Social Organization, Disorganization, Social Problems 263

ROLECONELICT
Whenever there is a disagreement or resentment towards the role assigned, then there is
tension or conflict.

(a) These conflicts are role conflicts as occurring due to disagreement related to a given
role. These role conflicts are less in simple culturally homogenous soCiety as
compared to complex heterogeneous social systems.
(b) Role conflicts occur due to different roles performed in different groups by an
individual. A nurse performs the role as a head in family and role of caring in
hospital. Her role as a head of family may come into conflict with her role as a
nurse. She may sometimes have to sacrifice her duties towards the family in the
interest of her nursing profession.

(c) Sometimes two or more persons are authorised to perform same function or similar
functions in same situation. Then role conflict occurs because of confusion and
relying on each other for function or work.

(d) The role conflict can be in social system when an individual thinks the functions
which he is performing is below the status of an individual.
(e) Role conflict is caused when the persons differ in the perception regarding duties
and responsibilities. The worker's opinion regarding his duties and responsibilities
differ from the opinion of employer.
These role conflicts creates disappointment, frustrations and serious personality
consequences. So each social system will function smoothly and efficiently if the roles are
clearly allocated, rights and duties are clearly understood and each member behaves in his
role as expected.
Status: Status is the place in the particular system designated with respect and prestige with
assigned roles. It is based on the social evaluation. Within social system, the members have
the social status according to the position they occupy and perform functions. This word
status has been defined by the authors differently as given below. According to Secord and
Bukman, '"Status is the worth of a person as estimated by a group or class of persons."
According to Ogburn and Nimkoff, "Status is the rank order position assigned by a group
to a role or to a set of roles."
According to Davis, "Status is a position in the general institutional system, recognised &
supported by the entire society spontaneously evolved rather than deliberately created,
rooted in folk ways and mores."
The social status is enjoyed according to the position, the member occupy in social system.
264 VA Text Book of Applied Sociology

a in tamily: The
family members have the status of mother or father or daugnter o
brother or sister etc.
(b) In cdubs The status occupied are:
club manager
club organiser
club member
te fn
school/colleges School/college is a structural element & the status enjoyed by its
member are
principal
vice principal
The status is determined in the social
system based on:

(a) The attributes

(6) Esteem
c) Past history or background
(a) The attributes : The high status is enjoyed by people, whose attributes are rewarding
to each member. The attributes, which give the greatest reward to a number of
people enjoy maximum status because of getting maximum approval of rewards. If
these attributes are possessed by a number of people, then no one will gain the
advantage of status than other. So the attributes with rare supply contribute to
status.
(b) Status : A person in the social system gets high status if highly esteemed by other
persons such as "Vir Chakra."
(c) Past history of background: A person who was noble or have come from a noble
family is given higher status than one who has not come from a noble family.

INTER RELATIONSHIP OF INSTITUTIONS

Institution is organisation which means a group of people working together with the
common objective. According to Mclever, "Tnstitutions are established forms or conditions
of procedure characteristic of group activity."
According to Woodward and Maxwell, "An institution is a set or web of interrelated
folkways, mores and laws which enter in some function or functions."
According to Ginsberg, "Institutions are definite and sanctioned froms or modes of
relationship between social beings in respect to one another or to some extermal object."
 265
Soclal Organization, Disorganizatlon, Social Problems

According to Cooley, "An institution is a complete organisation of collective benaviou

established in the social heritage and meeting some persistent need or want.

Institutions depend upon formal rules, norms of behaviour, self imposed codes of conauct.
Institutions are the form of procedures accepted by society. These procedures, rules govet

the relations between individual & groups. There are a number of institutions su a
Or
marriage, education and
property institutions. The institutions upon activities
depend
the
people incollective way with the
a means of controlling individuals. These satisty
primary needs of people.
inter-related to
Within the social system, there are number of social institutions which are

each other.
with each other
Inter-relation is working of institutions at optimum level in tune and at rest
of information,
and the desired output is achieved. Inter-relation is defined as the flow
with the
money, material and the structure (physical, geographical, organisational)
that the system
feedback, control process and mechanisms which exists to ensure
procedure,
institution in
is moving towards its desired objective. One institute is inter-related to another
institutions (for
one or other way. An educational institution is inter-related to financial
and other institutions for purchasing
depositing, withdrawing money and for taking loan)
inter-related.
books, stationary, and arranging man power. These institutions are
the social organisation
Organisation arrangement of persons or parts. So,
means an
and function in
means arrangement of persons, parts inter-related, inter-dependent

a co-ordinated manner with assigned fixed

tasks and responsibility according to
status and role to accomplish a goal.

0 The elements of social organisation are goal, role status and position, norms,

modes and sanctions.

the social organisation
OOrganisation means anarrangement of persons or parts. So,
and function in
means arrangement of persons, parts inter-related, inter-dependent
to
a co-ordinated manner with assigned fixed tasks and responsibility according
status and role to accomplish a goal.
role status & position, norms and
O The elements of social organisation are goal,
modes & sanctions.

OA number of organisations political, economical, religion & financial

such as

social system.
organisations exist within
democratic or authoritative type.
I n social people participation can be
organisation,
associations such as red cross society,
Within social system, there are voluntary
Bharat Sewak Samaj, All
India women's conference etc.
 L06
PUA Toxt Book of Appled Soclology
ne SoCial
system have the characteristics such as interactions
meaningful, and functional relationship as well as which are
The social
unity.
system have the elements such as belief & knowledge, sentiments,
norms, status, role, rank, goals,
power, sanction & facility.
Social system has been
classified into different types depending on
livelihood & cultural system of social evolution,
system.
Within social system, in social
organisation, each individual has status i.e.
position
and
according to his status, an individual performs various roles.
These institutions are inter-related to
achieve the objective of institution.

SOCIAL CONTROL
Social control is the
way in which
society regulates the behaviour of its individual members.
It can be defined as the
way by which society tries to influence the human behaviour.
control has been defined various Social
by authors.
According to Ogburn & Nimkoff, "Social control is the
exerts to maintain order & patterns of pressure which a society
established norms."
According to Landis, "Social control is a social process by which social
and maintained." organisation is built
According Gillin & Gillin, "Social control is that
to
of
persuasion, restraint and coercion by whatever means system measures, suggestions,
society brings into confirmity to the approved including physical force by which a
which a group moulds into patterns of behaviour or sub group or by
conformity its memberTs.
According to Lapiere, "Social control is a corrective measure for
From the above inadequate socialisation.
definitions, it can be concluded that social control is an
exercised by society for the influence which is
promotion of the welfare of group as a whole. It means:
Social control is an influence
Influence is exercised by society
*Influence is exercised for
promoting the welfare of the group as a whole.
MPORTANCE OF SOCIAL CONTROL
Social control is required for the existence of
at rise in
society as conflicts, frustration, violence can be
society without social control. There isdifference in the nature, ideas,
personality, culture, eating habits etc. attitudes,
among the individuals in a
each one behaves & acts heterogeneous society.
according to their own opinion due to unrestricted
If
freedom, it will
 267
al Organlzatlon, Disorganlzation, Soclal Problems
c l a l Organlzath

have conformity,
social disorder. So to have an organised orderly social life and to
enlidarity of a particular group in the society, we need social control.
soli
because:
above paragraph, it can be concluded that social control is necessary be
From the in
*It maintains social order by which the members of the sociery e
accordance with the social order.
*It is required to maintain continuity & uniformity in society
socla to have

organisation and to avoid disorganisation in the society due changing

to soclery
the behaviour
Social controls brings uniformity of behaviour by regulating
accordance with established norms. This control over behaviour brings unity
among individuals.
controlling the attitudes,
*Social control prevents the clash among individuals by
interests & behaviour as two men are never alike.
ideas,
*Social control is necessary toprotect the social interests.
I t helps in satisfying the common needs ofindividuals.
sanction which are prevalent in
*Social control regulates the society through
If any individual violates the social norms,
then in the society, social
society.
of behaviour.
sanctions are provided to have the social ways
cultural
Social control prevents disintegration of society
and keeps a check on
also
to the changes is
adjustment of the behaviour
maladjustment. In dynamic society,
sought through social control.
Aim of Social Control: According to Kimball young,
the aim ofsocial control is:
& continuity of a particular group of society.
To bring about conformity, solidarity

CONTROL
MEANS OR WAYS OF SOCIAL
to do in accordance
There are a number of ways or means by which people are compelled
Ross, the means to achieve social
to E. A.
with the life values of a group (1) According
control are

*Law
*Custom
Religion
Suggestions
Folkways & mores
 268
PVA Text Book of Appled Soclology
2Aceording to B.C Hayes, the means of social control are:
Sanctions by rewards &
punishment.
Suggestions
Education
Family
3According to F.E. Lumley, the means of social control are
(a) Physical force
b) Symbolic devices
a hysical force Physical coercion is the way to have control over individuals in
the society. Physical force forcefully asking the person to behave in a way
means
the society want. For
example, physical force used by police to maintain order
b) Symbolic devices There are two classes of symbolic devices which are used in
thehuman society. These are discussed under two categories
Category I- It includes rewards, praise, education etc.
Category II :- It includes gossips, satire, criticism, threat, punishments etc.
4According to Luther L. Bernard, the means of social control are
Conscious means
Unconscious means
Conscious The
means means of control are developed consciously & these
means are used by all type of leaders.
Unconscious means The unconscious means
of social control are customs,
traditions& conventions.
5. According to Bernard, social control means are:
(a) Exploitative and constructive methods.
b) Positive & negative type of control.
a) Exploitative & constructive methods:- Exploitative methods are:
- Punishment

- Repression

- Intimidation

(a) Constructive methods

include:
Laws
- Education
 ation,
clal Organizath
Disorganization, Social Problems 269
Custom
Non violent coercion
(b) Positive &
negative type of control
appreciation, praise, reward etc. are Positive means of social co as

negative means. better ways to achieve social

Negative means of social control are
con
etc. punishment restraiug
&

Social control has been

classified into formal & informal means
(a) Formal means -The formal means of social control are -
Law
Education
Force
b) Infomal means
:-Informal means of social control are
Belief

Suggestions
Ideologies
Folkways &mores
Custom & religion
Art&literature
*Humour&satire
Public opinion
From above classifications, it be
can concluded, that control over the
society is achieved
through various means. The main means to achieve social control are
discussed below
1. Law Laws
-
are rules enforced by legal agencies. If any person violates the law, then
penalities are imposed on them. Law prescribes uniform norms &
throughout the social system.
penalities
For example:- The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, The children Act, 1960, Untouchability
Act etc.
2 Education: Education is the way
by which wrong attitudes are reformed. Education
corrects the beliefs &t remove the prejudices. Education is the
way by which right kind
of social attitudes can be created.
270 PU A Text B0ok ofApplied Soclology

. Coercion Social control is achieved by use of force. It is a negative means ofsocial

cOntrol. COercion is in the form of bodily injury, imprisonment && death. Other type of
coercion such as Non violent coercion includes strikes, boycott & non cooperation.

4 Beliefs Beliefs control the human beings from doing wrong things. The people
believe in invisible powers. So, the people try to do right action as they believe that
hey are being watched by invisible power. Even the people have the concept that by
doing wrong or sins, they will go into hell after death and right activities & virtuous
acts will keep them in heaven after death. All these beliefs lead man to avoid activities
which disturb the social organisation. It means beliefs to control the human beings &
lead them in activities which are right according to society.

Suggestions Suggestions are indirect communication feelings

of ideas &
Suggestions can be made by setting life examples, through literature, books, journals,
newspaper etc.
of human beings. Ideologies guide the
Ideologies : Ideologies influence the social life
human beings on right path & away from the actions which cause pain.

7. Folkways & Mores - Folkways are socially approved and it is not easy to violate the
folkways. If an individual violates the folkways, he is boycotted from the societal
member. The fear of being separated from society, keep the individuals under
controlled behaviour. Mores are fundamental needs of society and express the sense
of right. These are means of control. There are innumerable mores like monogamy
Thus, folkways & mores are considered as the
endogamy & anti-slavery etc.

instrument of control.
Customs & Religion - Customs are folkways & mores which have passed from
8.
generation to generation & very long time. Religion is an attitude
persisted for a

towards superhuman powers. These regulate the social life to a great extent & bind
men together. These. compel the individual to do in accordance with accepted
standards of customs & religion.

9 Art :- painting, sculpture, architecture and music etc. Art arouses the
Art includes

feelings of love, affection & sympathy. Art is the way of bringing the behaviour of
individuals according to society. By painting or art, expected norms can be shown.

Humour- Humour controls the human behaviour by supporting the sanctioned

10.
value of society.
11. Public opinion- Public opinion influences the actions of individuals thereby
changing the behaviour.