Sociology : a study of the social sphere / Yogesh Atal

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Atal, Yogesh.

Series:

Always learning.

Always learning

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Sociology.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (1 v.) : ill.

Edition:

1st edition

Other Title:

A study of the social sphere

Place of Publication:

New Delhi, India : Pearson, 2012.

System Details:

text file

Summary:

Any growing discipline continuously adds to the corpus of factual knowledge about the phenomena being studied and enriches its conceptual apparatus. Over time, some themes are dropped, and new concerns incorporated. This makes older and classical texts less relevant, and necessitates a process of selection and reprioritization of themes to meet changing times. Hence the need for new textbooks, especially one as detailed and concise as

Contents:

Cover

Contents

Preface

About the Author

Acknowledgements

Part I: Invitation to Sociology

Chapter 1: What is Sociology?

Introduction

Sociology as a Science of the Social Sphere

Intellectual Foundations of Social Sciences

The Beginnings of Sociology and Anthropology

The Contribution of Pioneers

Formalization of the Discipline

Sociology: Moving towards Becoming a Science

Endnotes

Chapter 2: Sociology in India

Entry of Sociology into the Indian Academia

Key Emphases in Indian Sociology

Part II: Conceptual Framework

Chapter 3: Defining Society

The Term Sociosphere

Social Interactions

Chapter 4: Contours of Culture

Man-the Culture-bearing and Culture-building Animal

Biological Gifts to Man

Beginnings of Culture

Living Cultures of Man: Evolutionary Ladder

Definition of Culture

Attributes of Culture

Components of Culture

The Phenomenon of Sandwich Culture

Appendix 4.1

Appendix 4.2

Chapter 5: Social Groups: Conceptual Framework

What is a Group?

Group Size and type of Interactions

Sub-Groups

Summary

Typology of Groups

Reference Group

Chapter 6: Communities, Associations and Formal Organizations

The Concept of Community

Definition of the Concept of Community

Formal Groups: Associations and Organizations

Association

Formal Organizations: Bureaucracy

Bureaucracy in Operation: The Pathology and Dysfunctions

Bureaucracy and Nation-building: A Post Script

Alliances, Coalitions and Networks

Short-lived Alliances at the Level of Individuals

Networks

Chapter 7: Social Interactions and Social Structure: Status and Role

Preliminary Remarks

Individuals as Status Holders and Role Players

Situation of Social Interaction

Concept of Status and Role.

Status Set and Role Set

Ascribed and Achieved Status

Ascribed Status

Achieved Status

Status Exit or Role Exit

Master Status

Status Sequence and Role Sequence

Status Conflict and Role Conflict

Chapter 8: Structural-Functional Analysis

Functional Prerequisites and Requisites

Handling Functional Problems: The Agil Model

Input-output Model

Functional Analysis

The Concept of Function

Manifest and Latent Functions

Functions and Dysfunctions

Functional Equivalents or Alternatives

Part III: Recruitment Dimension

Chapter 9: Family, Marriage and Kinship

The Replacement and Recruitment Dimension

Omnipresence of the Institution of Family

Biological Bases of the Family

Definition of the Family

The Nuclear Family

Kinship Relation

Typology of Family

Monogamous Families

Nuclear Family (Also Called Simple or Elementary Family

Nuclear Family with Adhesions and/or Adjuncts)

Compound Family

Stem Family

Extended Family or Joint Family

Incomplete Family

Polygamous Families

Typology Based on Residence

Kinship Extensions

Kingroup

Other Aspects of Kinship

Chapter 10: Prelude to Family: Marriage

A Note on Incest Taboo

Exogamy and Endogamy

Preferred Marriage

The Family in the Philippines, Thailandand Japan

The Philippines 14

Japan

Thailand

Chapter 11: Marriage, Family and Kinship in India

Matrilineal Families in India

The Khasis

The Garo

The Nayars

The Patrilineal Families with Special Reference to the Hindu Family

Family in Hindu Scriptures

A Note on the Joint Family

Family in Contemporary India

Family in a Kashmir Village

A Case Study from a Kashmir Village

Family in the Villages of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

Family Types on The Basis of Census Enumeration

Part IV: Growing Up in a Society

Chapter 12: Socialization and Enculturation

Society and Environment

Heredity and Man-Made Environment

Heredity and Physical Environment

Socialization

Stages of Development

Agents and Content of Socialization

Final Word

A Note on Political Socialization

Chapter 13: From Socialization to Schooling: The Broader Canvas of Education

Education: A Sociological Perspective

Education: Beyond Initial Socialization

Institutionalization of Learning: From Family to School

Education and Development

Role of Education in Development

Development of Education

Impact of Development on Education

Part V: Internal Ranks and Divisions

Chapter 14: Social Stratification: Theories and Related Concepts

Introductory Remarks

The Concept of Stratification

Theories of Social Stratification

Formulation of Karl Marx (1818-83)

Counter Theory of Max Weber (1864-1920)

Functionalist Interpretation

Societal Dividers

Differentiation on the Basis of Ascription

Differentiation on the Basis of Achievement Criteria

Chapter 15: Race, Tribe, Caste and Class

Race

Tribe

Caste: Vaena and Jati

The Many uses of the term Caste in the Indian Context

The Dominant Caste

Class

Evaluated Participation or EP

Index of Status Characteristics (ISC)

Appendix 15.1 The Race Question

Appendix 15.2 Unesco Declaration on Race and Racial Prejudice

Chapter 16: Poverty and the Poor

Poverty of Nations

Poverty within a Nation: The Poorregions and the Poor Families

How to Identify the Poor?

Measuring Poverty: Concepts and methods

UNDP Measures for Poverty

Measures Employed in the Countries-in-Transition

Poverty Line Measure in India.

Final Comment

Appendix 16.1

Part VI: Change in Society

Chapter 17: Social Change-I: Situating Change in Sociological Theory

Chapter 18: Social Change-II: Reconstructing the Past

Unilinear Evolution: The Staircase Theory

Multilinear Evolutionism

Diffusionist Theories

Civilizational Approach to Change

Oswald Spengler: The Decline of the West

Arnold Toynbee: The Study of History

Pitirim Sorokin: Change in Cultural Mentalities

General Observations on Methodology for the Study of Change in the Context of the non-West

Concluding Remarks

Chapter 19: Social Change-III: Focus on the Present

Preliminary Observations

The Present as a Processual Product

Social Deviation and Anomie

Factors Promoting Conformity

Factors Leading to Deviation and Anomie

Social Change as a Consequence of Growth

Demographic Change

Social Effects of Innovation

The Concept of Cultural Lag

Improving the Present: Managing Change

The Concept of Modernization

The Development Process in Developing Countries

Indian Experience in Development

From Modernity to Post-Modernity

Final Comment

Chapter 20: Fashioning the Future

Why Future Studies?

Key Concerns Regarding the Future of Cultures

Future Studies

The Contributions of Alvin Toffler

Daniel Bell on Post-Industrial Society

Definition and Characteristics of Futures Studies

Methodology for Futures Studies

Subjective or Intuitive Methods

Objective Methods

Vision for India 2020: Summary of a Massive Exercise

Bibliography

Index.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

Description based on online resource; title from title page (Safari, viewed Nov. 5, 2014).

ISBN:

9788131797594

8131797597

OCLC:

895206405