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Sociology on the move

Determinism is dead in the social sciences. Despite a strong interest in social structures, social mechanisms, forms of reproduction, we are all aware that human beings are not completely dominated by them. The world changes, and this change to a large extent depends on human action and imagination.

If sociology is to be useful, it has to contribute to an understanding of change – and it has to change itself. It is on the move and has to be on the move because the world, the societies, collective and individual actors are on the move.

“Sociology on the move” means that our discipline contributes to an understanding of our world by defining new objects of research, devising new approaches and reevaluating its rich heritage. It implies a new openness with regard to other disciplines and to normative questions. The International Sociological Association offers an enormous variety of perspectives – in terms of cultures, gender and generation. They all contribute to the vitality of our discipline.

Michel Wieviorka, ISA President
Hans Joas, ISA Vice-President, Programme
Ulla Björnberg, Chair, Local Organizing Committee

	International Sociological Association
	isa@isa-sociology.org

Max Weber

Emile Durkheim

Basic Concepts of Sociology

Terms of Sociology

We have explained in details the various terms used in Sociology. Check out the alphatically listed terms of sociology for your reference. If there are any terms commonly used in Sociology and that have not been explained in out list of Sociology Terms, please write to us and we will add it to the list of terms of sociology for your benefit. After all it is the basic concepts of any subject that requires clarity and if your basic concepts of Sociology is not clear you are bound to remain unclear with many topics.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M
N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
• Society
  • Definitions Of Society
  • Types Of Societies
• Community
• Cultural Relativism
• Association
  • Main Characteristics Of Association
• Culture
  • The Development Of Culture
• Diffusion
• Cultural Lag
• Cultural Relativism
• Ethnocentrism
• Values
  • General And Specific Values
  • Means Values, Ends Values, And Ultimate Values
  • Values Conflict With One Another
• Social Norms
• Social Institutions
• Cooperation
• Competition
  • Nature And Characteristics Of Competition
• Conflict
  • Harmful Effects Of Conflict
  • Useful Functions Of Conflict
• Accommodation
• Assimilation
• Acculturation
• Social Groups
  • Primary Groups
  • Secondary Groups
  • Reference Groups
• Social System
• Status And Role
  • Ascribed Statuses
  • Achieved Statuses
• Socialization
• Deviance
• Conformity
• Law
• Customs
• Acculturation
• Integration
• Social Distance
• Some Of Terms And The Theorists
• Important Points To Remember
• Important Books And Authors
• Important Concepts And Their Theorists
• Sociology of Media

Education

The term education is derived from the Latin educare which literally means to bring up and is connected with the verb ‘educare’which means to bring forth. The idea of education is not merely to impart knowledge to the pupil in some subjects but to develop in him those habits and attitudes with which he can successfully face the future. Peter Worsely says a large part of our social and technical skills are acquired through deliberate instruction which we call education. It is the main waking activity of children from the ages of five to fifteen and often beyond. In the recent years education has become the major interest of some sociologists. As a result a new branch of sociology called Sociology of Education has become established.

Durkheim conceives education as the socialization of the younger generation. He further states that it is a continuous effort to impose on the child ways of seeing, feeling and acting which he could not have arrived at spontaneously.

Sumner defined education as the attempt to transmit to the child the mores of the group so that he can learn what conduct is approved and what disapproved….. How he ought to behave in all kind of cases: what he ought to believe and reject.

A.W Green writes: Historically education has meant the conscious training of the young for the later adoption of adult roles. By modern convention however education has come to mean formal training by specialists within the formal organization of the school.

The concepts of socialization and learning are related to in fact often inseparable from the concept of education. The main function of the educative process is to pass down knowledge from generation to generation- a process that is essential to the development of culture. Formal education is primarily designed to inculcate crucial skills and values central to the survival of the society or to those who hold effective power. Inherent in education, in all period of man’s history is a stimulus to creative thinking and action which accounts in part for culture change, culture change itself being a powerful stimulus to further innovation.

• Equality of Educational Opportunity
• Education and Social Change
• Education and Modernization
• Education and Culture
• Education and Social control

Types of marriages

Polygyny:

It is a form of marriage in which one man marries more than one woman at a given time. It is of two types --- Sororal polygyny and non sororal polygyny

Sororal polygyny:

It is a type of marriage in which the wives are invariably the sisters. It is often called sororate.

Non-sororal polygyny:

It is a type of marriage in which the wives are not related as sisters.

Polyandry:

It is the marriage of one woman with more than one man. It is less common than polygyny. It is of two types---- Fraternal Polyandry and non fraternal polyandry.

Fraternal polyandry:

When several brothers share the same wife the practice can be called alelphic or fraternal polyandry. This practice of being mate, actual or potential to one's husband's brothers is called levirate. It is prevalent among Todas.

Non - fraternal polyandry:

In this type the husband need not have any close relationship prior to the marriage. The wife goes to spend some time with each husband. So long as a woman lives with one of her husbands; the others have no claim over her.

Monogamy:

It is a form of marriage in which one man marries one woman .It is the most common and acceptable form of marriage.

Serial monogamy:

In many societies individuals are permitted to marry again often on the death of the first spouse or after divorce but they cannot have more than one spouse at one and the same time.

Straight monogamy:

In this remarriage is not allowed.

Group Marriage:

It means the marriage of two or more women with two or more men. Here the husbands are common husbands and wives are common wives. Children are regarded as the children of the entire group as a whole.