c1l1-understanding society

8/7/2019 C1L1-Understanding Society

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The Human Society:

Understanding Society

Chapter 1Lesson 1



Overview

� The human society has been viewed as a

unique and complex society.

�

One of the basic components of society ispeople.

� For a long period of time man was able to

develop his society.

� It became more complex and problems arise.



What is society?

� A system of community life in which

individuals form a continuous and regulatory

association for their mutual benefit and

protection (Frank and Wagnalls).

� A society is composed of interacting

individuals and interacting groups sharing a

common culture (Perucci and Knudsen).



� It is a geographical aggregate of individuals

who live a common life and of groupsinterrelated with one another.

� Holding the society together is a social

organization, which gives order and meaningto the social relationships between individuals

or groups.

� Society is a systematic network of social

relations and it is the venue where the

dynamics of cooperation and conflict occurs.



Sociological Theories and Perspectives of Society

� Most sociologists differ in their approaches in

studying mans way of life and that of society.

�

They emphasize different aspects of interpreting social life.

� They choose one theoretical approach over

another in the hope that it will lead to

sounder knowledge or greater insight for

constructive social action.



Structural-Functional Perspective

� Also known as Conceptual Theory.

� It addresses the question of social

organization and how it is maintained.� It stresses the idea that relations among the

individuals, groups, and societies, follow well-

defined patterns of social organization.

� It emphasizes the following: stability,

harmony and evolution.



Structural-Functional Model

Stability, order andharmony

Maintenance ofsociety

Social structuresprovide pre-set

patterns which evolved

to meet human needs



The Conflict Theory

� It addresses the point of stress and conflict in

society and the way they contribute to social

change.

� Conflict theorists are concerned with

identifying the conditions that lead to

discontent and conflict.

� They believe that social change can only be

attained through conflict.



The Conflict Model

Reorganizationand change

CONFLICT

Social structures producepatterns of inequality in the

distribution of scare

resources



The Symbolic-Interaction Perspective

� It addresses the subjective meanings of

human acts and the process through which

people come to develop and communicate

shared meanings.

� It directs attention to analysis of the

interaction of persons in face-to-face

communication.



The Symbolic-Interaction Model

Interaction IndividualIndividual

Analysis of theinteraction by other

persons



Concept Summary

Structural-Functional

Perspective

Conflict Perspective Symbolic-Interaction

Perspective

Nature of

Society

Interrelated social

structure that fittogether to form an

integrated whole.

Competing interest

group with eachgroup seeking to

secure its own.

Interacting individuals,

social networks andgroups.

Basis of

Interaction

Consensus and shared

values.

Constraint, power

and conflict.

Shared meaning

regarding symbols.

Focus of

Inquiry

Social order and

maintenance.

Social change and

conflict.

Development of self

and adaptation of individual to society.

Level of

Analysis

Social structure Social structure Interpersonal

interaction.

c1l1-understanding society

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