Understanding Society: Structure, Socialization, and Stratification
Society is defined as a group of people who depend on each other in order to meet the goals of life. Human beings are social animals, needing to be in constant contact with other humans and depending on them.
Characteristics of Members of Society
- Share a culture, i.e., a language of values and norms.
- Develop complementary activities through the division of labor.
Modern Societies
Modern societies are characterized by a high number of people living in urban cores. Unlike traditional societies formed by small units with a strong sense of integration, modern societies have caused citizens to feel detached from community-based matters and focus mentally on their own interests, which is called individualism.
Socialization
Socialization is the internalization of the social world by one who is born or who has just joined it. In the process of socialization, primary and secondary socialization are distinguished:
- A baby born into a social environment with customs and a language completely unknown will have to internalize them.
- The division of labor forces individuals to learn techniques, procedures, and knowledge necessary to perform a given task. These are unique learning experiences in adulthood.
Agents of Socialization
Agents of socialization are organized groups that actively participate in the process of socialization. The family is one of the most important agents, and family members are socialized during childhood, along with others such as school and friends.
Patterns
The pattern of behavior is knowledge that is imitated and repeated, making reference to rules accepted by all members of a society. These guidelines are essential to make the relationship between people possible. Some of these rules are conventional, and their transgression can lead to discomfort.
Roles
Roles are the patterns of conduct, responsibilities, and duties that a person has by occupying a position in a group. For example, parenting involves a different pattern of conduct.
Institutions
Institutions are combinations of patterns and roles that are passed from one generation to another. Different people take on certain roles and act accordingly. The institution is born in response to survival needs that, over time, become habits and eventually norms. The family is one of the major institutions of our society, although it varies from one society to another. Institutions are interdependent, and the whole forms the tissue that constitutes social reality.
Stratification
Societies are stratified, meaning that the roles played by individuals are associated with a degree of power. Power is defined as the ability to exercise one’s capacity and applies to the economy. There are models of stratification, some of them unjust, that do not respect human rights.
- Slave society: This system involves inequality pushed to its most extreme form. Some people are considered property and used as items.
- Caste: The caste system is specific to India and is based on beliefs associated with reincarnation.
- Estates: This division is specific to the Middle Ages. Medieval society was divided into three groups: nobility, clergy, and peasantry.
- Social classes: This system is more fluid and typical of capitalist societies. It is divided into three categories: high, medium, and low, determined by economic factors.