Society

Question 1

What are the 5 basic components of Human Societies?

Answer 1

i) Population

ii) Culture

iii) Material Products

iv) Social Orgs

v) Social Institutions

Question 2

Explain the 5 basic components of Human Societies in detail.

Answer 2

i) The total number of individuals coexisting in a specific geographical region.
Demographic variables like population size, migration patterns, birth/death rates, fertility rate, and age structure influence the members.
As well as, spatial distribution (Urban/Rural or Districts here), and ethnic composition.

ii) Culture - Culture - a type of social blueprint, guides social interactions within a certain society.

• Ideology; shared beliefs, values, and ideas - shape a society. Has religious, political, and philosophical perspectives.
  Ex; the belief in democracy, freedom, or social justice.
• Information; Has knowledge, historical narratives, myths, and stories passed down through generations.
  Helps people understand their identity, history, and worldview.
• Language; Enables communication, expression, and the transmission of ideas.
  People communicate their thoughts, emotions, and cultural norms. (Varies across societies)
  Ex; Meaning assigned to words like “dog” or “holy water” is culturally established/put in place.

iii) Humans produce and obtain goods, with culture having 2 important products - energy (which sets the basic limits on what societies can do.) and capital goods (enable the production of other items. Examples include raw materials, precious stones, crops, etc.)

iv) Thestructures of relationships and interactions between people in a society.
Ex;social institutions, social groups(nuclear families, peer groups, clubs), and social networks(friends, relatives).

v) Established practices that shape society’s structure and function, with specific roles, norms, and expectations.
Examples; family, media, education, media, and government.

Question 3

What does Macionis(2000) says about culture as being a component of society?

Answer 3

Culture refers to society’s systems of beliefs, values, actions, and material objects that define people’s way of life (Macionis, 2000).

Question 4

Define society.

Answer 4

The concept is divided into 2 related dimensions, to meet the purposes of sociology.

Question 5

What are the 2 dimensions of society?

Answer 5

• What society involves?
• What society does?

Question 6

What does society involve? (5 + Why not only that)

Answer 6

Can be defined by the following characteristics:
* People living in a particular geographical area (the island of Mauritius).
* Citizens under a form of government (monarchy, parliament, etc.).
* Individuals are aware of having a unique identity compared to other groups (societies).

Other features of a society can add might - consist of a group of people who share:
* Common language
* Common traditions, and customs (or culture).

Sociologists define society in terms of its potential impacts, rather than its physical definition (Small to Large), in order to better understand the impact of living in a social group.

Question 7

What does society do?

Answer 7

This dimension is more complex than the first, but also more useful to sociologists. Investigates how the people we interact with influence our behaviour.

Thus, society is;
1. A group of persons who work together to provide necessities for survival, including food, water, housing, clothing, heat, and light.

2. A method of controlling the behaviour of its members in order to: a. Meet certain social needs. b. Prevent conflicts from occurring.

Question 8

How to describe Society as a Structure of Relationships?

Answer 8

• Society is an unseen force, created and reproduced via rules and relationships. We form invisible bonds with others through choice or birth, affecting us in some way.
• Social relationships are significant in Sociology, providing a theoretical answer to the individual-society dilemma.