Maclver and Page define Society and its characteristics As a system of uses and procedures, of authority and mutual aid, of many groupings and divisions, of controls on human behavior and freedoms.
As a species, we are social beings who live our lives in the company of other human beings. We organize ourselves in various types of social groupings, such as nomadic bands, towns, cities and countries, in which we work, trade, play, reproduce and interact in many other ways.
Within a large society, there may be many groups, with different subcultures associated with region, ethnic origin or social class.
If a single crop is dominant in a large region, its values can be considered correct and can be promoted not only by families and religious groups, but also by schools and governments.
10 of the main characteristics of a company
1- Likeness
The similarity is the most important characteristic of society. Without a sense of resemblance, there could be no mutual recognition of"belonging together"and therefore no society.
Societies are composed of similar individuals, who associate with each other, develop friendships, and try to understand each other. Without the resemblance all this would be impossible.
2- Differences
A society implies differences and depends as much on it as on similarity. Differences make the division of labor possible and complement social relations since if all people were equal there would be little reciprocity and relations would be limited.
The family is the first society based on biological differences and differences of aptitudes, interests and capacities. Differences are necessary for society, but differences by themselves do not create a society, so differences are subordinated to similarities.
If all men thought the same, felt the same and acted the same, if they had the same standards and the same interests, if all accepted the same customs and echoed the same opinions without question and without variation, civilization would never have advanced and Culture would remain rudimentary.
3- Interdependence
As a social animal, all human beings depend on others. The survival and well-being of each member depends very much on this interdependence since no individual is self-sufficient. Members of a society depend on others for food, shelter, security, and many other needs.
With the advancement of society this degree of interdependence multiplies not only interdependent individuals, but also groups, communities and societies.
4- Cooperation and conflict
Citizens collaborating in the catastrophe caused by an earthquake in Ecuador.
Cooperation avoids mutual destructiveness and allows sharing of expenses. In addition, conflict acts as a consolidation factor for the strengthening of social relations since direct or indirect conflicts make cooperation meaningful.
If there is no conflict, even to a small extent, society can stagnate and people can become inert and inactive. However, the expression of disagreement in the form of conflict should always be kept within tolerable limits.
5- Society is a network of social relations
Social relations are the basis of society, these are based on mutual awareness and recognition of other members of society as important and essential members.
Since social relations are abstract in nature, society is also abstract in nature. Different types of social processes such as cooperation or conflicts occur constantly in society. Therefore, a network of social relations between members constitutes society.
During these social relationships people gather and interact with others to exchange ideas, offer support and receive a sense of belonging.
6- Sense of belonging
Belonging is the human emotional need to be an accepted member of a group. Whether it is family, friends, co-workers, a religion, or something else, people tend to have an"inherent"desire to belong and be an important part of something larger than themselves.
This implies a relationship that is greater than mere knowledge or familiarity. The need to belong is the need to give and receive attention from others.
The sense of belonging develops when a person accepts himself as a natural member of something. The sense of belonging provides a close and secure relationship with the other members of society. Permanence allows society to continue to exist even after the death of individual members.
The sense of belonging is a strong and inevitable feeling that exists in human nature. Belonging or not belonging depends not only on one but also on the other members of society.
Not everyone has the same interests, therefore not everyone feels the same. Without belonging, one can not clearly identify himself, so he has difficulty communicating and relating to his environment.
7- The society is abstract
Society is spoken of as an abstract concept as various relationships develop that can not be seen but can be felt.
Society in essence means a state, condition or relationship, therefore, necessarily an abstraction. In addition, society consists of customs, traditions and culture that are also abstract manifestations.
8- The society is dynamic
The very nature of society is dynamic and changing, no society is static as it continually changes. The old customs, traditions, values and institutions are modified and new customs and modern values are developed.
Social dynamics refers to the relationships and behavior of societies that results from the interactions of individual members of that society.
9- Integral culture
Each society has its own culture that distinguishes it from others. Culture is the way of life of the members of a society and includes its values, beliefs, art, morals, etc.
Therefore, culture is integral because it satisfies the needs of social life and is culturally self-sufficient. In addition, each society transmits its cultural pattern to the generations to come.
Culture consists of beliefs, behaviors, objects and other characteristics common to the members of a particular group or society.
Through culture, people and groups define themselves, conform to the shared values of society and contribute to enrich it.
Thus, culture includes many social aspects: language, customs, values, norms, customs, rules, tools, technologies, products, organizations and institutions. Common institutions include family, education, religion, work and health care.
The cultural link in societies can be ethnic or racial, based on gender, or because of shared beliefs, values and activities. The term society can also have a geographical meaning and refer to people who share a common culture in a particular place.
Culture and society are intricately related. A culture consists of the"objects"of a society, while a society consists of people who share a common culture.
10- Division of labor
The division of labor is essential for economic progress because it allows people to specialize in particular tasks.
This specialization makes workers more efficient, which reduces the total cost of producing goods or providing services.
In addition, by making people become skillful and efficient in a smaller number of tasks, the division of labor gives you time to experiment with new and better ways of doing things.
References
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- American Association for the Advancement of Science. Science for all Americans (1990). New York: Oxford University Press.
- Bauemeister R, Leary M. The need to belong: desire for interpersonal attachments as a fundamental human motivation (1995). Psychological Bulletin.
- Culture and Society (2017). Boundless Sociology. Retrieved from: www.boundless.com.
- Macionis J. Society: the basics (2009). New Jersey: Prentice Hall Publishers.
- Mondal P. Society: sociologist views, characteristics and definitions. Retrieved from: yourarticlelibrary.com.
- Peterson T, Van Til J. Defining characteristics of civil society (2004). The International Journal of Not-for-Profit Law.