P R E PA R E D B Y:H E R A L D O , R A C H E LL E E , H A N N A H E L A I N E

HUMAN SOCIETY

Humans generally do not live alone, isolated from each other. Instead, individuals tend to live in communities with other people related by ethnicity, nationality, religion, or some other cultural element. A human society is a group of people who share a common lifestyle and organization.

The human society has been viewed as a unique and complex society. Because of its dynamic features, it is capable of developing and improving its structures.

One of the basic components of society is people.

MEANING OF SOCIETY

• Composed of a large number of people who form relatively organized, self-sufficient, enduring body.• Society is composed of interacting individuals and

interacting groups sharing a common culture.• 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

1. THE STRUCTURAL-FUNCTIONAL PERSPECTIVE• Also known as the “Concensus Theory”• This perspective addresses the question of social

organization and how it is maintained.• The structural-functional perspective stresses the

idea that relations among the individuals, groups, and societies, follow well-defined patterns of social organization.• Functionalism views social organizations as a

system composed of interrelated parts.• This perspective emphasizes on – stability,

harmony and evolution.

Social structures provide pre-set patterns which

evolved to meet human needs

Stability, Order and Harmony

Maintenance of Society

STRUCTURAL-FUNCTIONAL METHOD

2. THE CONFLICT THEORY

• This theory addresses the point of stress and conflict in society and the way they contribute to social change.• Society’s legal system as a political instrument

rather than resolution of conflict and preservation order.• 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.

Social structures produce patterns of inequality in the distribution

of scarce resources

CONFLICT Reorganization and change

The Conflict Model

3. THE SYMBOLIC-INTERACTION PERSPECTIVE• This theory addresses the subjective meanings of

human acts and the processes through which people come to develop and communicate shared meanings.• Symbolic-Interaction directs attention to analysis

of the interaction of persons in face-to-face communication.

INDIVIDUAL

Analysis of the

interaction by other persons

INTERACTION INDIVIDUAL

The Symbolic-Interaction Model

STRUCTURAL-FUNCTIONAL PERSPECTIVE

CONFLICT PERSPECTIVE

SYMBOLIC-INTERACTION PERSPECTIVE

NATURE OF SOCIETY

Interrelated social structure that fit together to form an integrated whole.

Competing interest group with each group seeking to secure its own.

Interacting individuals, social networks and groups.

BASIS OF INTERACTION

Consensus and shared values

Constraint, power and conflict

Shared meaning regarding symbols.

FOCUS ON 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

CONCEPT SUMMARY

SOCIOLOGY

SOCIOLOGY

• Sociology is taken from the Latin word “SOCIUS” meaning companion or associate and the Greek word “LOGOS” meaning study, combining the two words will mean the study of associates or companions.• Study of society, groups and social behavior.• Scientific study of human society.

WHY STUDY SOCIETY?

1. To understand the world we live in and the intricate realities of group interactions and social processes.

2. To explain and understand human behavior in a society.

3. To determine the existence of groups, their functions, nature and characteristics.

4. To understand “how” and “why” human beings act the way they do.

THE EMERGENCE OF SOCIOLOGY

• The emergence of Industrial Revolution paved the way for the development of Sociology.

1. AUGUSTE COMTE (1798-1857)- Founder of Sociology- A French mathematician and

philosopher who proposed a separate new science of society. This science was known as “Social Physics” or what it is now as Sociology.

SOCIOLOGY

a. Social Static

b. Social Dynamics

• The society is an expression of God’s will.a.

Theological Stage

• People were less likely to see society as the work of supernatural forces and placed more emphasis on the forces of nature.

b. Metaphysical Stage

• Final stage of understanding.c. Scientific Stage

3 STAGES IN UNDERSTANDING SOCIETY

2. HERBERT SPENCER (1820-1903)- A British philosopher-

scientist who advanced the thesis that evolution accounts for the development of social and natural life.

- He stressed that society is similar to a living organism with parts working together to survive.

3. KARL MARX (1818-1883)- A philosopher, economist

and a social activist.- He regarded private

property and capitalism as the root causes of poverty.

a. Economic Determinism – Economic relationships provide the foundation of which all other social and political arrangements are built.

b. The Dialect – it advocates that conflict is the only factor that can bring change to a society.

4. EMILE DURKHEIM (1858-1919)

- A French intellectual who viewed society as a total entity, as something more than the sum of its parts.

“When society over regulates and there is less freedom, fatalistic suicide occurs. When there is too much freedom and less regulation, we have anomic suicide.”

5. MAX WEBER (1864-1920)- A German economist,

historian and philosopher.- He believes that to

understand the behavior of the individual, we have to understand the meaning of the individual attributes to that behavior.

THE EARLY SOCIETY

A. HUNTING AND GATHERING SOCIETIES

• From the inception of human social life until the discovery of the techniques of planting sometime between ten and twelve thousand years ago, humans survived primarily by hunting wild animals and gathering wild vegetation.• The hunting and gathering society that uses

simple technology to hunt animals and gather vegetation for survival.

“HEADMAN” – political leader“SHAMAN” – spiritual leader

B. HORTICULTURAL, FISHING AND PASTORAL SOCIETIES

• The horticultural society developed a society that uses hand tools to raise crops.• The beginning of this society has their first

records in the Middle East. • About the pastoral societies, the main activity of

them was the domestication of animals. Today, there are a mix among these two societies. Horticulture and pastorals can be found throughout South America, Africa, and Asia. 

The domestication of plants and animals transformed societies in various ways:

1. Producing more food allowed societies to become larger.

2. The domestication of plants and animals enabled societies to generate a material surplus – more resources than necessary to sustain day-to-day living.

3. Advances in housing technology and home industries such as weaving, pottery, and leather making.

4. Efficiency and effectiveness of tools and weapons have markedly improved.

5. The technological capacity to produce a surplus of food also results in pronounced social inequality. With more resources to fight for, conflicts became prevalent and slavery has grown widespread.

C. AGRARIAN SOCIETIES

• Agricultural societies come as an extension of the horticultural societies. Their coming marks a major improvement in the lives of the people during that time.• This era was then regarded as the “dawn of

civilization”.

The major features of this society are:

1. The animal-drown plow produced food far more efficiently than the hand tools used in horticultural society.

2. The greater surplus of food produced by agriculture enabled a large proportion of the population to engage in various special activities.

3. Money emerged as a mean of exchange replacing barter as a system for trade among people engaged in specialized activities.

4. Communication and transportation facilities are greatly improved.

5. The expansion of trade sparked the growth of cities as economic and political centers.

6. Agrarian societies produce dramatic social inequality.

7. The social power of the elite greatly expands and exercises absolute control over large empires.

D. INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY

• A society that uses sophisticated machinery powered by advanced fuels to produce material goods.• The muscle power of humans and animals is no

longer the basis of production.• Tools and machinery become more complex and

efficient owing to the incorporation of metal alloys such as steel.

Industrialism has generated societies of unparalleled size and prosperity. The effects are:

1.It has brought about a greater concentration of population in the urban areas.

2.Rising of standard living of the people due to inventions.

3.Occupational specialization becomes more pronounced than ever.

4.The family loses much of its traditional significance as the center of social life.

5.Advanced health-related technology increased the life expectancy of the people leading to population growth.

TYPE OF SOCIETY

TECHNOLOGY ECONOMY SETTLEMENTS SOCIAL ORG.

A. Hunting and Gathering Society

Very simple-fire arrows, baskets

Bare subsistence- no surplus

Nomadic 25-40 people

All resting within family

B. Horticultural and Pastoral Society

Digging sticks, occasionally blade tools

Simple crop cultivation, some surplus and exchange

Semi-permanent some cities, occasionally kingdoms

Family centered; Religious system begins to develop moderate specialization; Increased social inequality

C. Agrarian Society

Irrigation, fertilization, metallurgy, animal-drawn plow

Largely agricultural but much surplus; Increase market exchange and substantial trade

Permanent – urbanization becoming important; empires covering continent

Family loses significance as distinctive religious, political, and economic system emerged. Increased social inequality.

D. Industrial Society

Advance sources of energy; Mechanized production

Industrial – few engaged in agriculture or direct production; Much surplus; Fully developed market economy

Permanent – urban living predominating. Cities now contain most of the population

Complex set of interdependent institutions.