Understanding Social Order and Social Structure: Concepts, Definitions, and the AGIL Model Explained

Social order and social structure

Introduction

In the previous unit, we have understood some concepts of sociology. Wherever we look in the vast human society, we find many systems and sub-systems for fulfilling the needs of humans. For example, an institution like family is a system created for the birth, protection, nourishment and culture of children. Apart from this, the educational institution provides educational needs. Thus, institutions like marriage, caste, economic, religious etc. are social systems that fulfill the needs of humans.

Any structure is a systematic arrangement of different parts. For example, the structure of a motor car is made up of the connection of different parts like its engine, wheel, steering, seat, glass. Similarly, any physical object is a structure made up of the connection of different parts like a house, fan, table, chair, etc. Similarly, a school is made up of the connection of social places like principal, teachers, students, clerk, pawnbroker, etc. A family is also a social structure made up of the connection of social places between husband and wife, parents, brothers and sisters, etc. Similarly, a college, bank, cricket team, caste, village, etc. are social structures.

Thus, both the concepts of social system and social structure are closely related to each other. In short, both social system and social structure are complementary to each other. In order to understand social system and social structure systematically, some sociologists have given basic ideas on the basis of which these two concepts can be understood.

Social order and social structure

To explain social order and social structure, sociologist Herbert Spencer compared human society and the body; Breniszlo Malinowski has presented in detail the human-need-based structure. So Talcott Parsons has explained the human action system in terms of four subsystems. 

Definition of social order

Just as the different parts of a human body are interconnected through functional relationships to form a system, a social system is also a system made up of two or more units connected through functional relationships.

Talcott Parsons, while defining social system, states that, 'A social system is a complex complex made up of parts that are in functional relationships with each other.'

Sorokin defines social order as, "A social order is an organized group that has a set of social norms that establish the rights, duties, social positions, functions, roles, and mutual behavior of its members and their behavior toward members of the larger society outside the group."

In short, it can be said that the system of interaction between individuals who play roles while occupying a social position or status is called a social system.

Characteristics of social order

The characteristics of social order as outlined by Talcott Parsons are as follows:

(1) Interdependence between different parts: For a social system to exist, at least two social. There must be a connection of the parts of the units. The family becomes a system by connecting the social positions of parents, husband and wife, brothers and sisters, etc. in the family. These social positions are mutually dependent on each other. Thus, the connection of a social unit to another institution or social group is the first essential feature of a social system.

(2) Stability in the social system: The system has to function for a long time to fulfill the needs of human society.

Stability has to be maintained for a period of time. That is, each system adapts by creating its own unique identity. Thus, despite changes in the social system, the basic social order remains intact.

(3) Change in social system: Any social system is subject to change. This social

Systems are subject to change, remaining stable to some extent. To maintain their order, the system must adapt to change, from which change arises.

Aspects of social order

(1) Subgroups: There are many groups in any society. Each group is a system of social interaction.Individuals occupy different types of social positions in many subgroups. They interact to play different roles based on these positions. The concept of group and subgroup is relative. The concept of subgroup is based on which system of interaction we identify as a group. For example, if we consider India as a group, its states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Punjab etc.

are subgroups. If we consider Gujarat as a group, its various districts are its subgroups. If we consider a school as a group, then its students, teachers, administrative staff, servants etc. are its subgroups. Thus, the members of the society occupy different statuses of many subgroups. In each subgroup, a hierarchy of different statuses is formed. -

(2) Roles: There are various statuses of a person in the social system. The tasks that a person performs according to social norms in the context of this status are called roles, which indicate the duties of the person. Role is the behavioral aspect of status. In the social system, every person has to play different roles in different sub-groups. For example, in a school, the principal manages the school, the teacher teaches, the student studies, the administrative staff does office work, the servants do service work, these tasks indicate their roles.

(3) Social norms: associated with a certain social situation or a place in the social structure.Expectations of group behavior are social norms. These social norms are the criteria that determine the behavior of an individual. These criteria clarify the appropriateness or inappropriateness of a person's behavior. For example, school rules regulate behavior at all levels, from the principal to the students. 

(4) Cultural values: The behavior of an individual in a social system is evaluated through cultural values.These cultural values ​​are supported by the group. Moreover, the status of an individual in the social system is also evaluated through cultural values. For example, the school principal should manage the school with honesty and transparency, teachers should work sincerely, students should behave politely, etc. can be considered examples of cultural values. Cultural values ​​can also be identified as high-level social norms.

(5) Goals: The social system fulfills its goals through the above four aspects. Goals are the process of achieving them. To fulfill the basic and secondary needs of humans, systems like family, marriage, finance, state, education and religion have come into existence. Each of these systems has one or more goals. The social system remains dynamic in order to fulfill such social goals.

Thus, aspects of the social system are interrelated. Changes in any one aspect have a partial or greater impact on the social system as a whole.

Definition of social structure

Before we can understand the social structure that is closely related to and based on the social system, we must first understand the concept of structure.

Structure means the systematic arrangement of parts, organs, related to each other, which makes up the entire structure. For example, a house is a physical structure, because it is a structure made up of bricks, sand, gravel, cement, windows, etc. Similarly, the arrangement of classrooms, staff rooms, laboratories, libraries, offices, prayer rooms, etc. makes up the structure of a school or college.

According to Robert Merton, “Social structure is a complex of status, roles, and norms.”

Vidyut Joshi – “Individuals in society have status. Based on this status, roles are played. These roles are played in certain relationships and in certain situations. In this way, roles create a network of organized social relationships, which is called social structure.”

Thus, social structure is an abstract phenomenon. Its units include group, institution, organization and society. Every society has developed a special institutional system to connect individuals with each other. When individuals connect with each other through social status, it is transformed into a social structure. For example, family is a social structure. In which the relationships of parents, husband and wife, son and daughter are systematically arranged. Similarly, village community is a structure that includes various castes, sub-castes.

Characteristics of social structure

(1) Set of social statuses: Set of statuses is the first and essential element of the social structure.

Characteristic. Any organizational structure comes into existence with different ranks. To fulfill the needs of the group or organization, it is necessary to have such different ranks. The goal of the group or organization can be achieved only through the division of labor of different ranks. For example, the structure of a school is sustained by the ranks of principal, teacher, student, clerk, servant, etc.

(2) Set of social roles: Social role is the behavioral aspect of social status. Status And roles are two sides of the same coin. To fulfill the needs of any system or achieve its goals, a role has to be played according to the rank. For example, a principal has to manage the school, a teacher has to do teaching work, a clerk has to do administrative work and a student has to play the role of a person studying.

(3) Social norms: Social norms are also necessary to keep the social structure functioning.Standards provide guidance to individuals and groups on how to play roles according to status. The absence of social standards leads to chaos in the social structure and the entire system is disrupted. For example, it is necessary to have certain qualifications to be selected as a teacher in a school. Similarly, if there are no standards related to school admission, examination and curriculum, it becomes an obstacle to achieving the goal of education.

AGIL model of social structure

The model of social structure given by sociologist Talcott Parsons is known as the functional needs of a social system. For any social system to survive, four different functional needs must be fulfilled. These four needs can be understood as follows:

(1) Adaptation (2) Goal attainment (3) Integration (4) Latent pattern maintenance and tension management.

(1) Adaptation: In order for any society to survive and satisfy its physical needs Adaptation to the physical environment is inevitable. To provide these needs, a system of production and distribution is established in society. This need in society is satisfied by the economy. Thus, adaptation in society is achieved through the economic system.

(2) Goal attainment: Every system has to set some specific goals if it wants to survive. In order to achieve each set goal, a decision-making body in every social system i.e.

There is a state system. The state institution makes an important contribution in the task of setting goals. The state institution works by formulating policies and implementing them. To the extent that the problem of adaptation can be solved, the achievement of goals becomes easier.

(3) Integration: If every society wants to maintain its existence, it must integrate its Coordination and control between internal parts must be secured. Legal institutions and courts in a social system satisfy this need by enforcing social norms. It is essential that all members of this social system remain loyal to each other and to the system as a whole. Through loyalty, cooperation, coordination and efficiency, the social system is maintained in good order.

(4) Latent pattern maintenance and tension management: Any society has to maintain its existence based on certain systems or norms. For this, it has to solve various problems. To maintain the structure, the members of the society should play roles according to their status. Members should be encouraged to play their roles well.

Tension often arises while playing an effective role. Apart from this, sometimes tension is felt in the personality, which leads them to conflict. Therefore, society should find the necessary way to resolve internal tension and conflict. This work is done through the family institution. Along with the family, institutions like religion and education are involved in the work of solving the problem of tension.

Thus, Parsons' (AGIL) model solves the four functional problems or needs of the social structure and achieves social balance. Different mechanisms work to achieve this balance, in which socialization is an important mechanism. Through this mechanism of socialization, social values ​​are assimilated and the processes of social control play an important role in keeping the society balanced. Thus, in the present unit, we have gained an understanding of the social system and social structure.

For this, we also understood the definitions given by sociologists and anthropologists. With the knowledge of the features and aspects of the social system, we get a systematic understanding of the social structure. The system and structure of society are associated with many processes, and they are constantly changing. We will get the information about this in the next unit.