Dr Hidayathulla Shaikh, Lecturer, College of Dentistry, Majmaah University.

Objectives To understand what is sociology. To know what is society and it structural aspects. 1) Social institution 2) Community 3) Association To know functional aspects of society. 1) Social norms 2) Customs and Habits 3) Etiquettes and Conventions 4) Social values

Sociology It is the science concerned with the organization or structure of social groups.

It is the science of behavior of man in a society or group of human beings Society - is a group of people who must be mentally aware of each other.

Sociologist define society as “ a system of uses and procedures of authority and mutual aid of many groups coupled with division of control of human behavior and liberty”. Although animals also live in groups, human society is different from animal society in one component namely the element of culture. It can be simply understood as an ‘art of adding experience’.

This addition can be done by telling something to the fellowmen of the same generation as also to the next generation. So with this extra element, man has himself given the name ‘social animal’. Man learns from experience and can plan for the future. He works in the shadow of the past for a better tomorrow.

Structural Aspects of Society 1) Social Institution - It is a social structure and machinery through which human society organizes, directs and executes the multifarious activities required to satisfy human needs. Eg – school, hospital, parliament etc.

2) Community – Is defined as a group, small or large, living together in such a way that the members share not one or more specific interests but rather the basic condition of a common life. Eg – people living within a residential layout.

3) Association – They are groups of people united for a specific purpose or a limited number of purposes and are based on utilitarian interest Eg – Dental Association.

Functional Aspect of Society 1) Social Norms –

 Social Norms are ‘the rules that a group uses for appropriate and inappropriate values, beliefs, attitudes and behavior’.  These rules may be explicit or implicit.  Failure to stick to these rules can result in severe punishments, the most feared of which is exclusion from the group.

Social norms indicate the established and approved ways of doing things like dress, speech appearance etc. These vary and evolve not only through time but also vary from one age group to another and between social classes and social groups. What is thought to be acceptable dress, speech or behavior in one social group may not be accepted in another.

Following the social norms maintains ones acceptance and popularity within a particular group. Where as ignoring the social norms makes one unacceptable, unpopular or even an outcast from a group. Social norms tend to be tacitly established and maintained through body language and non verbal communication between people in their normal social discourse.

Types of Norms a) Folkways –

 The term folkways was coined by American sociologist william graham sunner.  Folkways are the patterns of conventional behavior in a society, norms that apply to everyday matters.  They are the conventions and habits learned from childhood. Eg – Greeting each other.  Breaking or questioning a folkway may not cause severe punishment, but may cause a person to be laughed at, frowned upon or scolded.  Eg – not welcoming guests.

b) Mores –

 Mores are much more strictly enforced than folkways.  These are norms or customs which express fundamental values of society.  Mores derive from the established practices of a society rather than a written laws.  They consists of shared understandings about the kinds of behavior likely to evoke approval, disapproval, tolerance or sanction within particular contexts.  Mores differ from folkways from the severity of response they invoke.  Breaking a folkway may just turn heads, but breaking a more will offend people and may bring punishment.  So important mores are converted into laws in order to ensure implementation.

c) Taboo –  Is a strong social prohibition or ban against words, objects, actions or discussions which are considered undesirable or offensive by a group, culture, society or community.  Eg some groups consider tooth extraction causes blindness.

2) Customs and Habits –  Custom is a broad term embracing all the norms classified as folkways and mores.  It refers to practices that have been repeated by a number of generations, practices that tend to be followed simply because they have been followed in the past.

Habits are habituated routines of behavior that are repeated regularly.  It tends to occur subconsciously and tend to occur without directly thinking consciously about those behaviors.  A habit is purely a personal affair  Eg – cigarette smoking, using miswak, etc

3) Etiquettes and Conventions –  Etiquette is a code that governs the expectation of social behavior, according to the contemporary conventional norm within a society, social class or a group.  Etiquets reflects the underlying ethical codes, and is depended on culture.  What is excellent etiquette in one culture may shock another  Eg using spoon and fork while eating.

 Convention is a set of agreed, stipulated or generally accepted standards, norms or criteria often taking the form of a custom.  Eg – table manners, respecting each other, etc

4) Social Values –  They form an important part of the selective behavior of a man.  Social values refer to those standard judgment by which things are evaluated as good or bad.  The personal values come from the circumstances from the external world and can change with time.  But the personal values developed in the early part of life may be resistant to change,  Eg – telling always truth, being honest etc.

Thank you