SSC 101 NOTE

SSC101 CONTENTS MODULE ONE MAN AND HIS SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT 1.0 INTRODUCTION 2.0 LEARNING OBJECTIVES 3.0 MAIN BODY: SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT AS AN ASPECT OF ECOSYSTEM 3.1 WHAT IS SOCIOLOGY? 3.2 ENVIRONMENT AND ITS CONSTITUENT PARTS 3.3 THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT 3.4 THE ECOSYSTEM 3.5 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT AND THE ECOSYSTEM 4.0 SUMMARY 5.0 ASSESSMENT 6.0 REFERENCES/ FURTHER READING 1.0 INTRODUCTION This course deals with the activities of MAN in his social environment. The discussions will however touch other constituent of the environment- the Physical, Economic, Political and the Technological aspects. The basic concern and point of focus is on the way Man relates with his environment- (1) the survival and adaptation strategies that Man has devised; (2) Man‟s relationships with other fellow men (social interaction); (3) Man‟s culture (norms, values, roles and socialization) and (4) Social organization- how man organizes the society in which he lives. The basic concern and 1 the point of focus is in the way Man relates to his environment with emphasis on the following. 1. The survival and adaptation strategies that Man has a device 2. Man‟s relationships with other fellow men, that is, social concern of interaction, which refers to the ways in which people act toward another when the meet. 3. Man‟s culture- norms, values, roles and socialization-that is, the social heritage 4. Social organization-an area that deals with how man organizes the society in which he lives. Note: The use of “man” in the social sciences embodies all human beings; male and female. This course will present the relevance of sociology in a rapidly changing world. 2.0 LEARNING OBJECTIVES At the end of the lecture students should be able to: i. Explain the meaning of Sociology ii. Explain how sociological perspective is a new and exciting way of seeing the world; iii. State what a global perspective is iv. Identify some misconceptions about Sociology 3.0 MAIN BODY 3.1 MAIN BODY: WHAT IS SOCIOLOGY? 2 Before you Read This  Recall how you have adapted to a new environment  Take your dictionary and get some ideas of what Sociology is all about  Identify some organizations in your local area  How would you explain perspectives to your colleagues? Can you relate it to Sociology as a disciple? Sociology is the systematic study of social behaviour and human groups. It focuses primarily on the influence of social relationships people‟s attitudes and behaviour. It examines how societies are established and change. Sociology has been defined in a number of ways, and as such, there are several misconceptions about the nature of sociology. According to Webster, sociology is the science of human society and of social relations, organization, and change; specifically, it is the study of the beliefs, values, etc. of societal groups and of the processes governing social phenomena. It can also be defined as the study of the origins, organization, institutions, and development of human society. It is the analysis of a social institution or societal segment as a self- contained entity or in relation to society as a whole. Moreover, the study of sociology includes understanding society, human social interaction, the rules and processes that bind and separate people not only as individuals, but as members of associations, groups and institutions. Sociology can also be conceptualized as the science or study of the origin, development, organization, and functioning of human society or the science of the fundamental laws of social relations, institutions, etc. As the systematic study of human society, sociology studies the organization, institutions, and development of societies, with a particular interest in identifying causes of the changing relationships among individuals and groups; therefore sociology is the study of human social relationships and institutions. The subject matter of sociology is diverse, ranging from crime to religion, from the family to the state, from the divisions of race and social 3 class to the shared beliefs of a common culture, and from social stability to radical change in whole societies. Unifying the study of these diverse subjects of study is sociology‟s purpose of understanding how human action and consciousness both shape and are shaped by surrounding cultural and social structures. Sociology is an exciting and illuminating field of study that analyzes and explains important matters in our personal lives, our communities, and the world. There are three principal misconceptions about sociology that remain prevalent today. These must be set aside in this introductory lecture. I am not Social Work I am not Social I am I am not Studies SOCIOLOGYY Social Enginnering I am not Socialism 1. Sociology is not socialism, which is a political and economic philosophy that advocates the vesting of social control and the means of production in the society as a whole. 2. Sociology is not social work, which is a filed of endeavour concerned with providing assistance and therapy to individual who find themselves in undesirable or unfortunate social circumstances. 4 3. Sociology is not social engineering, which is broad, but rather ill defined filed concerned with construction and improvement of society and the social environment. Schaefer (1989) defined sociology as the systematic study of social behaviour and human groups. It focuses primarily on the influence of social relationships people‟s attitudes and behaviour and on how societies are established and change. Sociology helps us better understand the focuses that affect us in all social situations. With this sociological eye, we can see how college students are influenced by the people around them on campus. Obviously, the students are receiving an education what will affect their careers later. But participation in campus life also enables many to find their lifelong friends and even future spouses. This illustrates how a social institution such as education has a powerful influence on our lives. Study Tips Write out some likely key components of Scheafer (1989) definition 1. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As the scientific study of human social behaviour, sociology can show us how people act and react, what the characteristics of groups and societies are and how these social units affect people. Thus the subject matter of sociology is familiar. It is, as Peter Berger (1963), said, “the very world in which we have lived all our lives”. But sociology casts a new light on this world, offering a unique view on human life. As a matter of fact, virtually everybody has something to say about human social behaviour. Just because it is the stuff of everyday life, many people think they know all about it. But, as Otto Larsen (1981) observed, make one a sociologist any more that 5 swimming in the sea makes one an oceanographer ……” Sociologists have a special way of looking at human behaviour and special tools for studying it. At the personal level, sociology investigates the social causes and consequences of such things as romantic love, racial and gender identity, family conflict, deviant behavior, aging, and religious faith. At the societal level, sociology examines and explains matters like crime and law, poverty and wealth, prejudice and discrimination, schools and education, business firms, urban community, and social movements. At the global level, sociology studies such phenomena as population growth and migration, war and peace, and economic development. Study Tips Sociology focuses on ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------at primary level, and ---------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------at secondary level This scientific study of human society and behaviour emphasizes the careful gathering and analysis of evidence about social life to develop and enrich our understanding of key social processes. The research methods sociologists use are varied. Sociologists observe the everyday life of groups, conduct large-scale surveys, interpret historical documents, analyze census data, study video-taped interactions, interview participants of groups, and conduct laboratory experiments. The research methods and theories of sociology yield powerful insights into the social processes shaping human lives and social problems and prospects in the contemporary world. By better understanding those social processes, we also come to understand more clearly the forces shaping the personal experiences and outcomes of our own lives. The ability to see and understand this connection between broad social forces and personal experiences is extremely valuable academic preparation for living effective and rewarding personal and professional lives in a changing and complex society. Study Tips Research methods employed in Sociology includes a. ------------------------------------------- b. ------------------------------------------- 6 c. -------------------------------------------- d. -------------------------------------------- Students who have been well trained in sociology know how to think critically about human social life, and how to ask important research questions. They know how to design good social research projects, carefully collect and analyze empirical data, and formulate and present their research findings. Students trained in sociology also know how to help others understand the way the social world works and how it might be changed for the better. Most generally, they have learned how to think, evaluate, and communicate clearly, creatively, and effectively. These are all abilities of tremendous value in a wide variety of vocational callings and professions. Knowledge Skills Give examples of some takes-for-granted in our society --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sociology offers a distinctive and enlightening way of seeing and understanding the social world in which we live and which shapes our lives. Sociology looks beyond normal, taken-for-granted views of reality, to provide deeper, more illuminating and challenging understandings of social life. Through its particular analytical perspective, social theories, and research methods, sociology is a discipline that expands our awareness and analysis of the human social relationships, cultures, and institutions that profoundly shape both our lives and human history. Sociology studies the systems of social action and inter-relations among human beings. Sociology is the scientific study of social aspects of human life and the study of human interactions and inter- relations including their conditions and consequences. Sociology had once been treated as social philosophy, or the philosophy of the history. It emerged as an independent social science in 19th century. Auguste Comte, a Frenchman, is traditionally considered to be the father of sociology. Comte is accredited with the coining of the term sociology (in 1839). Sociology is composed of 7 two words: socius, meaning companion or associate; and logos, meaning science or study. Sociology is the scientific study of human social lifestyle social groups and behavior. Sociology as a science and particularly as a separate field of study is of recent origin. It is the youngest of the social sciences. August Comte, the father of sociology, first of conceived the word sociology in, 1839. In 1851, he attempted to give more flesh and blood to the said definition in his work System of Positive Politics. He conceived of sociology as an abstract theoretical science of social phenomena. According to him it is the business of sociology to discover and abstract social laws and thereby to explain the social phenomena. Comte had intended to name the new science social physics, but he rejected this term after a Belgian scholar, Adolphe Quetelet, began to make statistical studies of society and to call his area of endeavour social physics. Comete presents sociology as the science of social phenomena subject to natural and invariable laws, the discovery of which is the object of investigation. Sociology is a general science of society that deals with social groups. Sociology includes the study of man and his human environment in their relations to each other. Max Weber explains that sociology is the science which attempts the interpretative understanding of social action in order thereby to arrive at a casual explanation of its course and effects. Thus the etymological meaning of sociology is the science of society. A careful examination of various definitions of sociology makes it evident that there are diverse definitions of sociology; however, the common idea underlying all the definitions is that sociology is concerned with man, his social relations and his society. Study Checks 1. ------------------------------------------------------- is the father of Sociology. 2. Highlight how he conceived Sociology --------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. The etymological word for Sociology is ------------------------------------------ 8 4. How did Max Weber explain Sociology? ------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- While other sciences study men as individuals or as collections of individuals but do not study their interdependence, sociology takes human beings in interdependence as its subject matter. Moreover, sociology is the science of society as a whole. No other social science endeavours to study society in totality. Social sciences like history, economics, political science, anthropology, psychology etc. deal with particular aspect of society. For instance, political science deals with political institutions and political activities, history deals with unique events relating to past, economic is concerned with activities relating to production and consumption. These social sciences do not give a complete picture of the society. Sociology on the other hand, studies society in its entirety. It essentially and fundamentally deals with that network of social relationships we call society. Science can be defined as a body of knowledge about society. The body of knowledge has been empirically tested. Society may be defined as the complicated network and ever-changing pattern of social relationships. Sociology is the science of society, thus defined. Sociology is the study of groups. Sociology studies man as a member of groups and as a participant in culture. Man is never an individual in isolation. It has been said that the group is the datum of sociology, not the individual human being. Sociology studies human beings in their group relations, human behaviour in terms of groups and groupings. Sociology is the science that deals with social groups: their internal forms or modes of organisation, the processes that tend to maintain or change these forms of organisation, and the relations between groups. Sociology includes the systematic study of social institutions; their nature, functions and interactions, sequences of continuity and change. 9 Study Checks Define Science ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Society is the largest organisation of the individuals. Society has its own problems in every field. It is through the study of sociology that the scientific study of society has been possible. The study of society not only has a value in modern complex society, it becomes indispensable. The study of society contributes to the formulation of social Study Checks policies which required certain amount of From the content read so far, write out knowledge about that society. Sociology importance of Sociology provides a great deal of information that is ----------------------------------------------------------- helpful in making decisions on social policy. ----------------------------------------------------------- The practical aspect of sociology is of great ----------------------------------------------------------- importance in the study of social problems ----------------------------------------------------------- and in social work and social adjustment. ----------------------------------------------------------- One of the social problems is that of people ----------------------------------------------------------- living well and happily together. To achieve ----------------------------------------------------------- this, a scientific study of society is needed in ----------------------------------------------------------- order to make necessary adjustments. ----------------------------------------------------------- Another specific aspect of the practical side of sociology is the study of the great ----------------------------------------------------------- social institutions and the relation of the individual to each of them. There is, ------------------------------- therefore, a particular need for the strengthening of these institutions and one of the first essentials is the scientific study of their problems and situations. Sociology has analysed the causes of the many maladies of society and suggested the means for curing them. Society is a complex structure. There must be a scientific study of its problems if they are to be solved. Another important aspects and one of the greatest opportunities of sociology is that of making scientific enquiries into the questions of social concern. It ought to be clear that social evils do not just happen and everything has its due cause. It ought to be 10 clear that the world has gone on too long determining its social policies on unsound basis and with insufficient knowledge. To begin the study of social problems through the method of scientific research, therefore, offers an important task to students everywhere. The aim of the sociologist is to study human society and its institutions with the dispassionate objectivity of an entomologist studying insects. Sociology teaches every member of every association as to how they can progress in their life through mutual cooperation. The association must renounce their negative attitude towards others so as to progress in their life. Sociology with its widespread subject matter keeps enough ways and means to set everything in right direction. There is the intellectual value of sociology. It has intellectual consequences for anyone who studies it. The study of sociology helps the individual to understand human society and how social system work. A comparative study of human societies enables us to understand that people in different societies have many different solutions to the universal human problems of making a living. Sociology makes a reader up-to-date to various social predicaments. Sociology makes a reader up-to date in his feelings and also guides an individual how to stroll along with the society. Thus the, study of sociology keeps its reserved place in the life of individual since it contains various information‟s for him. Sociology is also important for individuals because it throws light on the problems of the individuals. 3.1.1 THE SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE While the basic function of journalists is to report the news sociologists bring different types of understanding to such issues. The perspective of sociology involves seeing through the outside appearance of people‟s actions and organizations. One major goal of this perspective is to identify underlying recurring patterns of and influences on social behaviour. The sociological perspective go beyond identifying patterns of social behaviour, they also attempt to provide explanations for such patterns. Here the impact of broad societal forces becomes a central consideration of sociology. Sociology can be defined as the study of society, but the practice of sociology is much more than a field of study; it is a way of seeing the world. When sociologists 11 look at the world and try to understand why things are the way they are, we look for Reading Checks relationships, and not just those between people. Connections between individual We look for relationships between individuals and aspects of social life is --------------- the social groups they might identify with or be -------------------------------------------- identified with, like race, class, gender, sexuality, -------------------------------------------- and nationality, among others; connections -------------------------------------------- between individuals and the communities they -------------------------------------------- live in or affiliate with; and, relationships between ------------------------------ individuals and institutions, like media, religion, Connections between large scale family, and law enforcement. Within sociology groups is ------------------------------- this is known as looking at the connections -------------------------------------------- between the micro (individual aspects of social -------------------------------------------- life) and the macro (large scale groups) -------------------------------------------- relationships, and trends that compose society. -------------------------------------------- Examining the relationships is important so as to -------------------------------------------- understand the causes of trends and problems in -------------------------------------------- society so that recommendations for how to address them will be feasible. At the core of sociology is the recognition that social structures and forces, like those described above and others too, shape a person‟s worldview, beliefs, values, expectations, sense of what is normal, and right and wrong. In doing so, social structures and forces shape our experiences, how we interact with other people, and ultimately, the trajectories and outcomes of our lives. The sociological perspective urges us to ask the unasked questions about the things we consider normal, natural, and inevitable, in order to illuminate the underlying social structures and forces that produce them. Sociologists seek complex answers to what many would consider simple questions. The sociological perspective always includes historical context in its view of society, because if we want to understand why things are the way they are, we have to understand how they got that way. So, sociologists often take the long view, how the relationship between the economy and culture has 12 evolved over centuries, or, how limited access to rights and resources in the past continues to impact historically marginalized people today. The empowering nature of the sociological imagination points to another fundamentally important aspect of the sociological perspective: that society and all that happens within it is made by people. Society is a social product, and as such, its structures, its institutions, norms of lives and problems are changeable. Just as social structures and forces act on us and shape our lives, we act on them with our choices and actions. Throughout our daily lives, in mundane and sometimes momentous ways, our behavior either validates or reproduces society as it Study Tips is, or it challenges it and remakes it into something Sociological imaginations means else. Sociological perspective was seeing the general in the particular, and that it helped sociologists realize general patterns in the behavior of specific individuals. One can think of the Identify how C Wright Mills sociological perspective as one's own personal explain Sociological imaginations choice and how society plays a role in shaping individuals' lives. 3.1.2 THE SOCIOLOGICAL -------------------------------------- IMAGINATION -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- In attempting to understand social behaviour, sociologists rely on unusual types of creative -------------------------------------- thinking. This according to Mills (1959) is called -------------------------------------- sociological imagination. Sociological imagination -------------------------------------- is an awareness of the relationship between an -------------------------------------- individual and the wider society. This awareness -------------------------------------- allows people to understand the links between their immediate, personal social -------------------------------------- settings and the remote, impersonal social world that surrounds them and helps to -------------------------------------- shape them. -------------------------------------- 13 -------------------------------------- ----------------------- The sociological imagination is a concept used by the American sociologist C. Wright Mills to describe the ability to “think yourself away from the familiar routines of everyday life” and look at them from an entirely new perspective. The ability to see and understand this connection between broad social forces and personal experiences is extremely valuable academic preparation for living effective and rewarding personal and professional lives in a changing and complex society. The Sociological Imagination is a book written in 1959 by Mills. His goal in writing this book was to try to reconcile two different and abstract concepts of social reality – the individual and society. Mills proposed his ideal version of sociological practice, which hinged on the importance of recognizing how individual experience and world view are a product of both the historical context in which they sit, and the everyday day immediate environment in which an individual exists. He emphasized the importance of seeing the connections between social structure and individual experience and agency. One way in which one can think about this, he offered, is to recognize the ways in which what we often experience as personal troubles, like not having enough money to pay all of one's bills in a month, are actually public issues--the result of a social problems that course through society and affect many. In other words, sociological imagination is the ability to situate personal troubles within an informed framework of larger social processes. In addition, Mills recommended avoiding strict adherence to any one methodology or theory, because practicing sociology in such a way can and often does produced biased results and recommendations. He also urged social scientists to work within the field of social science as a whole. To have a sociological imagination, a person must be able to pull away from the situation and think from an alternative point of view. Mills analyses another aspect to the sociological imagination in his book and on which he laid the most emphasis, which is our possibilities for the future. Sociology not only helps us analyze current and existing patterns of social life, but it also helps us to see some of the possible futures open to us. Through the sociological imagination, we can see not only what is real, but also what could become real should we desire to make it 14 that way. Another way of describing sociological imagination is the understanding that social outcomes are shaped by social contexts, actors and social actions. An analogy can help us better understand what Mills meant by the sociological imagination. Think of a fish swimming in the ocean. That fish is surrounded by water, but the water is so familiar and commonplace to the fish that, if asked to describe its situation, the fish could hardly be expected to describe the water as well. Similarly, we all live in a social milieu, but because we are so intimately familiar with it, we cannot easily study it objectively. The sociological imagination takes the metaphorical fish out of the water. It allows us to look on ourselves and our social surroundings in a reflective way and to question the things we have always taken for granted. Therefore, the term, sociological imagination, describes the type of insight offered by the discipline of sociology. In addition, in the book, Mills challenges the trends of sociological thinking of his time and encourages sociologists to use sociological imagination in order to alter their perspectives. His theories discouraged specialization; but, instead, urged sociologists to be broad based in their study and application of sociology. Sociological imagination is the ability to perceive situations and circumstances in a wide social context and observe how interactions and actions are influential upon other individuals and situations. In another construction, sociological imagination is all about considering the contexts of the occurrence of an event or action and giving many possible reasons for the occurrence. As Mills saw it, the sociological imagination helps individuals to cope with the social world by enabling them to step outside their own, personal, self-centered view of the world. By employing the sociological imagination, individual people are forced to perceive, from an objective position, events and social structures that influence behaviour, attitudes, and culture. Using the sociological imagination to examine our own lives, we might question how social structures, forces, and relationships have given us certain privileges, like access to wealth and prestigious schools; or, how social forces might make us disadvantaged as compared with others. The sociological imagination is simply a quality of mind that allows one to grasp history and biography and the relations between the two within 15 society. For Mills the difference between effective sociological thought and that thought which fails rested upon imagination. Sociological thought, according to Mills is not something limited to professors of sociology; it is an exercise that all people must attempt. Sociological imagination is the capacity to shift from one perspective to another. To have a sociological imagination, a person must be able to Critical Thinking Skills pull away from the situation and think from an Distinguish between personal alternative point of view. It requires us thinking troubles and public issues ourselves away from our daily routines and look ------------------------------------------ at them anew. To acquire knowledge, it is ------------------------------------------ important to break free from the immediacy of ------------------------------------------ personal circumstances and put things into a wider ------------------------------------------ context, rather than following a routine. There is ------------------------------------------ an urge to know the historical and sociological ------------------------------------------ meaning of the singular individual in society, ------------------------------------------ particularly within their time period. To do this ------------------------------------------ one may use the sociological imagination to better ------------------------------------------ understand the larger historical scene in terms of ------------------------------------------ its meaning for the inner self and external career of a variety of individuals. ------------------------------------------ Sociological imagination is to place oneself ------------------------------------------ outside of everyday routines and to be able to ------------------------------------------ view one's actions or life from third party perspective. It allows one to make more self aware decisions rather than be swayed by social norms or factors that may otherwise dictate actions. Lack of sociological imagination can render people very apathetic. When sociological imagination is not used, loss of character is a possibility. The term sociological imagination describes the type of insight offered by the discipline of sociology. This explains the nature of sociology and its relevance in daily life. Sociological imagination is not a theory but an outlook of society which tries to 16 steer us into thinking away from one's usual day-to-day life and look at one's life afresh. Another way of describing sociological imagination is the understanding that social outcomes are based on what we do. Moreover, it is understanding that some things in society may lead to a certain outcome. The factors mentioned in the definition are things like norms and motives, the social context may be the country and time period, and social action is the things we do that affect other people. The things we do are shaped by: the situation we are in, the values we have, and the way people around us act. These things are examined for how they all relate to some sort of outcome. Sociological imagination can be considered as a quality of mind that understands the interplay of the individual and society. A key element in the sociological imagination is the ability to view ones owns society and an outsider, rather than from the limited perspective of personal experiences and cultural biases. Sociological imagination can bring new understanding to daily life round us. Sociologists put their imagination to work in a variety of areas. A partial list of the specializations within contemporary sociology includes the following: Sociology of Medicine Sociology of Work and Occupations Sociology of Crime and delinquency Sociology of Law Sociology of Education Political sociology Sociology of Religion Sociology of Business Sociology of Sport and Leisure Sociology of Family Rural and Urban sociology Sociology of Knowledge Sociology of Industry Sociology of science and some others 17 3.1.3 SOCIOLOGY AND COMMON SENSE To some people, sociology is nothing more than what already know and that there is nothing to write about social relationships. This however is not true. Sociological findings often contradict common sense. This is because many common sense ideas are incorrect. Basically, commonsense knowledge has at least two important weaknesses. First, it is not objective; as it has not been systematically tested against reality. Instead, it is subjective- as it is usually based on personal experiences, many things are often taken for granted while many people cannot see beyond the scope of their community or worn ideas and is often inconsistent. The sociological approach requires that ideas be systematically checked against evidence, and it offers us the chance to learn something new. Whereas common sense knowledge is subjective, often inconsistence, and familiar, sociologists see objective, consistent, new information. To obtain it, they use method of science. This is one of the reasons why sociology is existing. It often shows us that what has long been familiar or just “common sense”- sociology and common sense is clear. While common sense merely gives us familiar and untested ideas, sociology offers not only scientific facts and scientifically supported ideas also the excitement of discovering something new about ourselves. Critical Thinking Skills Distinguish between Sociology and common sense ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18 3.2 THE ENVIRONMENT AND ITS CONSTITUENT PARTS The “environment” refers to the surroundings in which man lives. The society in which Man lives is embedded in a specific place and setting-this is know as the environment. No man ever lived in a vacuum. Man must reside or live in a specific place, setting, location or surroundings at any point in time and this constitute what is described and known as the environment. This information is shown in the diagram below Fig 3.1 Man in His environment Man‟s environment can be broken down the some constituent pats. These are (1) social environment (2) Economic environment (3) Physical/Natural environment (4) Political environment and (5) Technological environment. This information is also presented in the diagram below. Figure 3.2 The Environment and its Constituents 19 The information can still be presented in a diagram to show the network of relationships among the pats of the environment. This is shown below. 3.3 THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT Sociology is a discipline that is primarily concerned with the investigation of the social bond that exists in human groups of societies. It investigates the forces that enable human beings to stick together in groups and social settings. From time immemorial, Man does not live alone or in isolation expect possibly in the nature. But life in the state of nature is antisocial and quite horrible. According to Hobbes, the life of Man in his natural state was “solitary, brutish, and short”. In realization of these negative consequences of living alone in isolation, Man began to live in the community of other fellow men. What Man dies, eats, hears, believes, drink, thinks, says, and exchange is in most cases dictated, determined and controlled by the society in which he lives. It is because Man lives in a group or in the community of his fellow men that he is said to be living in a social environment. In pure sociological sense, anything or action describe as “social must involve two or more people, otherwise the world social becomes inappropriate. We shall now turn to examine the nature of man‟s social environment deals with following areas of social life: - how members produce food; (production) - their culture, how they live class or design for live; - their belief system or religion; - the ways their families are formed and how children and adults are brought up to think, act and settle their problems; (Socialization) - their political system, that is, the ways they chose to govern themselves. 20 These ways of doing thing influence what a man can do in all situations. For there are „dos‟ and don‟t‟ in every society and man must not act in a way that breach the laws of the society. Man therefore must conform at all times to the norms and values of his social environment. As a matter of fact, the social environment is a potential and strong determinant of social behaviour. In many ways, Man can also influence the way of doing things in his social environment. For instance, man can join a political party, contest and win an election and become a leader and eventually contribute to the governance of his village, town, local government, state or nation through his persona efforts, drive, initiative, ideas and suggestion. Man can also become a member of a pressure group and being to influence publics opinion through dialogue and discussions and therefore influence the way his society is managed and administered. Man can also work hard in his chosen occupation or profession and thereby increase the quality and quantity of to what is produced in his society. Man‟s interaction with his social environment is a double way analysis. Man influences the social environment in which he lives, as an actor he p[lays many roles. At the same time, the social environment also influences man in some other ways. For instance, the social environment place limits and restrictions on what man can do whenever he finds himself in the community of other fellow men. There are rules and regulations, law and procedures, customs and traditions which determines what a man can do in a Recalling Skills specific social environment. Man’s belief system is ------------ How he lives or designs his life 3.4 Economic Environment is --------------------------------------- Economic aspect of human society deals with allocation How he produces his food is ---- of available limited resources in such a way that human ------------------------------------------ beings get the best out of the scarce resources to meet the The ways their families are needs of people. The economy is the social institution formed and how children and adults are brought up to think responsible for the production and distribution of goods. act and settle their problems --- Economic environment is significant in the study of --------------------------------------- The ways they chose to govern 21 ----------------------------------------- social world. Contemporary practice considers behavioral interactions of individuals and groups through social capital and the formation of social norms. The economic environment covers place of work, kind of occupation people do, the co-workers, the senior and junior colleague at work and all forms of interaction that ensue in this environment. Interaction at work may ensue between one and one‟s boss, one and one‟s colleague, one and junior workers as well as one and one‟s job (including the costumers or buyers). Economy shapes many of man‟s social interactions as well as decisions as this aspect embeds the purchasing power of an individual. Economic systems are instrumental in developing a community. They also participate in projects that are beneficial to the society through their social responsibility role. The economic environment is that part of society List some features of Economic Environment as identified in this notes pertaining to systems of production, 1. --------------------------------------------- consumption and management of resources. The basic revolutions in economy that have --------------------------------------------- transformed the social life include the --------------------------------------------- agricultural revolution, the industrial -- revolution and the information or 2. --------------------------------------------- postindustrial revolution. - The social impact of economy on man‟s social life has gained the attention of --------------------------------------------- sociologist. For instance, the analysis of --------------------------------------------- economic institutions is central to the work -- of the classical figures of sociology such as 3. --------------------------------------------- Karl Marx, Max Weber, and Emile Durkheim. Sociologists working in a --------------------------------------------- number of different intellectual traditions --------------------------------------------- and on diverse empirical topics have --------------------------------------------- developed sophisticated analyses of economic processes. Moreover, analyses of other ---- economic institutions, such as the division of labor, money, and corporate organizations, are among economic issues that sociology studies, as all these entail social interactions among 4. --------------------------------------------- human beings. --------------------------------------------- Also, an emergent economic sociological conception of market processes is useful to better --------------------------------------------- understand how --------------------------------- interaction in market processes shapes and significantly impact social life of people. The sociological view of markets stresses the embeddedness of behaviour within 22 markets. The sociological actor is seen as embedded in a network of social relations at the time that he or she engages in market transactions. This embeddedness means that a wide range of Study Checks social ties exert continuing influence over how the Give examples of political actor will both make and respond to price signals. organizations ------------------------- Economic factors are also crucial for understanding the social world; however, society is not reducible to economic determinants. Social world is too complex to be reduced to a set of just economic -------------------------------------------- propositions. ------------------------------------------ Politics is concern with ------------- 3.5 Political environment ------------------------------------------- Political environment covers all spheres of decision making process which involves people‟s ------------------------------------------- participation and interaction in society through -------------------------------------------- political institutions. The political institutions are ------------------------------------------ organizations which create, enforce and apply laws and make policy on the economy and social The word politics is derived from systems. Examples of such political institutions include political parties, trade unions, and the the Greek word ---------------------- (legal) courts. Political institutions apply politics in their activities. Politics refers the activities associated with the governance of society, in particular, the debate or conflict among individuals or parties having hoping to achieve power. Politics is mainly concerned with the activities of the distribution of power and resources within a given community as well as the interrelationship between communities. The word politics is derived from the Greek polis, which means city-state; therefore, it is linked to society and communal living. Aristotle believed man was a political animal because man is a social creature with the power of speech and moral reasoning living in the political environment. For Aristotle, living in the city-state and thus engaging in the political activities is vital to the smooth running of that state is the inevitable end to mankind‟s journey towards 23 the good life. Striving for good life prompts humans to form inevitable social ties which help to secure this goal. Human beings form couples, then families and the household. These multiple households gradually form villages and then finally the city-state, or in other words the polis, whereby politics occurs as the resolution of conflict through rational debate and argument. This view sees humans as rational creatures of co-operation, deliberation and striving for the common good. Human beings have the instinctive desire to socialise, bargain, debate and compromise; all these exist involves politics and they cannot be without social interactions. A variety of methods are employed in politics, which include promoting or forcing one‟s own political views among people, negotiation, making laws, and exercising power and authority, provision of security against enemies. All these activities entail interactions which is the subject matter of sociology. Politics is exercised on a wide range of social levels, from family to clans and tribes of traditional societies, through modern government at the grass roots level and institutions up to sovereign states to the international level. Global politics also concerns the rise of global and international organizations such as the United Nations, African Union among others. Being political can mean the desire of man to take an active part in social affairs in society which include allocation of power and authority. Sociology also considers the relationship between human beings and the societies in which they participate in the acts and process of making decision. Sociology is aware that understanding human beings as they live in social world necessitates studying human beings as they relate to one another in the process of governing themselves and power relation; hence, political environment is crucial. 3.6 THE ECOSYSTEM The concept of the ecosystem: The components of the environment exist and interrelate in a manner similar to the components of a functioning system. It is the nature of the close relationship and interaction between the elements within the environment that is referred to as the ecosystem. The ecosystem is therefore defined as “a functioning” interacting system composed of one or more living organism and their effective environment, both physical and biological. In another instance, Ekong (2003; 334) defined the ecosystem as the system composed of the interaction of living organisms and their natural environment. 24 Turner (1994:183) defined the ecosystem as the system of relations among life forms, as well as between life forms and the physical environment. For Robertson (1987:614) the ecosystem is a self-sustaining community of organisms within its natural environment. 3.6.1 MAIN PARTS OF AN ECOSYSTEM Every ecosystem is composed of two large parts which are made up of the (i) The physical, that is, the abiotic environment, and (ii) The biological, that is, the biotic community. The physical part of the ecosystem consists of the following inorganic substances such as gasses, water, soil, and compounds. The abiotic or the physical component of the ecosystem provides the necessary resources e.g raw materials and physical space for the use of living organisms-man and animals of the biotic or biological community. ECOSYSTEM Abiotic or Physical Biotic Autotrophs Hetetrophs Decomposers The second component of the ecosystem , the biotic community, is composed of three levels of living organisms. These are: (i) The primary producers known as autotrophs, which are mainly green plants capable of producing their own food through the process of photosynthesis. 25 (ii) The consumers known as hetetrophs which are the animals (both lower and higher) that feed on organic matter provided by plants and animals. (iii) The reducers known as decomposers which are micro-organisms e.g bacteria and fungi that promote the decay of dead organic matter. 3.4.2 ECOSYSTEM PROCESSES The ecosystem is maintained by the constant flow of resources supplied almost entirely within the system itself. For our purpose, we might visualize the ecosystem as a web of chains, flows, and cycles among those forces sustaining life. Three important concepts come up in the analysis. These are (i) Chain (ii) Cycle and (iii) flow A Chain is a form of interdependence among species: and the most common example is a food chain in which one species becomes food for another. At one end of this chain are plants and animals, and at the other end is man-the plant and the animal eater. Study Checks Define Chain---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ A Cycle, according to Turner (1994:183) is defined as a form of interdependence which feeds back on itself. Creating a loop; and a good example is the photosynthesis of the sun‟s energy by plants which then become food for herbivores (plant eaters), some of whom become food for carnivores (meat eaters), and all of whom become food for microorganisms that decompose dead plants and animals into nutrients for plants engaged in photosynthesis of the sun‟s energy. Study Checks Define Cycle------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 26 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------ Turner (ibid) also defined a Flow as the broader movement of forces, energy, and various forms of organic and inorganic matter through an ecosystem. As a matter of fact, the ecosystem is maintained by the constant flow of resources supplied almost entirely within the environment. Of particular importance are those chains, cycle, and flows which renew the soil, air, and water. For without these renewable resources, as they are usually called, plant and animal life would not be possible- and this, of course, includes you and me. While some resources within the ecosystem and depleted. Some others are however recyclable. Study Checks Define Flow------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- The fundamental problem man faces today is the disruption of the chains, cycle, and flows that renew the water, soil, and air on which life depends. Turner (1994:183) concludes that the patterns of human organization have depleted many resources from the ecosystems, but more importantly, human culture and organization are disrupting the processes of regeneration of renewable resources. The basic concern with the ecosystem is that we must take a closer look at the interdependence between living and non living elements on the earth‟s surface. They will inevitably enable us to have a deeper l\knowledge of the nature and functioning of our natural environment. 3.7 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT AND THE ECOSYSTEM For the sociologists who studies the relationship between the ecosystem and the environment, the main objective is to discover the nature of this relationship as well as its outcomes. The logical and relevant questions to be asked are: (i) What is the nature of the relationship and (ii) what are the outcomes of the relationship? 27 It is important at this point reiterate the fact that the sociological study of this relationship must be dialectical and electrical, analyzing their natural influence and interdependence. The social environment is an ecosystem itself and it also embedded in a ecosystem. In other words, the social environment is an ecosystem operating within an ecosystem. The reason for this ambiguity is clear and quite straightforward. Every specific social environment is located in a specific ecosystem and again there is no ecosystem without a social environment. From all indications therefore, whatever man wants to do or can do in his social environment depends largely on the nature of the ecosystem. This is because the ecosystem provides opportunities for whatever man wants to do. At the same times, the ecosystem also places some constraints and limits what man can do. This is largely due to the fact that the ecosystem is a source of enemy, resources, raw materials that needs in whatever task he wishes to accomplish. In the final analyses, the nature and the functioning of the ecosystem, problems within the ecosystem will automatically and directly trigger corresponding problems within the social environment. The relationship between the social environment and the ecosystem is intricately and intractably close and one cannot be separated from the other, this resulting into what sociologists call systematic or functional relationship. A system is a structure made up to different parts which works in an interrelated manner. If you remove a part of the system, the whole system stands to malfunction or may even be demobilized completely. In other words “everything is connected to everything else” (Commoner, 1971:39) Critical Thinking Skills Explain the difference between social environment and eco-system ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- 28 The environment serves three basic functions for man. These functions according to Schafer and Lamm (1995:558) are: (i) The environment provides the resources essential for life. These include-water, air, and raw materials used to build houses and create shelter, transportation, food and other essentials needed for living. If man exhausts these resources, the consequence can be very devastating. (ii) The environment serves as waste repository. Man more that any other living things produce a large quantity and variety of waste products. These include body waste, garbage, and sewage. The environment is becoming polluted more and more because man is generating more waste than the environment can safely absorb. (iii) The environment “house” Man and all other living species. The environment is what constitutes our home, our living space, the place where we reside play and work. Man has no other place to go or reside other than in an environment. Man cannot and does not live or reside in a vacuum. Study Checks Identify the underline words. Use it as a means of mastering the contents read under the functions of environment as proposed by Schafer and Lamm (1995) 3.5.2 ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS: A SOCIOLOGICAL INSIGHT Man damages the environment either intentionally by design or unintentionally by accident. Whatever the sources of damages, man is usually at the receiving end and the one bearing the brunt. The day-to-day damages and the deterioration of the environment ultimately pose a devastating threat to Man and other living species. According to Schaefer and Lamm (1996:557), it is impossible to examine all your environmental problems in details, but three broad areas of concern stand out; air pollution, water pollution and contamination of land. 29 Pollution of the environment has begun to threaten the ecological balance of the planet and the health of man and other living species. Robertson (1987:614), argued that the pollution problem is an exceedingly difficult one to solve. For several reasons, first, man and governments see pollution as a regrettable but inevitable by- product and feature of desired industrialization and development. The slogan is “where there is smoke, there are jobs”. Second, control of pollution sometimes requires more than local or national efforts. It requires concerted international coordination, for one country‟s emissions and pesticides can end up in other countries. Third, the effects of pollution may be concealed for many years; so serious environmental damage can occur which man may not be conscious about. Fourth, prevent up, correcting or controlling pollution can be costly, technically complex, and sometimes the damage may be irreversible or practically impossible altogether. (i) Air pollution- According to study by the United Nations environment Programme and the World Health Organization (1988), more than one billion people on the planet are exposed to health- damaging levels of air pollution. Air pollution is anti-man, it can lead to health problems as eye irritations and deadly lung cancer. The most far-reaching effect of air pollution for man is a change in the global climate. As a result of the burning of fuels and wastes and the razing of forests, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is steadily increasing. (ii) Water pollution-In many nations of the world today, streams, rivers, and lakes have been polluted through dumping of waste materials by people, industries and local governments. Consequently, many materials by bodies of water have become unsafe for drink8ng, fishing, and swimming. At the global level, the pollution results regularly from waste dumping and is exacerbated by fuel leakage from shipping and occasional oil spills. 30 (iii) Contamination of land- Land is becoming seriously contaminated by industrial dumping of hazardous wastes and chemical. Living with chemicals. (iv) On important sources of pollution is the widespread agricultural use of hundreds of chemical positions in the form of herbicides and insecticides, which can be transmitted and concentrated through the food chain until they turn up, in later years, in the body of man and other living organisms. In contemporary times, through water we eat and drink, the air we breathe, man is now living with chemicals, but sometimes at his own peril (v) Species extinction- our march to industrial utilization and modernization is having a devastating effect on the other life forms in the ecosystem. Various forms of living species are being wiped out not by the dozens, or the hundreds, or even in thousands but by the millions. Robertson (1987:620) argued that the pressure of man and its technologies is devastating natural ecosystem. This pressure, takes many forms- “urbanization and highway construction; transformation or virgin land into farmland; chemical pollution of fresh water; dredging and landfill in caster areas; uncontrolled hunting and poaching, especially of African wildlife; deliberate and accidental poisoning of wildlife with pesticides; disruption of natural water ways; dam construction and irrigation; and massive deforestation. Why does man need to protect other life forms? There are many practical reasons why human society should protect other life forms. Firstly, tropical forests are stabilizing factor in the global climate, for they absorb vast amounts of atmospheric carbon forest. Second, many plants are medically valuable; most anticancer compounds, of example, come from plants of the rain forest. Third, wilds species are a “storehouse” for agricultural scientists who interbreed them with domestic species in order to create more fruitful or resistant strains. Fourth, the rain forest it itself a vast and irreplaceable “library “from which genetic engineers of the future may draw their materials. Fifth, 31 many species among the millions of uncataloqued plants will surely prove to be edible, and cold become major crops in the future. Sixth, the trees and the flowers, the beasts of the filed and the fowls of the air, are an aesthetic treasure, capable of delighting out sense and giving us some vision of what we are so carelessly destroying. 4.0 SUMMARY Sociologists are concerned with the environment because it has implications and consequence of Man and social life. The environment is the surrounding in which Man lives or resides. The environment is made up of many constituent parts some of which include: (a) Social (b) Economic (c) Physical (d) Political and (e) Technological environments. The environment determines what -Man can do in virtually all his activities. The ecosystem is a self-sustaining community of organism within its natural environment. The main parts of the Ecosystem are (a) abiotic or the physical and (b) biotic or biological. The biotic consists of inorganic substances such as gases, water, soil, and compounds, while the abiotic composed of three levels, or organism., these are (a primary produces or autotrophs (b) consumers or the heterotrophs and (c) reduces or decomposers. Ecosystem processes deals with thee important concepts and these are (a) Chanon (b) Cycle and (c) Flow. Ecosystems have both renewable and non-renewable resources and some others recyclable. For sociologists, the environment is the most important because it is largely the determinant of social behaviour. There is strong relationship between the ecosystem and the social environment. They both work in an interdependent and interrelated manner. 32 The environment serves three basic functions for Man. These are (a) provision of life sustaining resources (b) serve as a waste repository and (c) housing Man and all other living species. Some important environmental problems commonly identified are: (a) Air pollution (b) Water pollution (c) Communication and land pollution (d) Species extinction 5.0 ASSESSMENT i. How can you apply the sociological perspective to your work as a nurse, accountants or an economist? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ii. Is your choice to marry your spouse, job you do and religion you practive affected by the society you live? How? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- iii. By using sociological imagination, how do we gain power over our world? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- iv. As Mills sees it, how are personal troubles different from public issues? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 33 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6.0 REFERENCES/ FURTHER READING 1. Man in His Social Environment by O. A. Ogunbameru & A. Rotimi (eds). Cardinal Bell, Ibadan, 2006. 2. Introduction to Sociologcal Studies by Onigu Otite. 3. Sociology: Principles of Sociology with an Introduction to Social Thought by C.N.Shankar Rao. Becker, H. (1998). Tricks of the Trade: How to Think about Your Research While You're Doing It. University of Chicago Press. pp. 21–96.Blumer, H. (1969). Symbolic Interaction: Perspective and Method. University of California, Pres. pp. 24–25. 4. Elwell, F. (2013), Sociocultural Systems: Principles of Structure and Change. Alberta: Athabasca University Press. 5. Elwell, F. W. (2006). Macrosociology: Four Modern Theorists. Boulder: Paradigm Publishers. 6. Giddens, A. (2006). Sociology (fifth edition). Cambridge: Polity 7. Giddens, A. (1996). "Sociological Imagination." Introduction to Sociology. Karl Bakeman. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, Inc ISBN 978-0-393- 93232-4 8. Jon F. (2010). Criminology, Deviance and the Silver Screen: The Fictional Reality and the Criminological Imagination. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. 9. Mills, C. W. (1959/1976). The Sociological Imagination. New York: Oxford University Press. 34 MODULE TWO SOCIAL HERITAGE, CULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS, INSTITUTIONS AND THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT 1.0 INTRODUCTION 2.0 LEARNING OBJECTIVES 3.0 MAIN BODY 3.1 SOCIAL HERITAGE AND CULTURE 3.2 CULTURE AND ITS COMPONENTS 3.3 THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT 3.4 MAN‟S ADAPTATION TO THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT 4.0 SUMMARY 5.0 ASSESSMENT 6.0 REFERENCES/ FURTHER READING 1.0 INTRODUCTION The major functions of socialization is to prepare new members of a group or society to behave in the manner of that group or society to do the things the group wants done, to think in the way the group desires and to interact with others in the approved manner. 2.0 LEARNING OBJECTIVES At the end of the lecture, you should be able to: i. explain what culture is. ii. identify the two types of culture; and iii. explain how culture is transmitted 35 Before you Read This Examine the ethnic background of some of your classmates, any differences or similarities in the way your dress, how you prepare your food, your religion and other traits? Think about the situation when you were an infants (as much as you could), a teenager, and may be an adult, you would have acquired different behavioural traits and belief system Further still, as online undergraduate system, has your outlook about life and knowledge changed? 3,0 MAIN BODY: SOCIALIZATION Socialization is defined as an interaction process Study Checks whereby a person‟s behaviour is modified to conform Define socialization with expectations held by members of the group to ------------------------------------------ which he belongs. Socialization is defined as the process ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------ by which a person leans a repertoire of socially ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------ important behaviours. The process by which we acquire ------------------------------------------ the culture of the society into which we are born-the ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------ process by which we acquired our social characteristics What do you understand by and learn the ways of thought and behaviour considered agents? appropriate in our society- is called socialization. ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------ 3.1 Agents of Socialization ------------------------------------------ Agents of socialization refer to the channels or means ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------ though which culture is transmitted from one generation ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------ to another. It can be described as the people like parents, peers, social institutions like schools and religious List agents of socialization in your locality institutions that help in integration of an individual with ------------------------------------------ society. The concept of socialization indicates the ------------------------------------------ systemic effects of the old to the new generation, in ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------ 36 order to develop those characteristics that society deems necessary for the integration of young people in this. Socialization, as a lifelong interactive process of cultural learning, involves different types of social actors. There are a number of things that can affect an individual‟s socialization process. The amount of impact that each of the agents has on an individual will depend on the situation, the individuals experiences, and the stage of life the individual is in. Agents of socialization are the individuals, groups and institutions that create the social context in which socialization takes place. It is through agents of socialization that individuals learn and incorporate the values and norms of their culture as well as their various positions in the social structure in such terms as class, race and gender. 3.1.1 Family This is the first and primary agent of socialization, social institution and group that shapes individuals‟ selves and personality. For the reason that there is a great diversity of family structure and size, the impact of family on self-formation is not universal. Moreover, cultural standards of nurturing, display of affection and standards of discipline vary considerably worldwide. In western societies, research has shown that the number and order of children impact the self: first-borns tend to receive more discipline, to be higher achievers and to be more conformist. Children born last tend to be raised with more relaxed standards of discipline. As a result, they tend to be more sociable and more accepting of unconventional ideas and lifestyles. From our families, we also inherit our position in the social structure. Families all belong to some social class, racial and ethnic group. This initial social positioning is central to our self- formation but also to our life-chances. Families also transmit to us different forms of capital (resources): economic capital (money), cultural capital (parents‟ education level), and social capital (network of social connections to which our family has access). In this sense, there is never equality at birth. From the moment we are born, our life-chances are affected by our family‟s position in the social structure. The family produces the first emotional tie; it is the first place to learn language, norms, and values of the culture and 37 parents/guardians may reproduce negative modeling that they experienced as a child. Family helps mold an individual. The family values, beliefs, religious inclinations and political views shape an individual‟s outlook towards society. Parents are the biggest influence for the social development in children. Study Checks The functions of family include the following 1. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3.1.2 Education Education is a specialized form of socialization that is normally exercised by entities outside of the family and has as its content the transmission of knowledge, skills and form of energies or conduct. The concept of socialization indicates the systemic effects of the old to the new generation, in order to develop those characteristics that society deems necessary for the integration of young people in this. The socialization is defined as the process by which individuals acquire knowledge, skills and attitudes that make them effective members of the society. Schools are the first impersonal and collective environment that children encounter. Whereas schools‟ official function is the transmission of knowledge, they also promote certain values – honesty, competition, respect and individualism – and norms, such as not cheating on tests or being punctual or not arguing with teachers. Children also learn to deal with authority figures other than their parents and with peers. Also, for the first time, schools introduce students to impersonal assessment of their abilities through grades and official records that will follow the students throughout their educational career. Schools also contribute to reproduce the inequalities that are part of the social structure. Educational institution place more value the child-rearing style of middle-class parents. Working class parents and children find themselves at odds more often with 38 school administrators and staff. Working class children are more likely to be seen as lacking the proper discipline and manners than their middle-class counterparts. The schools open the door to a new social world; they provides importance that society places on gender and race; they provide information to individuals understand themselves and others; they provide skills to function as a citizen and a worker; they facilitate the exposure to inequality Study Checks The functions of educational institutions include the following 1. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3.1.3 Mass Media The mass media are the main conduit for the diffusion of culture to semi-peripheral and peripheral areas. This diffusion is seen as particularly threatening to children who are exposed to it through the media before they learn their own native culture. In other words, the fear of cultural homogenization is based on the idea that the mass media are a powerful agent of socialization. The mass media cover a wide range of means of communication, information and entertainment, such as books, music, newspapers and magazines, radio, television, the Internet as well as video games. Access to these media is a matter of income such that there is wide inequality in media use. The mass media represent impersonal communication directed at a certain audience; they represent the major type of secondary socialization; they influence people‟s behaviour through modeling and imitation. The mass media can create and influence/control perceptions of what is important in society selecting and stressing particular topics, views, interpretations, and themes. They place advertisement which secretly manipulates the audience. 39 3.1.4 Peer group Besides the world of family fellows, the peer group (the people of the same age and similar social status) and playmates highly influence the process of transmitting the cultural traits from one generation to another. In the peer group, the young child learns to conform to the accepted ways of a group and to appreciate the fact that social life is based on rules. Young people spend considerable time with one another outside home and family. Moreover, people living in the cities or suburbs and who have access to automobiles spend a great deal of time together away from their family members. In most instances, young people create their own unique sub culture such as the college campus culture, the drug culture, althletic group culture among others. Other things which the family does not teach the individual are taught among the peer group. The peer groups assist the transition to adult responsibilities. Teenagers imitate their friends in part because the peer group maintains a meaningful system of rewards and punishments. The group may encourage a young person to follow pursuit which society considers admirable. Otherwise, they may encourage their members to violate the culture‟s norms and values. The peer groups are more influential from late childhood through adolescence and early adulthood; through the peer group, people learn how to form relationships without adult supervision; they may encourage good and bad interests and may guide short term choices. Peer group provides a good platform of meeting like-minded people, making friends and hanging out together may seem like a teenager‟s life. But in fact, each and every individual in society loves to have social contact. Peers have great impact on an individual's thoughts and line of thinking. An individual learns to behave in a manner that they think will be acceptable to their peers. Peer acceptance is an important part of socialization. Critical thinking Skills Briefly explain the influence of peer group on your personality. What are the impacts, positive or negative? You can use separate sheet of paper ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 40 3.1.5 Socialization Institutions: An institution is a regular and firm way of getting things done by a group of people. It denotes the sharing of a particular kind of behaviour by a group of people in an area of life (e.g. family, marriage, health, religion, Economic and others). It thus involves values and interest which concern important aspects of group life. For example, marriage is an institution because it deals with a pattern of behaviour approved by a group as the proper means by which a man and a woman, and their families, are brought together. It also deals with the relationships that exist between spouses and their in-laws, the raising of children and the complementary duties of those involved in the marriage. In all cases, a social institution denotes an accepted orderly and enduring way in which people relate to one another in a particular sphere of life. Institutions are independent of those individuals who have duties to perform in them. But the duties that these individuals perform in them, for the existence of the institution concerned. 3.2 SOCIAL HERITAGE AND CULTURE The sort of learned behaviour in any particular society includes these ideas, techniques and habits which are passed on by one generation to another- in a sense, a social heritage- and which are virtually set solutions to problems that, in the course of time, others have met and solved before. This learned behaviour, or social inheritance, of any society is called its culture. It is the possession of common culture and the ability to communicate and pass it on to others that distinguishes the human being from other animals. Humans are human because they share with others a common culture, a culture which includes not the artefacts of its living members but also those of members of past generations. This is the heritage awaiting those as yet unborn. Human beings are able to develop and pass on their culture by means of language, which is of course, itself a product of culture. Language distinguishes a particular society from other societies. Language has to be learned in the same way as other elements of a culture and, once this has been accomplished, the individual can acquired the rest his or her culture. 41 Recalling Skills From what you read above, write out points that distinguish culture and social heritage 1. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Write out points that show similarities between social heritage and culture 1. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What are the connecting nexus? 1. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3.3 CULTURE AND ITS COMPONENTS Culture can be defined as an aggregation of attitudes, style, consumption and general worldview of life; its perception, expression and utility by a people which identify and distinguished them from other peoples. Culture in its broadest definition, refers to that part of the total repertoire of human action (and its products) which is socially, as opposed to genetically transmitted. Culture is the total way of life of a people, which is learned, shared and transmitted from one generation to another. Culture is a set of values operating at the most general of society, and regulating the action of all members of that society in all conceivable situations. Culture reflects all aspects of a society‟s organization and functioning. In scientific usage, culture is often defined in blanket terms as the total way of life of people. More specifically, culture is defined as the complex whole of man‟s 42 acquisitions of knowledge, morals, belief, art, custom, technology etc. which are shared and transmitted from generation to generation. 3.3.1 DIVISIONS OF CULTURE Culture can be divided or grouped in two: The materials and non-materials aspect Material culture relates to overt or explicit aspect of culture, and means the products of industry, technology, art ect; that is every visible or concrete acquisition of man in society; artifacts such as bridges, post, cutlasses, hoes, houses, cooking utensils, handicrafts etc. these are directly observable as the cultural products of any society. The material aspects of culture thus consist of the objects which people have learned to make and sue to satisfy their needs in society. Knowledge Skills Give examples each of Material aspects of culture ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Non material aspects of Culture ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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