Fundamentals of Sociology

Cover
Contents
Preface
Part 1: General Principles of Sociology
	Unit 1: Fundamentals of Sociology
		Chapter 1: Sociology: Definition, Scope, Nature and Significance
			Need for a Science of Sociology
			Definition of Sociology
			Sociology—a Science with its Own Subject Matter
				Criticism Against Sociology Having a Subject Matter of Its Own
			Scope of Sociology
			Specialistic or Formalistic School
				Criticism of Formalistic School
			Synthetic School
			Conclusion
			The Fields of Sociology
			Sociology as a Science
				The Meaning of Science
				Sociology Cannot Be Regarded as a Science
				Sociology is a Science
				Can Sociology Be a Value-Free Science?
			Significance of Sociology
			Methods of Sociology
				The Scientific or Experimental Method
				The Historical Method
				The Comparative or Anthropological Method
				The Statistical Method
				The Social Survey Method
				The Case Study Method
				Questionnaire and Interview Method
				The Public Opinion Poll Method
				Functionalism or Structural Functional Method
			Branches of Sociology
			Relation of Sociology with other Social Sciences
				Sociology and History
				Sociology and Political Science
				Sociology and Economics
				Sociology and Ethics
				Sociology and Social Psychology
				Sociology and Jurisprudence
			Questions
		Chapter 2: Basic Concepts
			Society
				Some Definitions of Society
				Society is a Web of Social Relationships
				Elements of Society
			Community
				Some Definitions of Community
				Elements of a Community
				Size of Community
				Difference Between a Community and a Society
			Association
				Difference Between Society and Association
				Difference Between Association and Community
			Culture
				Functions of Culture
				Importance for an Individual
				Importance for a Group
			Socialization
				Meaning of Socialization
				Agencies of Socialization
			Social Structure and Function
			Social System
				Meaning of System
				Meaning of Social System
				Characteristics of a Social System
				Relationship Between Social Structure and Social System
			Norms and Values
				Meaning of Values
				Meaning of Norms
				Importance of Norms
				Conformity of Norms
				Conflict in Norms
			Deviance
				Meaning of Deviance
			Social Groups
				Meaning of Group
				Characteristics of Social Group
				Classification of Groups
				Ethnocentrism: A Characteristic of the in-group
				Cooley’s Classification
				Characteristics of a Primary Group
				Secondary Group
				Difference Between Primary Group and Secondary Group
				Main Characteristics of Secondary Group
				Spatial Groups
				Clan or Sib
				Distinction Between Clan and Caste
				Functions of Clan
				Tribe
				Characteristics of Tribe
				Distinction Between Tribe and Clan
				Distinction Between Tribe and Caste
				Band
			Status and Role
				Nature of Role
				Nature of Status
				Determinants of Status
				Ascription and Achievement of Status
				Ascribed Status
				Achieved Status
			Questions
		Chapter 3: Institutions
			Meaning of Institution
				Difference Between Institution and Association
				Difference Between Institution and Society
				Difference Between Institution and Community
			Importance of Institution
			Kinds of Institutions
			Functions of Institutions
			Interrelations of Institutions
			Questions
		Chapter 4: Social Processes
			The Meaning of Social Interaction
			Socio-Cultural Processes
				Co-operation
					Definition of Co-operation
					Types of Co-operation
					Role of Co-operation
				Competition
					Definition of Competition
					Characteristics of Competition
					Value of Competition
				Conflict
					Definition of Conflict
					Causes of Conflict
					Types of Conflict
					Role of Conflict
					Difference Between Conflict and Competition
					Co-operation and Conflict Go Together
				Accommodation
					Definition of Accommodation
					Forms or Methods of Accommodation
				Assimilation
					Definition of Assimilation
					Hindrances and Aids to Assimilation
					Distinction Between Accommodation and Assimilation
			Questions
	Unit 2: Sociological Theories
		Chapter 5: August Comte, Herbert Spencer, Emile Durkheim, and Talcott Parsons
			August Comte
				Methodology
				Static and Dynamic Sociology
				The Law of Three Stages
				Hierarchy of Sciences
			Herbert Spencer
				Science and Society
				Organic Analogy
				Theory of Evolution
				Social Darwinism
				Functionalism
			Emile Durkheim
				Social Facts
				Division of Labour
				Suicide
				Sociology and Religion
			Talcott Parsons
			Questions
		Chapter 6: Max Weber and Karl Marx
			Max Weber
				Social Action
				Concept of Ideal Types
				Types of Authority
				Bureaucracy
				Sociology of Religion
			Karl Marx
				Hegel and Marx
				Dialectical Materialism
				Economic Infrastructure and Socio-Economic Superstructure
				Theory of Class and Class Conflict
				Alienation
			Questions
	Unit 3: Social Institutions
		Chapter 7: Family and Kinship
			Meaning of Family
			Nature of Family
			Forms of Family
			Functions of the Family
				Essential Functions
				Non-essential Functions
			The Modern Family
				Causes of the Decay of Patriarchal Family
				Features of Modern Family
				Instability of Modern Family
				Future of the Family
			Kinship
				Type of Kinship
				Degree of Kinship
				Kinship Usages
			Questions
		Chapter 8: Marriage
			Definition of Marriage
			Forms of Marriage
				Other Forms of Marriage
			Mate Choice
				Exogamy
				Endogamy
				Selection by Parents
			Questions
		Chapter 9: Work and Economic Institutions
			Institution of Capitalism and its Growth
				Features of Capitalism
				Social Consequences of Capitalism
				Bad Effects of Capitalism
			Property
				Meaning of Property
				Institution of Private Property
				Advantages of Private Property
				Disadvantages of Private Property
			Institution of Division of Labour
				Meaning of Division of Labour
				Social Dimensions of Division of Labour
			Institution of the Corporate Business Organizations
				Character of Corporate Organization
			Institution for Promotion of Interests of the Occupational Groups
				The Trade Unions
				Aims of a Trade Union
				Methods of a Trade Union
			Questions
		Chapter 10: Power and Political Institutions
			Meaning of the State
				Difference Between State and Society
				Functions of the State
			Government
				Meaning of Government
				Forms of Government
				Political Parties
			Pressure Groups
			Institution of Power
				Meaning of Power
			Institution of Authority
				Sources of Authority
				The Limits of Authority
			Bureaucracy
				Meaning of Bureaucracy
				Social Consequences of Bureaucracy
				Criticism or Bureaucracy
			Questions
		Chapter 11: Religion
			Meaning of Religion
			Forms of Religion
			Social Role of Religion
			Questions
		Chapter 12: Education
			Meaning of Education
			The Objectives of Education
			Challenges to Education
			Crisis in Indian Education
			Questions
	Unit 4 Social Stratification
		Chapter 13: Social Stratification
			Meaning of Social Stratification
			Characteristics of Social Stratification
			Forms of Social Stratification
				Meaning and Nature of Social Class
				Criteria of Class Distinctions
			Social Class and Style of Life
			The Marxian Concept of Class
			Theory of Functionalism—Kingsley Davis and Wilbert E. Moore
				Criticism of the Theory
			Conclusion
			Questions
		Chapter 14: Social Control
			Meaning of Social Control
			Social Control Versus Self-Control
			Social Control and Socialization
			Development of the Concept of Social Control
			Need for Social Control
			The Purposes of Social Control
			Means of Social Control
				Informal Means
				Formal Means
			Social Control through Ages
			Questions
		Chapter 15: Social Change
			Meaning of Social Change
			Nature of Social Change
			The Factors of Social Change
				Biological Factors
				Physical Factors
				Technological Factors
				Social Inventions
			Influence of Culture on Social Change
			Questions
	Unit 5: Law and Society
		Chapter 16: Law and Society
			The Meaning of Law
				Two Approaches
			The Social Basis of Law
			Law as an Integrative Mechanism
			Sociology of Legal Profession
			Questions
Part 2: Sociology of India
	Unit 6 Development of Indian Society
		Chapter 17: Development of Indian Society
			Primitive Society
			Society in Ancient India
			Indian Society During the Medieval Period
			Indian Society During British Rule
				Growth of Middle Class
				Rural Conditions During British Rule
				Industrial Development
			Indian Society During the Post-Independence Period
			Questions
		Chapter 18: Unity and Diversity
			Indian Diversity
			Indian Unity
			National Integration
			Questions
	Unit 7: Major Social Institutions
		Chapter 19: Village Community
			Characteristics of Indian Villages
				Modern Trends of Village System in India
				Conclusion
			Questions
		Chapter 20: Joint Family System
			Meaning of Joint Family
			Characteristics of Joint Family
			Origin of Joint Family System
			Merits of Joint Family System
			Demerits of Joint Family System
			Disintegration of Joint Family
			Reconstructing the Family
			Marriage in India
				Marriage—a Sacrament
				Forms of Marriage
				Hindu Marriage Act of 1955
				Marriage Rites
			Divorce in India
			Marriage and Family Problems in India
			Questions
		Chapter 21: Caste System
			Meaning of Caste
			Features of Caste
			Difference between Caste and Class
			Origin of the Caste System
			Merits of the Caste System
			Demerits of the Caste System
			Interdependence of Castes (Jajmani System)
			Caste System in Contemporary India
				Future of the Caste System in India
			Questions
	Unit 8: Backward Classes
		Chapter 22: Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes
			Definition of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes
				Problems of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
			Constitutional Safeguards
				Representation in Legislatures
				Reservation in Services
				Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
				Centrally Sponsored Schemes
			Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955
				Baba Sahib Ambedkar Birth Anniversary Celebrations
			Scheduled Tribes
				Constitutional Provisions for Tribal Welfare
				20-Point Programme
				Essential Conditions for Scheme for Tribal Welfare
				Tribal Development and Welfare Strategy
				Objectives of Tribal Development
				Tribal Co-operative Marketing Federation
				Impact of the Programme
				Suggestions/Remedies for Improvement of Impasse
			Other Backward Classes
				Mandal Commission
				Announcement for Implementation of the Report
				Critique of Reservation Policy
			Questions
	Unit 9: Women and Society
		Chapter 23: Women and Society
			Status of Women in India: an Overview
			Problems of Women
			The Changes in the Status of Women
				Achievements of the ‘Year of the Girl Child’
				Rise in Crimes Against Women
				Reasons for Rise in Crimes Against Women and Suggestions to Mitigate Them
				Programme for Women Welfare at the Centre and State Levels
				Social Legislation for Women
				The Department of Women and Child Development
				Conclusion
			Suggestions for Amelioration of Women’s Lot and Improving their Status
			Questions
		Chapter 24: Areas and Dimensions of Social Change in India
			Sources of Social Change in India
			Areas and Dimensions of Social Change in India
			Social Disorganization
			Questions
	Unit 10: The Role of Social Legislations Towards Social Change in India
		Chapter 25: Social Problems in India
			Poverty
				No Uniform Standards
				Causes of Poverty
			Unemployment
				Causes of Unemployment
			Dowry
				Evolution of the System
				Dowry and Methods of Extraction
				Evils of Dowry System
				Efforts at Regulating the System
				Dowry Regulation Prohibition Acts
				Other Suggestions for Combating the Evil of Dowry
			Population Growth
				Causes of Population Growth in India
				Effects of Population Growth
				Population Control
			Beggary
				Definition of Beggars
				Types of Beggars
				Causes of Beggary
				Measures to Combat Beggary
				Conclusion
			Crime
				Crime in India
				Causes of Crime and How to Combat It
			Prostitution
				Causes of Prostitution
				Problems/Evils of Prostitution
				Remedial Measures
				Care of Illegitimate Children
			Juvenile Delinquency
				Remedial Measures
			Corruption
				Causes of Corruption
				Measures to Combat Corruption
			Questions
Suggested Readings