Types of Societies

Societies and Their Transformation Hunting and Gathering Societies Pastoral and Horticultural Societies Agricultural Societies Industrial Societies Postindustrial (Information) Societies Biotech Societies: Is a New Type of Society Emerging? The sociological principle is that the type of society we live in is the fundamental reason for why we become who we are.

As society—the largest and most complex type of group—changes, so, too, do the groups, activities, and, ultimately, the type of people who form that society. This photo is of Susi Kentikian and Sanae Jah in a world championship bout in Dusseldorf, Germany. What social changes can you identify from this photo?

Hunting and Gathering Societies The members of hunting and gathering societies have few social divisions and little inequality. The groups usually have a shaman, an individual thought to be able to influence spiritual forces, but shamans, too, must help obtain food. Of all societies, hunters and gatherers are the most egalitarian. Because what they hunt and gather is perishable, the people accumulate few personal possessions. The members of hunting and gathering societies have few social divisions and little inequality. The groups usually have a shaman, an individual thought to be able to influence spiritual forces, but shamans, too, must help obtain food. Of all societies, hunters and gatherers are the most egalitarian. Because what they hunt and gather is perishable, the people accumulate few personal possessions.

The simplest forms of societies are called hunting and gathering societies. Members of these societies have adapted well to their environments, and they have more leisure than the members of other societies. Not many hunting and gathering groups remain on earth. This Hambukushu woman of Botswana is fishing.

Pastoral and Horticultural Societies Pastoral societies are based on the pasturing of animals. Horticultural (or gardening) societies are based on the cultivation of plants by the use of hand tools. We can call the domestication of animals and plants the first social revolution. The more dependable food supply allowed groups to grow larger. With it no longer necessary for everyone to work at providing food, a division of labor developed. The change from fewer to more possessions and from more to less equality. Pastoral societies are based on the pasturing of animals. Horticultural (or gardening) societies are based on the cultivation of plants by the use of hand tools. We can call the domestication of animals and plants the first social revolution. The more dependable food supply allowed groups to grow larger. With it no longer necessary for everyone to work at providing food, a division of labor developed. The change from fewer to more possessions and from more to less equality.

Agricultural Societies The food surplus of the agricultural revolution was unlike anything ever seen in human history. It allowed even more people to engage in activities other than farming. In this new agricultural society, people developed cities and what is popularly known as “culture,” activities such as philosophy, art, music, literature, and architecture. When some people managed to gain control of the growing surplus of resources in agricultural societies, inequality became a fundamental feature of life in society. The food surplus of the agricultural revolution was unlike anything ever seen in human history. It allowed even more people to engage in activities other than farming. In this new agricultural society, people developed cities and what is popularly known as “culture,” activities such as philosophy, art, music, literature, and architecture. When some people managed to gain control of the growing surplus of resources in agricultural societies, inequality became a fundamental feature of life in society.

Industrial Societies Industrial society is defined as one in which goods are produced by machines powered by fuels, instead of by the brute force of humans or animals. Industrialization brought an abundance of goods, and as workers won what we call basic rights, a surprising change occurred—the pattern of growing inequality was reversed. Industrial society is defined as one in which goods are produced by machines powered by fuels, instead of by the brute force of humans or animals. Industrialization brought an abundance of goods, and as workers won what we call basic rights, a surprising change occurred—the pattern of growing inequality was reversed.

Postindustrial (Information) Societies This society’s basic component is information. Unlike the factory workers of an industrial society, these individuals don’t produce anything. Rather, they transmit or apply information to provide services that others are willing to pay for. This society’s basic component is information. Unlike the factory workers of an industrial society, these individuals don’t produce anything. Rather, they transmit or apply information to provide services that others are willing to pay for.

Biotech Societies The economy of this new biotech society will center on applying and altering genetic structures—both plant and animal—to produce food, medicine, and materials. As society is transformed, it sweeps us along with it. The transformation we are experiencing is so fundamental that it will change even the ways we think about the self and life. The economy of this new biotech society will center on applying and altering genetic structures—both plant and animal—to produce food, medicine, and materials. As society is transformed, it sweeps us along with it. The transformation we are experiencing is so fundamental that it will change even the ways we think about the self and life.

For gamers, the virtual always overlaps the real to some extent, but for some, the virtual overwhelms the real. A couple from South Korea even let their 3-month-old daughter starve to death while they nurtured a virtual daughter online. A participant in Second Life posing next to her virtual self, her avatar, Misty Rhodes.