Social System | Lecture Note

University:
Liberty University
Course:
BIOM 500 | Introduction to Biomedical Sciences
Academic year:

2024
Views:

72

Pages:

5
Author:

Sheha A.

Social System A social system is a network of relationships and an orderly and systematic arrangement of social interaction. A social system consists of two or more individuals interacting directly or indirectly in a bounded situation. A social system may be defined as a plurality of individuals interacting with each other according to shared cultural norms and meanings. Ogbuan. Types of Social Systems: Morgan and other evolutionists: Savagery: Social system represented by uncivilized people. Barbarism: Civilized people. Civilization: Modern society. Gerhard and Jean Lenski: Hunting and gathering Horticulture and pastoral Agrarian Industrial Special-industrial Social Systems Morgan and other evolutionists: Savagery: Systems characterized by small, homogenous populations with no specialization. Barbarism: Organic social systems; modern societies are based on organic social systems. Civilization: Characterized by large, complex populations with complex division of labor. Gerhard and Jean Lenski: Hunting and gathering Horticultural and pastoral Agrarian Industrial Special-industrial Role and Status as a Structural Element of Social Systems Status: It is the position occupied by an individual in a given system. It is the position that an individual holds in a given system. Well-defined roles and responsibilities are assigned to these positions. During the life time, every individual occupies different statuses. A person can have numerous statuses at a given point of time. The status hierarchy is based upon where we live, what we do, etc. Status is usually determined by a person's income or occupation.