Discussion on Sociology

Sociology, as a social science is an inter-relationship among individuals inside a societry. Particular models of society such as equilibrium model determine balance in society. The question is how this model of society relates to the actual society. Individuals are recognized in society through the statuses they occupy and the roles they enact within the constraints of a societal unit. The society as well as individuals is dynamic organism.

Status and roles are common sociological issues. Roles define behaviour; social status depicts the honour or prestige commonly associated to one's position in society. Status defines role whereas one’s role is what makes his status. Social status is a position in a social hierarchy where hierarchy breeds injustice. Status can be changed through a process of social mobility. An example would be Dona Victorina who climbed up the social ladder and achieved social mobility in a feudal closed system. One has to operate within an existing power structure.   Particular roles individuals possess define their behavior. Society imposes expectation on these roles such as the duties of UP graduates that is to give back to the society.

Social mobility is classified into open and closed. In and open society individuals are assigned to different positions in the social structure on the basis of their status or achievement. Open systems mobility is generally characterized with occupational diversity, a flexible hierarchy, and differentiated social structure. An individual's role and function in a closed society can theoretically never be changed, as in the traditional Hindu caste system. Any attempt to bring about changes in such a system or to promote mobility is permanently suppressed. However no society is permanently closed.

The first who formulated a systematic theory of social systems was Talcott Parsons where it was a part of his AGIL paradigm yet the social system is only a segment of what Parsons calls action theory. As stated by Parsons "structural functionalist" were inappropriate ways to describe the character of his theory. Structural Functionalism is broad perspective in which for every structure there is function. It sets out to interpret society as a structure with interrelated parts. It emphasizes the aspects of social institutions and behaviour that are conducive to stability and order within society. Functionalism analyses the way that social processes and institutional arrangements contribute to the effective maintenance and stability of society. The fundamental perspective is opposition to major social change.

A social system basically consists of two or more individuals interacting directly or indirectly in a bounded situation where it involves a shared focus (i.e. personal and cultural). The major units of a social system are said to be collectives and roles (i.e. not individuals as such); and the major patterns or relationships linking these units are values (ends or broad guides to action) and norms (rules governing role performance in the context of system values). Parsons is also well known for his idea that every group or society tends to fulfil four "functional imperatives. These societal needs are adaptation to the changing environment, goal attainment, persistence and latency signify tendency toward equilibrium. (02/03/2011)