This document defines key concepts in sociology, including the meaning of society, characteristics of society, functions of society, social change, and social disorganization. It defines society as a complex web of social relationships and organized associations between individuals. A society is characterized by mutual interaction and both cooperation/conflict between people. Key functions of society include satisfying basic needs, managing education/the economy, and preserving/transmitting culture. Social change can occur in linear, wave-like, or cyclic patterns and is a dynamic, universal process that varies in pace between social systems. Social disorganization refers to a breakdown in social norms and cooperation that can lead to widespread discontent.

1. UNDERSTANDING THE SOCIETY
 Meaning and Nature of Society
 Definition of Society
 Characteristics of Society
 Functions of a Society
 Social Change
 Social Disorganization

2. MEANING AND NATURE OF SOCIETY
 The most fundamental term in Sociology/ Social Wok is the term ‘Society’.
 Society is an association as well
 The term ‘Society’ is originally derived from the Latin word ‘socius’, which means
companionship or friendship
 Aristotle said “Man is a social animal”
 Society refers to plurality, relationship and interaction among individuals.

3. EXAMPLES OF SOCIETY
 CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY
 AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY
 FRIENDLY SOCIETY
 RELIGIOUS SOCIETY
 HIGH CLASS SOCIETY

4. DEFINITION OF SOCIETY
 “Society is the complex of organized associations and institutions within a
community”- G.D.M. Cole
 “Society is a web of Social relationship”- Mac Iver
 “Society is the union itself, the organization, the sum of formal relations in which
associating individuals are bound together”- F.H. Giddings
 “A society is a collection of individuals united by certain relations or modes of
behaviour which mark them off from others, who do not enter into those
relations or who differ from them in behaviour.” - Ginsberg

5. CHARACTERISTICS
 Society consists of people
 Mutual interaction and awareness
 Society depends on likeness
 Society rests on difference too
 Co-operation and conflict
 Ever changing and complex nature
 Not confined only to human beings

6. FUNCTIONS OF SOCIETY
 Satisfaction of basic needs
 Preservation of order
 Management of education
 Management of the economy
 Power management
 Division of labour
 Communication Management
 Preservation and transmission of culture
 Leisure
 Religiosity

7. SOCIAL CHANGE
 Linear (e.g. Technological, Scientific, etc.)
 Wave-like (e.g. Economic Activity)
 Cyclic (e.g. Culture, Fashion, Social values, etc.)

8. CHARACTERISTICS OF SOCIAL CHANGE
 Absolutely dynamic
 Does not proceed according to rules
 Universal and Nature event
 Cannot be predicted
 Pace varies with nature of social systems
 Difficult to measure

9. SOCIAL DISORGANIZATION
 Breakdown of social control, or of a social order, or of formal or informal norms
that define permissible behaviour.
 Lack of co-operation, common values, unity, discipline, and predictability
 Disagreement about purposes
 Changes occur causing breakdown of traditional norms leading to widespread of
discontentment and disillusionment.
 Problems may occur within intra-family, inter-family maladjustments, family
disorganization/ nuclear family, isolated/separated from family.

10. THANK YOU