the agricultural societies is much greater than that of horticultural or pastoral communities. The full-time specialists who engage themselves in non agricultural activities tend to concentrate in some compact places which ultimately led to the birth of cities. Agricultural societies, in source of time, lead to the establishment of more elaborate political institutions.

Industrial societies
The industrial mode of production began in England about 250 years ago. The very invention of machines of produce goods has proved to be an event of great historical importance. Industrial societies have existed only in the very modem era, dating from the industrialization of Great Britain in the late 18th century.

Characteristics: Industrial society is associated with Industrial Revolution and industrialism. Industrialism is based on the application of scientific knowledge to the technology of production, enabling new energy sources to be harnessed. Technology based on modern scientific knowledge leads to higher rate of technology innovations. These innovations in turn, bring about a flood of social changes.

Industrial societies have huge populations and large scale division of lab our. Division of labor is also complex for it gives scope for thousand of new specialized jobs. Science and education assume more importance here and at the same time, family and kind ship and religion start losing their hold and control over the members.

Karnataka 1st PUC Sociology Question Bank Chapter 1 Nature of Sociology India

You can Download Chapter 1 Nature of Sociology Questions and Answers, Notes, 1st PUC Sociology Question Bank with Answers Karnataka State Board Solutions help you to revise complete Syllabus and score more marks in your examinations.

1st PUC Sociology Nature of Sociology One Mark Questions and Answers

Question 1.
How is the term Sociology derived?
Answer:
The term “Sociology” is derived from Latin word “SOCIUS” means “Companion” or “Associate” and Greek word “LOGOS” means “Science” or “Study”.

Question 2.
Who is called the “Father of Sociology”?
Answer:
Auguste Comte.

Question 3.
In which year the term Sociology was introduced.
Answer:
The word Socialogy was introduced in the year 1839.

Question 4.
What is the literal meaning of the word Sociology?
Answer:
The study of society.

Question 5.
State any one definition of Sociology.
Answer:
According to Auguste Comte: “Sociology is the Science of Social phenomena Subject to natural and invariable laws. The discovery of which is the object of investigation”

Question 6.
Mention any one book written by Auguste Comte.
Answer:
“Positive Philosophy”

Question 7.
Mention Comte’s definition of Sociology.
Answer:
According to Auguste Comte: “Sociology is the Science of Social phenomena Subject to natural and invariable laws. The discovery of which is the object of investigation”

Question 8.
Mention Durkheim definition of Sociology.
Answer:
According to Durkheim: “Sociology is the Science of institutions”

Question 9.
Mention Maclver & page definition of Sociology.
Answer:
According to Maclver and Page: “Sociology is about Social relationships”

Question 10.
What is categorical science?
Answer:
Sociology Studies things “as it is” and not “as it ought to be”. As a Science, Sociology is necessarily silent about the questions of value.

Question 11.
What is pure science?
Answer:
Pure science is a branch for knowledge, without primary concern for its practical use ;

Question 12.
Is sociology a pure science.
Answer:
Yes, Sociology a pure science.

Question 13.
What is an applied science?
Answer:
Applied science is the search for ways of using scientific knowledge to solve practical problems.

Question 14.
Mention any one specific literary source of ancient though.
Answer:
Vedas, Upanishads.

Question 15.
Mention any one factor that led to the emergence of Sociology.
Answer:
Impact of Twin Revolution: The French Revolution and The Industrial Revolution. Inspiration from the “Growth of Natural and other Social Sciences.

Question 16.
Mention twin revolution that led to the emergence of Sociology.
Answer:
Impact of the twin Revolution are:

• The French Revolution and
• The Industrial Revolution.

Question 17.
State any one effect of Industrial Revolution.
Answer:
The revolution led to factory system of production which in turn gave place to mechanization and industrialization.

Question 18.
Mention any one subject matter of sociology.
Answer:
Providing a Sociological analysis of human culture and society.

Question 19.
Mention any one specialised fields of Sociology.
Answer:
Interpersonal Relations, Rural and Urban life marriage and family, Social differentiation are
the specialised fields of Sociology.

Question 20.
Mention any one method which Sociology is making use of in its studies.
Answer:
Method in which Sociology is making use of its study of society, needs scientific method with objectives, were believe theoretical science of society and a systematic investigation of behavior were needed to improve society.

Question 21.
Write any two social problems of India.
Answer:
India is facing so many social problems like:

1. Poverty, unemployment.
2. Corruption.

Question 22.
Who called Sociology as a vehicle to social reform?
Answer:
August Comte

Question 23.
Mention anyone use of the study of Sociology.
Answer:
Studying sociology will make a change in altitudes and it also gives solution to social problems.

Question 24.
What are the two parts of sociology according to August Comte?
Answer:

1. Social Statics
2. Social Dynamics.

Question 25.
Write anyone pioneer of Sociology other than August Comte.
Answer:
Max Weber

Question 26.
Define theological stage.
Answer:
During theological stage all human thoughts were guided by religious ideas and faith in the supernatural powers.

Question 27.
What is positive stage?
Answer:
It is a stage that everything based on intellectual way of thinking looking the world.

Question 28.
Who is “Priests of humanity”?
Answer:
August Comte is the “priests of humanity”.

Question 29.
Which book influenced Spencer very much?
Answer:
“The origin of the Species”.

Question 30.
Write the name of evolution a list influenced Spencer.
Answer:
Militant society and Industrial society”.

Question 31.
Name any one Book written by Spencer.
Answer:
’’Social Statics”, “Principles of Ethics” etc.

Question 32.
Who is the second father of sociology?
Answer:
Herbert Spencer

Question 33.
What is social fact according to Durkhiem?
Answer:
According to Durkheim. A social fact is every way of acting, fixed or not, capable of exercising on the individual an external constraint.

Question 34.
Write anyone specialised field introduced by Durkhiem?
Answer:
General Sociology, sociology of religion,, sociology of morals etc.

Question 35.
Write any one Book written by Durkheim?
Answer:
The Division of Labor in society, The Rules of sociological method etc.

Question 36.
In which university of India Sociology was first introduced?
Answer:
Bombay university introduced Sociology in India first time.

Question 37.
Write any two names of Indian Sociologist.
Answer:

1. Dr.GS.Ghurye [Maharashtra]
2. Dr. M. N. Srinivas [Mumbai]

Question 38.
Who is the Father of Indian sociology?
Answer:
Dr. G. S Ghurye is called Father of sociology.

Question 39.
Who is the source behind the formulation of the Indian sociological study?
Answer:
Dr. G. S Ghurye.

Question 40.
Mention any two Book written by G. S. Ghurge.
Answer:
“Caste and Race in India”, “Scheduled tribes” etc.

Question 41.
Who wrote the book Caste and Race in India?
Answer:
Dr. G. S. Ghurye.

Question 42.
Who is the famous sociologist of Karnataka?
Answer:
Dr. M. N. Srinivas.

Question 43.
Write any one concept introduced by M.N. Rinivas.
Answer:
Analysing the process of social change in India he introduced the concept of “Sanskritisation”, “Westernization” and “Dominate caste”.

Question 44.
Who is the First women sociologist of India?
Answer:
Dr. Iravati Karve was the First women sociologist of India.

Question 45.
Who wrote the book Kinship organization in India?
Answer:
Dr. Iravati Karve.

Question 46.
Who introduced the concept of Deconstruction?
Answer:
Jacques Derrida introduced the concept of Deconstruction.

Question 47.
Who introduced the concept of Structuration?
Answer:
F.H. Giddings introduced the concept of Structuration.

Question 48.
Who introduced the concept of Habitius?
Answer:
Bourdieu introduced the concept of Habitius.

1st PUC Sociology Nature of Sociology Two Marks Questions and Answers

Question 1.
What is Sociology?
Answer:
This is a continuous pursuit of knowledge human being has invented various branches of knowledge According to Auguste Comte : “Sociology is the Science of Social phenomena Subject to natural and invariable laws. The discovery of which is the object of investigation”.

Question 2.
Mention Comte’s definition of Sociology.
Answer:
According to Auguste Comte: “Sociology is the Science of Social phenomena Subject to natural and invariable laws. The discovery of which is the object of investigation”.

Question 3.
Mention Max Weber’s definition of Sociology.
Answer:
According to Max Weber “Sociology is the science which attempts the interpretative understanding of social action in order there by to arrive at causal explanation of its cause and effects”.

Question 4.
State Ginsberg’s definitions of Sociology.
Answer:
According to Morris Ginsberg “In the broadest Sense, Sociology is the study of human interactions and interrelations. Their conditions and consequences”.

Question 5.
Give H. M. Johnson’s definition of sociology.
Answer:
According to Harry, M. Johnson “Sociology is the science that deals with Social groups”.

Question 6.
Give an example to support the view that Sociology is an Abstract science.
Answer:
It does not limit itself to the study of any particular war or revolution. On the contrary, it deals with them in general or abstract Mannar, as social phenomena.

Question 7.
Mention any two factors that led to the beginning of sociology.
Answer:

1. The great intellectual process of Renaissance
2. Reformation and enlightenment gave a big impact to begin sociology.

Question 8.
State any literary sources of ancient India Social thought.
Answer:
“Vedas”, “Upanishads”, “Puranas”, etc.

Question 9.
Mention any two social effects if Industrial Revolution.
Answer:
The social effects of Industrial Revolution were many. They are:

• The revolution led to factory system of production which in turn gave place to mechanisation and industrialisation
• The simple rural life and domestic industries were replaced by complex urban life and mass production of goods.

Question 10.
Mention any two primary units of social life according to Alex Inkeles.
Answer:
The primary units are. The area are concerned with- social acts and social relationships,
” individual personality, groups of all varieties communities etc.

Question 11.
Name the two books of August Comte.
Answer:
Positive Philosophy and Positive polity.

Question 12.
Mention any two subject matter of sociology.

1. Providing a sociological analysis of human culture and society.
2. Analyzing the primary units of social life.

Question 13.
Mention any four specialized fields of Sociology?
Answer:

1. Interpersonal relations
2. Rural and urban life
3. Marriage and family
4. Social differentiation.

Question 14.
Is Sociology helpful in tacking social problems? How?
Answer:
Yes, “Sociology gives valuable suggestions to solve”.

Question 15.
Mention any two important use of Sociology?
Answer:

1. Development of personality
2. Change in Attitudes
3. Solution of social problems
4. Social planning and policy making.

Question 16.
Mention Comte’s Law of three Stages.
Answer:

1. The Theological stage
2. The Metaphysical stage
3. The positive stage.

Question 17.
Why August Comte is called as the father of sociology?
Answer:
Auguste Comte is called father of Sociology, because he is the first to introduced a new science called “Sociology” and a brief note of his contributions confirms a new era for the study of sociology.

Question 18.
What are the two types of society introduced by Spencer?
Answer:

1. Militant Society
2. Industrial society.

Question 19.
Write any two famous books written by Durkheim.
Answer:

1. “The Division of Labour in Society”
2. “The Rules of sociological method”.

Question 20.
Mention any two types of suicide according to Durkheim.
Answer:

1. Egoistic suicide
2. Anomic suicide
3. Altruistic suicide.

Question 21.
Write any two Indian sociologists?
Answer:

1. Dr. G. S. Ghurye
2. Dr. M. N. Srinivas
3. Dr. Iravati Karve.
4. A. R. Desai.

Question 22.
Which are the concepts introduced by M. N. Srinivasa?
Answer:
Sanskritization, Westernization and Dominate Caste.

1st PUC Sociology Nature of Sociology Five Marks Questions and Answers

Question 1.
What is sociology? Explain by citing at least three definition of Sociology.
Answer:
The term “Sociology” is derived from Latin word “SOCIUS” meaning ‘Companion’ or ‘Associate’ and Greek word “LOGOS” means ‘Science’ or ‘Study’. Thus the etymological meaning of the term Sociology is “study of Society”. Some of the definitions of Sociology are: August Comte, the founding father of sociology, defines Sociology as “The Science of social phenomena subject to natural and invariable laws. The discovery of which is the object of investigation.”

• Maclver and Page says that “Sociology is about Social relationships.”
• Emile Durkheim defines “Sociology is the Science of Social institutions.”
• Max Weber says “Sociology is the science which attempts the interpretative understanding of social action in order there by to arrive at causal explanation of its course and effects.”
• Harry M. Johnson said that “Sociology is the science that deals with Social groups.”
• Morris Ginsberg says “In the broadest Sense, Sociology, is the study of human interactions and interrelationships, their conditions and consequences.”

Question 2.
Examine briefly nature and characteristics of sociology.
Answer:
The nature and characteristics of sociology can be summarised in the following way :
Sociology is an Independent Science: Sociology is not treated and studied as a branch of any other Science like philosophy or political philosophy. As an independent science it has its own subject matter, theories and method of approach.

Sociology is a Social Science not a physical Science: Sociology belongs to the Social Science and not to the physical science. As a Social Science it concentrates its attention on man, his Social behaviour, Social activities and Social life. It is intimately related to other social Sciences like anthropology, Political Science, economics, and Psychology, etc.

Sociology is a categorical not a Normative Discipline: Sociology Studies things “as it is” and “not as they ought to be”. As a Science, Sociology is necessarily silent about the questions of value. It does not make any kind of value-judgements. Its approaches neither moral nor immoral but amoral. It is ethically neutral. It cannot decide the directions in which Sociology ought to go. Sociology is a pure Science not an Applied science: Sociology is a pure science, because the immediate aim of Sociology is the acquisition of knowledge.

On the contrary an applied science is interested in the application or utilization of that knowledge. Sociologists never determine questions of public policy and do not recommend legislators what laws should be passed or repealed. But the knowledge acquired by a Sociologist is of great help to the administrator, legislators, diplomats, teachers, Social workers, & citizens, i Sociology is relatively an abstract science and not a concrete science Sociology does not confine itself to the study of particular or concrete instances of human events.

But it. studies the abstract forms of human events and their patterns. For example, it does not limit ‘ itself to the Study of any particular war or revolution. On the contrary it deals with them in a I general or abstract manner, as Social phenomena, i.e., as types of Social conflict. In a similar manner, it makes such generalized Studies of marriage, religion, family, group, etc.

Sociology is a Generalising and not a particularising science: Sociology tries to make generalisations on the basis of the study of some selected events. For example, a Sociologist make generalizations on the following:

1. Joint families are more stable than the nuclear families.
2. Social changes tale place with greater rapidity in urban communities than in tribal or rural communities.

Sociology is a General Social Science and not a special Social Science: The area of enquiry of Sociology is general and not specialized. It is concerned with human activities whether they are political, economic, religious, social, etc., in a general way.

Finally Sociology is both an Empirical and a Rational Science: Sociology is an empirical science because it emphasises the facts that result from observation and experimentation, it rests on trial, or experiment or experience. It is a rational Science because it stresses the role of reasoning and logical inferences. An empiricist collects facts where as a rationalist co-ordinates and arranges them. All modem science including Sociology avail themselves of both empirical and rational resources.

Question 3.
Analyse the role of the twin revolutions in the emergence of sociology.
Answer:
Influence of the French revolutions (1789): The French Revolution was the most immediate factor in the rise of sociological thinking, the new political climate emphasized liberty, equality, emity, justice, individual right & thinking. The writers and thinkers of the day were particularly I disturbed by the chaos and disorder which the Revolution brought in.

Some of the radical I thinkers sought the need to find out new bases of social order or system which had been disturbed by the political revolutions. This interest in the issue of social order evinced by the social thinkers ultimately supported the cause of the emergence of sociology. The impact of the Industrial Revolution: the Industrial Revolution that began in England 1 in the 18th century swept through many western societies.

The Social effects of Industrial I Revolution were many. The revolution led to a factory system of production which in turn gave, place to mechanisation and industrialization. The simple rural life and domestic industries were replaced by complex urban life and mass production of goods. Industrialization changed the direction of civilisation.

Question 4.
Explain Alex Inkle’s views about the subject matter of Sociology.
Answer:
Alex Inkle’s in his book “What is Sociology?” has provided a general outline of the fields of Sociology on which there is considerable agreement among sociologists. It could be presented in the following manner:

1. Providing a sociological analysis of human culture and society: The major concern of sociology is human society and its culture. A sociologist seeks to provide an analysis of human society and culture with Sociological perspective. He evinces interest in the evolution of society and tries to reconstruct the major stages in the evolutionary process. An attempt is also made “to analyses the factors and forces underlying historical transformations of society”. Due importance is given to the scientific method that is adopted in the sociological studies.

2. Analysing the primary units: Sociology has given sufficient attention to the study of primary units of social life. In this area it is concerned with social acts and social relationships, individual personality, groups of all varieties, communities(urban, rural and tribal), association organisations and population.

3. Studying the Nature and Functions of Basic Social Institutions: Social Institutions constitute the basic fabric the society. Any social system is built on the foundation of social institutions. Institutions such as – the family and kinship religions and morality, Economic and political, legal and educational, scientific and aesthetic, recreational and expressive, medical and welfare, etc. Serve the most important needs of man. Sociology develops deep into the study of the origin and development, structure and function, changes and challenges of a wide variety of social institutions.

4. Sociology throws Light on the Fundamental social processes: Human society is neither static nor uniform. It is dynamic and diverse. This dynamic element in society is reflected by what are known as “social processes”. They reveal the way in which human interaction assume different patterns and courses in social life. The social processes such as co-operation and competition, accommodation, and assimilation, social conflict and communication, social differentiation and stratification, socialisation social control and deviance, social integration and social change, etc., assume prominence in sociological studies.

Question 5.
Explain the role of August Comte in the development of Sociology?
Answer:
Being one of the pioneers of Sociology, August Comte is the first who introduced the term “Sociology”. Therefore the credit of calling “Father of Sociology” goes to him. August Comte was the first to introduced a new science called “Sociology” and a brief note of his contribution Confirms a new era for the study of sociology. He used the word “Sociology” for the first time in his famous work “positive philosophy” during 1839.

He called sociology as the scientific study of society. He wanted that this science of society should explain the laws of the social world like natural sciences explain the laws of the physical world. August Comte insisted that, study of society needs scientific method with objectivity. He believed that theoretical science of society and a systematic investigation of behaviour were needed to improve society.

August Comte divided sociology into two parts. They are : (1) social statics and (2) social dynamics. “Social statics” deals with major Institutions such as family, economy, religion, etc. “Social Dynamics” deals with the issue of social change and social progress. Now these words are called in the name of social structure and social change respectively.

According to August Comte, there is a direct relation between intellectuality and social progress. Related to this he explains law of three stages. They are:

(i) The Theological stage: During this stage all human thoughts were guided by religious ideas and faith in the supernatural powers. It emphasizes the belief that everything is attributed to a particular God.

(ii) The metaphysical stage: During this stage, all human thought were guided by “abstract forces” like nature. It is almost like philosophical inquiry into the nature.

(iii) The positive or scientific stage: This is what the stage that everything based on intellectual way of thinking, looking the world. Through this theory Comte tried to establish the fact that man became more and more rational and scientific in his approach. Comte introduced a theory of classification of sciences. Through this theory he emphasized that there is interrelation and interdependence of social sciences.

August Comte as a supporter of the moral order in the society says that sociologists have to taken responsibility of “priesthood of humanity” and should solve the problems of the society. August Comte’s contribution to sociological literature are “Positive Philosophy” and “Positive Polity”.

Question 6.
Explain the role of Herbert Spencer in the development of Sociology?
Answer:
Herbert Spencer is one of pioneers of Sociology and it has been described Herbert Spencer’s Sociology as socially Darwinistic. Herbert Spencer has been called as “Second Father Sociology.”

Being a famous evolutionist, Spencer was very much influenced by Charles Darwin’s book “The origin of the species”. He tried to apply the theory of Biological evolution to Sociology. Spencer used the concept of evolution of animals to explain the evolution of society and he compares the society to human organism. His theory of organic analogy was very much popular earlier even though it has been rejected now. Spencer claimed that man’s mind has evolved in the same way from the simple automatic responses of lower animals to the process of reasoning in the thinking of man.

Spencer believed in two kinds of knowledge: knowledge gained by the individual and knowledge gained by the race. He also developed a theory of two types of society. They are (1) militant society (2) Industrial society. These are corresponded to the evolutionary progression. Thus according to him society is changing from simple form to complex form. Spencer stressed that the whole society should be considered as a unit of society.

According to him the different parts of society are interrelated and interdependent, not only the parts influence the whole system, but also the whole system influences the parts. While explaining the stages of the development of society his attitude of comparison draws a special attention. Major works of Herbert Spencer are “Social Statics”, “First Principles”, “Principles of ‘ Ethics”, “The Man Versus State”, “The study of sociology”, Principles of sociology”.

Question 7.
Briefly write the contributions of Durkheim to the enrichment of Sociologists.
Answer:
Emile Durkheim was definitely one of the most important contributors to sociological knowledge. His “comparative method” leads to the importance of studying different types of society comparatively. Durkheim believed that we must study social life with the same objectivity as scientists study the natural world. He was the first sociologist who emphasized the reality of society. He introduced “Rules of sociological method” to carry out the scientific study of „ society.

Durkheim’s opinion is that man’s social behavior has to understand not by personal view but by social background. He says that human event is called “social”. According to him, we perform every action in the interest of society. Our duties and practices are defined through law and custom. We have not created the duties, but have inherited them through our education these types of conduct are called ‘social facts’ in the words of Durkheim.

“A social fact is every way of acting, fixed or not. Capable of exercising on the individual an entemal constraint. Durkheim used the theory of “Anomie” in his book on the Davison of labor in society. To him suicide is a social fact that takes place due to external force. He outlined four types of suicide. They are (1) Egoistic suicide (2)Anomie suicide (3)Altruistic suicide (4)Fatalistic suicide.

Durkheim was impressed by the fact that religion is universal in human society and he felt that religion plays vital role in maintaining society as whole religious beliefs emerges from society and helps to hold the society together. Durkheim laid foundation for various specialized fields of study like General Sociology, sociology of religion, sociology of morals, sociology of law, sociology of crime, economic sociology and sociology of aesthetics, etc.

The major works of Emile Durkheim are “The division of Labour in society”, “Suicide”, “The Rules of sociological method”, “The Elementary forms of religious Life”.

Question 8.
Write briefly about G.S.Ghurye and Iravathi Karve as Indian sociologists.
Answer:
Dr GS.Ghurye: Dr. Ghurye played a key role in popularizing Sociology in India. Therefore he is called as the “Father of Indian Sociology”. The fame of functioning as the first head of the Department of Sociology goes to Dr. Ghurye. He is also recognized as the leading expert in the field of Sociology. Dr. Ghurye carried a elaborate study of “Cap caste and races in India”. He has elaborately written on origin of caste, regional existence of caste and its characteristics, impact of British rule on caste, caste in politics etc.

His study on rural culture has also gained importance in the field od Sociology. Studied on major deities, ancient civilization, role of sudhus and sanyasis was also included in his analysis. He has also written on Bharatnatyam and its costumes. He also covered studies in Rajput, literature, Shakespeare, Comte, contemporary problems in India. Totally his works present a logical continuity from the past to present to the immediate future. Dr. Ghurye has written “Caste and Race in India”, “Scheduled Tribes”, “Social tension in India”, “Vedic India”.

Dr. Iravathi Karve: Dr.Iravati Karve has been recognised as a renowned and brilliant sociologist. As a student of Dr. G.S.Ghurye, Dr.Iravati Karve was the first “Women Sociologist in India”. Dr. Iravati Karve’s field of studies is very much extensive that Indian society social institutions and kinship are her specialised interest of studies. Understanding Indian society and its institutions on the basis of kinship was her main effort. “Kinship organisation in India”, in his famous book “Hindu Society- an interpretation”, Land and people of Maharashtra, “Family of India” and more than seven books were written by Dr.Iravati Karve.

Question 9.
Distinguish between Sociology and common sense.
Answer:
Many times Sociology is charged with what it studies, we have at least a bit of knowledge about it or we have experienced it. Sometimes in our own lives or we know it through our popular wisdom. This knowledge, while sometimes accurate, is not always reliable, because it rests on commonly held beliefs rather than systematic analysis of facts. It was once considered ‘common sense’ to accept that the earth was flat. This was questioned by Pythagoras and Aristotle. Such notions still remain with us today.

For thousands of years people’s common sense told them that big objects fall faster than small ones, that stone and iron were perfectly. Solid materials, that the desire for children is instinctive in women, that with the spread of education, the institutions of caste and dowry will automatically wither away, yet today we know that none of these statement are true. These common sense statement s based on popular wisdom illustrate our point that common sense knowledge is not always true.

Some popular observations may be true but many others are not supported by empirical data. Many .common sense conclusions are based on guesses, hunches, ignorance, prejudices, mistaken interpretation and haphazard trial and error learning. Common sense can lead us astray when we are studying other societies and also when we are studying our own society. Like other scientists, sociologists do not accept something as a fact because “everyone knows it”. Instead, each piece of information must be tested and recorded, then analysed in relationship to other data. Sociology relies on facts gathered scientifically in order to describe, understand and predict about many social phenomena. ‘

Question 10.
Mention any five famous sociologists of 20th century?
Answer:
The famous sociologists of 20 century are
Pierre Bourdieu (1930): For Bourdieu the objective of sociology is to unveil the hidden culture of the society. For achieving this objective, sociologist should study cultural practices of the masses rather than classes. As such sociology should take up cultural analysis as their primary concern to uncover the political uses of science, the authority of science Physical or economic science, not to mention the biological or sociology, of the advanced forms of racism. Being a neo-Marxist, he emphasized on the culture of which is against the established culture.

What should be the shape of sociology? Answering this question, Bourdieu in his later works. The Logic of Practice (1990) and Craft of Sociology (1991) observed that the subjective and objective aspects of social life are inescapably bound together, as such there is no fun in the dualism of macro versus micro and structure versus agency, Instead, he calls for a constructivist approach to sociology, transcending both essentialism and all ideas taken for granted in everyday life.

Jurgen Habermas (1929): Jurgen Habermas is perhaps the most influential social thinker today with an explicit allegiance to Marxist thought. He is known as a best spokesman of the Frankfurt School of Critical Theory. Habermas has severely critised positivism. In his opinion, it has limited our understanding of natural and the social world. He focused particularly on three major contributions which have become prominent in the 1960s: (1) The phenomenological sociology (2) Anthropological extension of Wittgenstein’s notation of language games, and (3) Hans-Georg Gadamer’s philosophical hermeneutics.

He has been a serve critique of capitalist societies in which, according to him, change is ever present tend to destroy the moral order on which they in fact depend. We live in a social order where economic growth tends to take precedence over all else but this situation creates a back of meaning in everyday life.

Jacques Derrida (1930): French philosofher and post- modernist, who himself declined to be called as sociologist, but who has definitely made imprint on the modern sociology is Jacques Derrida. His ideas are developed primarily from linguisrics. Through his popular concept deconstruction, he has pleaded for the deconstruction of sociological texts. In his opinion, these texts demystified the social reality.

They do always unveil the truth of society. By deconstruction, Derrida means that the textual reading is hot always correct, it does not lead us to know the reality of society. Deconstruction brings out what texts exclude by showing what operates as in decidable in the texts itself. It is the task of sociology to deconstruct the narratives of the texts through the explicit and implicit analyses.

Question 11.
Consider Sociology as a pure science.
Answer:
Pure science is a branch for knowledge, without primary concern for practical use. Knowledge for knowledge sake is the main aim of a pure scientist. Scientists, who seek knowledge for its own sake, no more moved by the question of its, utility like the mother and the father who protect and nourish their children without expecting any thing inretum parents commonly love their children without calculating their usefulness.

Many students/ researchers of science feel much the same thing about their work. Pure sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Botany, Physiology, Psychology, Anthropology, Political Science, Sociology, etc) are concerned with the advancement of knowledge. Their main aim is to investigate the underlined principles of the natural and social world which sustain and change in the natural and social order.

They are not concerned w ith the practical applications of their results or curing the immediate ills of natural or social orders. The goal of each natural science, including sociology is the formulation of scientific laws. Sociology is a pure science, not an applied one. The immediate goal of sociology is the acquisition of knowledge about the human society, not the utilization of that knowledge.

Question 12.
Consider Sociology as an applied science.
Answer:
Applied science is the search for ways of using scientific knowledge to solve practical problems. This science which apply the principles of knowledge are used principles to manipulate something something, gained from the basic or pure sciences, are known as applied sciences. All branches of engineering, medicine, architecture, and social work come under this category of applied sciences. An applied science has quite opposite aim and intent than a pure science.

It is not concern with the theory or formulation of laws or development and systemization of principles. The social sciences like all the sciences have dual function. They serve to help the people to solve their problems and at the same time to explore and to understand the world around them. As such, there is an interest in application and an interest in understanding as well.

When social scientific findings are applied to the solutions of social problems, it is called applied sociology. Sociology as an applied discipline which uses knowledge of the pure social scientists to improve social life. Immediately, sociology seeks to understand the fundamental mechanism „ of social reality but the desire to understand is always motivated by the wish to control. The main aim of applied sociology is to bring social welfare in society through social scientific investigation.

Question 13.
Write the five main branches of applied Sociology.
Answer:
Applied Sociology may be divided into five main branches:

1. Clinical Sociology
2. Social engineering
3. Social work
4. Applied social research
5. Action Sociology

Question 14.
Mention the new perspective development by Modern Sociologists to study society?
Answer:
All science are useful to the human begins in one or the other manner. Professor Giddings says, “Sociology tells us how to become what we want to become”. The study of Sociology has a great practical importance in the modern complex society which is as follows:

1. Development of Personality: Man is fundamental a social being. He has to adjust to the changing conditions of the society’. In order to adjust, he is in need of knowledge of the society. Sociology gives a scientific and a comprehensive knowledge of human society. The scientific knowledge about the structure of society, its development, change, problems, individuals rights and obligations etc, makes not only individual an enlighten member of the society, but also leads to the development of his personality in a proper manner.

2. Change in Attitudes: Sociology is useful in developing rational attitudes towards society, religion, customs, mores, institutions, values; ideologies etc. Sociology plays a important role in changing the attitudes towards others. The study of Sociology helps us to overcome prejudices about others people, class, caste, religious hat redness, misconceptions, ambitions, Totally Sociology helps us to develop a critical approach towards the Social World, so that we can have better relations with the people of not only our society, but also with people of other societies Solution of Social Problems: Every society is facing its own problems.

For ex, India is facing so many social problems like Poverty, Unemployment, Terrorism, Corruption, Untouchability Prostitution, Gambling, Over population, Beggary etc. they deep study of these problems is necessary to solve them, Sociology helps us to make an objective study of social problems. It’s also gives valuable suggestions to solve.

3. Social Planning and Policy Making: Sociology is playing a key role in social planning and policy making Sociological knowledge is very much useful and the service and suggestions of expert sociologists are sought even in the formulations of Government Policies, Social legislations, regarding family, population control, child labour, environment pollution, beggary, etc,

4. To promote Welfare of the Backward and Weaker Section of the Societyrln India SC’s, ST’s and other weaker sections are explained social economic & political field for centuries. To promote welfare programmers for these groups sociological knowledge is necessary.

5. Sociology as a Attractive Teaching Subject: Sociology is gaining importance as a popular teaching subject, Carriers apart from teaching are now possible in Sociology, Sociology is introduced as one of the subject to be studied in many colleges and Universities, Sociology is also included in the subjects to be offered by candidates taking competitive examinations like IAS, IPS, IFS, KAS and KES etc. there are many employment opportunities in-many fields like Education, social Welfare, Family Welfare, Public Administration, Women and Child Welfare Department etc.

Role of Sociology in developing countries: Social factors are also responsible for the economic backwardness particularly in under developed countries. Economists have now realized the importance of sociological information and knowledge in analyzing the economic life goes their countries. So, it has been said that “Economist should be Sociologist also”.

6. Sociological Knowledge about modern situations and developments: Sociology always gives information about the recent changes and development that takes place in and around us. So that, we can act according to the changes. The knowledge about these things makes us conscious about our responsibilities towards society.

Conclusion: We can be convinced of the importance or uses of Sociology by the above explanation. Is has both personal and social advantages. The question of the value of Sociology is therefore not a question of whether or not should have such a science, but a question of how the knowledge acquired by it can be used.

Question 15.
Explain EW Burgess Classification of Institution?
Answer:
EW Burgess has offered fourfold classification:

• Cultural institutions for transmitting social heritage like family, school and religious institution
• Economic institutions for organizing of services of utility like bank, labor union, commercial and industrial enterprises.
• Recreational institution for satisfying human desire of entertainment amusement and play etc.
• Social control institutions for solving problem of society and personality.

1st PUC Sociology Nature of Sociology Ten Marks Questions and Answers

Question 1.
Define Sociology? Describe its characteristics?
Answer:
Sociology is the youngest among the Social Sciences. The term “Sociology” is derived from Latin word “Socius” means ‘Companion’ or ‘Associate’ and Greek word “LOGOS” means ‘Science’ or ‘Study of Society’. Thus the etymological meaning of the term Sociology is “Study of Society”.

The nature and characteristics of sociology can be summarised in the following way :

1. Sociology is an independent science: Sociology is not treated and studied as a branch of any other science like philosophy or political philosophy. As an independent science, it has its own field of study, boundary and method of approach.

2. Sociology is a Social Science and not a physical Science: Sociology belongs to the Social Science and not to Physical Science. As a social science, it concentrates its attention on man, his Social behavior, Social Activities, and Social life. It is intimately related to other social Sciences like Anthropology, Political Science, Economics, Psychology, etc.

3. Sociology is a categorical and not a Normative Discipline: Sociology Studies things “as it is” and not “as they ought to be”. As a Science, Sociology is necessarily silent about the questions of value. It does not make any kind of value-judgements. Its approaches neither moral nor immoral but amoral. It is ethically neutral. It cannot decide the directions in which Sociology ought to go.

4. Sociology is a pure science and not an Applied science: Sociology is a pure Science because the immediate aim of Sociology is the acquisition of knowledge. On the contrary an applied science is interested in the application or utilization of that knowledge. Sociologists never determine questions of public policy and do not recommend legislators what laws should be passed or repealed. But the knowledge acquired by a Sociologist is of great help to the administrator, legislators, diplomats, teachers, social workers, and citizens.

5. Sociology is relatively an abstract science and not a concrete science: Sociology does not confine itself to the study of particular or concrete instances of human events. But it studies the abstract forms of human events and their patterns. For example, it does not limit itself to the study of any particular war or revolution. On the contrary, it deals with them in a general or abstract manner, as social phenomena, i.e., as types of Social conflict. In a similar manner, it makes such generalized Studies of marriage, religion, family, group, etc.

6. Sociology is a Generalising and not a particularising science: Sociology tries to make generalizations on the basis of the study of some selected events. For example, a sociologist make generalizations on the following:

• Joint families are more stable than the nuclear families.
• Social changes tale place with greater rapidity in urban communities than in tribal or rural communities.

7. Sociology is a General Social science and not a Special Social Science: The area of inquiry of Sociology is general and not specialized. It is concerned with human activities whether they are political, economic, religious, social, etc., in a general way.

8. Sociology is both an Empirical and a Rational Science: Sociology is an empirical science because, it emphasises the facts that result from observation and experimentation, it rests on trial, or experiment or experience. It is a rational Science because it stresses that role of reasoning and logical inferences. An empiricist collects facts where as a rationalist co-ordinates and arranges them. All modern science including Sociology avail themselves of both empirical and rational resources.

Question 2.
Examine the factors that contributed to the emergence of Sociology.
Answer:
The major factors which favoured the emergence of Sociology are as follows:
(a) Impact of the Twin Revolution: Sociology emerged in the context of the sweeping changes that the twin revolutions, namely (a) The French Revolution and (b) The Industrial Revolution, brought to Europe.

1.  Influence of the French revolutions (1789): The French Revolution was the most immediate factor in the rise of sociological thinking, the new political climate emphasised liberty, equality, fraternity, justice, individual right and thinking. The writers and thinkers of the day were particularly disturbed by the chaos and disorder which the Revolution brought in. Some of the radical thinkers sought the need to find out new bases of social order or system which had been disturbed by the political revolutions. This interest in the issue of social order evinced by the social thinkers ultimately supported the cause of the emergence of sociology.

2. The impact of the industrial revolution: The Industrial Revolution that began in England in the 18th century swept through many western societies. The social effects of Industrial Revolution were many. The revolution led to factory system of production which in turn gave place to mechanisation and industrialisation. The simple rural life and domastic industries were replaced by complex urban life and mass production of goods. Industrialisation changed the direction of civilisation. Peasants left the rural areas and flocked towns, Cities started growing at a very fast rate. Cities also became the centres of crime, Political orders and religious beliefs were also adversely affected.

(b) Inspiration from the growth of natural and other social sciences: The age of Enlightenment and the era of Revolutions increased the importance of Science in Society. Science subjects came to introduced as major subjects of learning in several colleges and universities in the west. Further technological products from coal to steam engines, from sward tq hand gun and canons, from pen and paper to printing press, and the like started entering almost all sectors of life. Science thus, started acquiring enormous prestige in society.

The success attained by the natural scientists inspired and even tempted good number of social thinkers to imitate their example. Many thinkers wanted to model Sociology after the successful physical and biological sciences. Comte, Durkheim, Spencer, Weber, Simmel and others successfully demonstrated that the methods of physical sciences could be used effectively to study the social world.

(c) Inspiration provided by the newly discovered societies and cultures: The colonial powers of Europe such as England, France, Portugal, Spain, Holland, Germany, and other nations came in contact with different societies and cultures in the colonies. Their exposures to such diversities in cultures provided an intellectual challenge for the social scientists of the day. Information about the widely contrasting social practices of these distant peoples raised fresh questions about society! The new science of society called “Sociology” emerged as an independent science in an attempt to find convincing answer to these and to many such questions.

Question 3.
Examine the subject matter of Sociology.
Answer:
Alex Inkle’s in his book “what is Sociology?” has provided a general outline of the fields of Sociology on which there is considerable agreement among sociologists. It could be presented in the following manner:

(1) Providing a sociological analysis of human culture and society: The major concern ,. of Sociology is human society and its culture. A sociologist seeks to provide an analysis of ” human society and culture with a Sociological perspective. He evinces interest in the 1 evolution of society and tries to reconstruct the maj or stages in the evolutionary process.

An attempt is also made to “analyse the factors and forces underlying historical Transformations of society”. Due importance is given to the scientific method that is adopted in the sociological studies.

(2) Analysing the primary units of social life: Sociology has given sufficient attention to the study of primary units of social life. In this area it is concerned with social acts and social relationships, individual personality, groups of all varieties, communities(urban, rural and tribal), association organisations and population.

(3) Studying the Nature and Functions of Basic Social Institutions: Social Institutions constitute the basic fabric the society. Any social system is built on the foundation of social institutions. Institutions such as – the family and kinship religions and morality, Economic and political, legal and educational, scientific and aesthetic, recreational and expressive, medical and welfare, etc. Serve the most important needs of man. Sociology. develops deep into the study of the origin and development, structure and function, changes ’ and challenges of a wide variety of social institutions.

(4) Sociology throws Light on the Fundamental social processes: Human society is neither static nor uniform, it is dynamic and diverse. This dynamic element in society is reflected by what are known as “social processes”. They reveal the way in which human interaction assume different patterns and courses in social life. The social processes such as co-operation and competition, accommodation, and assimilation, social conflict and communication, social differentiation and stratification, socialisation social control and deviance, social integration and social change, etc., assume prominence in sociological studies.

In the present era of explosion of knowledge, sociologists have ventured to make specialisations also, thus, today good number of specialised fields of inquiry are emerging out. Sociology of knowledge, Sociology of history, Sociology of culture, Sociology of religion, Sociology of family, etc., represent such specialised fields.

Question 4.
Describe the contributions of Comte and Spencer towards the development of Sociology.
Answer:
August Comte: Being one of the pioneers of Sociology, August Comte is the first who introduced the term “Sociology”. Therefore the credit of calling “Father of Sociology” goes to.him. August Comte was the first to introduce a new science called “Sociology” and a brief note of his contribution confirms a new era for the study of Sociology. He used the word “Sociology” for the first time in his famous work “Positive Philosophy” during 1839. He called Sociology as the scientific study of society. He wanted that this science of society should explain the laws of the social world like natural sciences explain the laws of the physical world.

August Comte insisted that the study of society needs scientific method with objectivity. He believed that theoretical science of society and a systematic investigation of behaviour were needed to improve society.

August Comte divided Sociology into two parts. They are : (1) Social statics and (2) social dynamics. “Social statics” deals with major institutions such as family, economy, religion, etc. “Social Dynamics” deals with the issue of social change and social progress. Now these . words are called in the name of social structure and social change respectively.

According to August Comte, there is a direct relation between intellectuality and social progress. Related to this he explains law of three stages. They are:
(i) The Theological stage: During this stage all human thoughts were guided by religious ideas and faith in the supernatural powers. It emphasizes the belief that everything is attributed to a particular God.

(ii) The metaphysical stage: During this stage, all human thought were guided by “abstract forces” like nature. It is almost like philosophical inquiry into the nature.

(iii) The positive or scientific stage: This is what the stage that everything based on intellectual way of thinking, looking the world. Through this theory Comte tried to establish the fact that man became more and more rational and scientific in his approach. Comte introduced a theory of classification of sciences.

Through this theory he emphasized that there is interrelation and interdependence of social sciences. August Comte as a supporter of the moral order in the society says that sociologists have taken responsibility of “priesthood of humanity” and should solve the problems of the society. August Comte’s contribution to sociological literature are “Positive Philosophy” and “Positive Polity”

Herbert Spencer: Herbert Spencer is one of pioneers of Sociology and it has been described Herbert Spencer’s Sociology as socially Darwinistic. Herbert Spencer has been called as “Second Father of Sociology.” Being a famous evolutionist, Spencer was very much influenced by Charles Darwin’s book “The Origin of Species”. He tried to apply the theory of Biological evolution to Sociology.

Spencer used the concept of evolution of animals to explain the evolution of society and he compares the society to human organism. His theory of organic analogy was very much popular earlier even though it has been rejected now. Spencer claimed that man’s mind has evolved in the same way from the simple automatic responses of lower animals to the process of reasoning in the thinking of man. Spencer believed in two kinds of knowledge: knowledge gained by the individual and knowledge gained by the Race. He also developed a theory of two types of society.

They are (1) Militant society (2) Industrial society. These are corresponded to the evolutionary progression. Thus according to him society is changing from simple form to complex form. Spencer stressed that the whole society should be considered as a unit of society. According to him the different parts of society are interrelated and interdependent, not only the parts influence the whole system, but also the whole system influences the parts. While explaining the stages of the development of society his attitude of comparison draws a special attention.

Major works of Herbert Spencer are “Social Statics”, “First Principles”, “Principles of ethics”, “The Man Versus State”, “The study of Sociology”, Principles of Sociology”

Question 5.
Explain the uses of Sociology:
Answer:
a. Development of Personality : Man is fundamentally a social being. He has to adjust to the changing conditions of the society. Sociology gives a scientific and a comprehensive knowledge of human society. The scientific knowledge about the structure of society, its development, change, problems, individual rights and obligations, etc., makes not only individual an enlighten member of the society, but also leads to the development of his personality in a proper manner.

b. Change in attitudes: Sociology is useful in developing rational attitude towards society, religion, customs, mores, institutions, values, ideologies, etc. Sociology plays an important role in changing the attitudes towards others. The study of Sociology helps us to overcome prejudices about others people, class, caste, religious hatredness, misconceptions ambitions. Totally Sociology helps us to develop a critical approach towards the ‘ Social World’, So that, we can have better relations with the people of not only our society but also with the people of other societies.

c. Solutions of Social Problems: Every society is facing its own problems. For example, India is facing so many problems like poverty, unemployment, terrorism, corruption, untouchability, prostitution, gambling, over population, beggary, etc. The deep study of these problems is necessary to solve them. Sociology helps us to make an objective study of social problems. It also gives valuable suggestions to solve.

d. Social Planning and Policy Making: Sociology is playing a key role in social planning and policy making. Sociological knowledge is very much useful and the service and suggestions of expert sociologists are sought even in the formulations of Government Policies, Social Legislations regarding family, population control, child labour, environment pollution, beggary, etc.

e. To promote welfare of the backward and weaker section of the society: In India, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and other weaker sections are exploited in social, economic, and political fields for centuries. To promote welfare programmes for these groups sociological knowledge is necessary.

f. Sociology as a Attractive Teaching Subject: Sociology is gaining importance as a popular teaching subject. Careers apart from teaching are now possible in Sociology. Sociology is introduced as one of the subj ect to be studied in many colleges and Universities. Sociology is also included in the subjects to be offered by candidates taking completive examinations like IAS, IPS, IFS, KAS and KES, etc. There are many employment opportunities in many fields like Education, Social Welfare, Family Welfare, Public Administration, Women and Child Welfare Development, etc.

g. Role of Sociology in developing countries: Social factors are also responsible for the economic backwardness particularly in under developed countries. Economists have now realized the importance of sociological information and knowledge in analyzing the economic life of their countries. So, it has been said that “Economist should be Sociologist also”.

h. Sociological knowledge about modern situations and developments: Sociology always gives information about the recent changes and developments that takes place in and around us. So that we can act according to the changes. The knowledge about these things makes us conscious about our responsibilities towards society.

Question 6.
Explain the modern trends in Sociology.
Answer:
Sociology as we know it today draws upon the firm foundation developed by Emile Durkheim, Max Weber and Karl Marx. The trio has been seen by some sociologists as epitomising modern Sociology. However, the discipline has not remained stagnant over the last century. Sociologists have gained new insights which have helped them to better understand the workings of society. Contemporary Sociology reflects the diverse contributions of earlier theorists like GH.Mead, C.H.Cooley, Talcott Parsons, Robert Merton and many others speaking through the pages of current research.

Sociologists expect the 21st century too be perhaps the most exciting and critical period in the history of the discipline because of a growing recognition that social problems must be addressed because of a growing recognition that social problems must be addressed in the near future. The far going long description and analysis about the nature, perspective, scope, and subject matter will be incomplete if we do not reflect on the modern trends in Sociology.

It is a fact that during the last quarter of the 20th century, many new thinkers who were not trained as sociologists, have entered into the arena of Sociology, notable among them are Michel Foucault, Jurgen Habermas, Pierre Bourdieu, Jacques Derrida and Anthony Giddens. They have in some way or other influenced the course of Sociology, especially the methods of investigation. This new generation of sociologists has invented or used many concepts as tools od sociological research such as Habitus, Deconstruction, Structuration, etc. With their efforts new perspectives have developed such as post-industrialism, post – structuralism, post – modernism, neo-functionalism, neo-Marxism, etc.

The types of questions as the classical thinkers – Comte, Durkheim, Marx, Weber sought to answer – what is human nature? Why is society so structured? Why and how do societies change? What directions will change take in the future?- are the same questions modem thinkers try to answer today but their approaches are different. Our modern world is radically different from the past and this has an impact on the development of Sociology also. Now, it is the task of sociology to help us understand the rapidly changing world in which we live and reflect about the nature of the future world.

Question 7.
List out the fields of Sociology in 20th century.
Answer:
Contemporary sociology has been divided and subdivided into a wide range of specialized fields of research and theory. The prominent fields of research now-a-days are : interpersonal Natures of Setioiagy relations, rural and urban life, marriage and family, social differentiation, stratification and inequality, caste, gender, population and demography, Subaltern studies, economic sociologies, political sociology, educational sociology, formal sociology, race and ethnicity, formal organisations, linguistics, Criminology, Gerontology, Social change, modernity and post modernity, globalisation and world system.

Other important branches are sociology of religion and knowledge, law, work, occupation, professions and industries, architecture, art, music, literature, health, illness, and medicines, development and welfare, deviance, and many other subjects along with sociology and sociological methodology.

Question 8.
Point out the sociological views of Pierre Bourdieu, Jurgen Habermas and Jacques Derrida.
Answer:
Pierre Bourdieu: For Bourdieu, the objective of Sociology is to unveil the hidden culture of the society. For achieving this objective, sociologists should study cultural practices of the masses rather than classes. As such, sociology should take up cultural analysis as their primary concern to uncover the political uses of science, the authority of science of the advances forms of racism.

Being a neo-Marxist, he emphasized on the culture of proletariat to which he calls “counter culture”. What should be the shape Sociology? Answering this question, Bourdieu in his later works, The Logic Of Practice( 1990) and Craft Of Sociology (1991), observed that the subjective and objective aspects of social life are inescapably bound together, as such there is no fun in the dualism of macro versus micro and structure versus agency. Instead, he calls for a constructivist approach to sociology, transcending both essentialism and all ideas taken for granted in everyday life.

Jurgen Habermas: Habermas is perhaps the most influential social thinker today with any explicit allegiance to Marxist thought. He is known as the beast spokesman of the Frankfurt School of Critical Theory. Habermas has severely criticised positivism. In his opinion, it has limited our understanding of natural and the social world. He focussed particularly on three major contributions which have become prominent in the 1960’s : (1) The phenomenological sociology, (2) Anthropological extension of Wittgenstein’s notation of language games, and (3) (Hans-Georg Gadamer’s philosophical hermeneutics.

He has been a severe critique of capitalist societies in which, according to him, change is ever present tend to destroy the moral order on which they they in fact depend. We live, in a social world where economic growth tends to take precedence over all else but this situation creates a back of meaning in everyday life. Jacques Derrida: French philosopher and post – modernist, who himself declined to be called as sociologist, but who has definitely made imprint on the modern sociology is Jacques Derrida. His ideas are developed primarily from linguisrics.

Through his most popular concept. deconstruction, he has pleaded for deconstruction of sociological texts. In his opinion, these texts demystified the social reality. They do always unveil the truth of society. By deconstruction, Derrida means that the texting reading is not always correct, it does not lead us to know the reality of society. Deconstruction brings out what texts exclude by showing what operates as in decidable in the texts itself. It is the task of sociology to deconstruct the narratives of the . texts through the explicit and implicit analyses.