TYPES OF SOCIETIES

 Role behavior happens in groups (the people you interact with on a daily basis)  The largest possible “group” to study is the society  Sociologist classify societies according to their Subsistence Strategies  The way a society uses technology to provide for the needs of its members.  Three Broad Categories: 1.Preindustrial 2.Industrial 3.Postindustrial PREINDUSTRIAL SOCIETIES

 Preindustrial Society – Food production is the main economic activity  Four Subdivisions:  Hunting and Gathering Societies  Food Production – gathering of wild plants and hunting animals  Nomadic by Nature – move around hunting supplies and food  Population limited – 60 to 100 (nomadic lifestyle)  Family is main social unit  Pastoral Societies  Food Production – domesticated herd animals  Nomadic by Nature – moving herd around  Sustainable food allows for larger population  Division of Labor – specialization of individuals in economic activities  Craftsman and other works emerge  Social inequality – trade means there are haves and have nots PREINDUSTRIAL SOCIETIES – PART 1

 Horticultural Societies  Food Production - Fruits and Vegetables from gardens  Move as land become barren from slash and burn farming technique  Build semi-permanent settlements and villages of 30 to 2000 people  Complex division of labor  Food surplus can create wealth/power inequalities  Agricultural Societies  Food Production – animals used to plow fields…more means of crop production  Very large populations can be supported  Specialization leads to development of permanent cities  Armies built to protect the community  Money used over trade/bart PREINDUSTRIAL SOCIETIES – PART 2

 In an Industrial Society, the interest shifts from production of food to the production of manufactured goods  This production is primarily carried out through the use of machines  More food is produced and therefore more life/population is able to be sustained  Production now takes place in factories and not the home  Factors are built in cities pushing urbanization – the concentration of a population within the city  Social Institutions are also moved beyond the home  Schools/Education become institutions, not the responsibility of family  Wealth is more easily obtained in Industrial Societies as preindustrial societies it is inherited INDUSTRIAL SOCIETIES

 Postindustrial Society – much of the economy is involved in providing information and services  US – 73% info and services, 2% agricultural, 25% production of goods  Standard of Living and Quality of Life are vastly improved  Science and Education are given very strong roles in society  Technological advances are the key to the future  Social Equality and Democracy POSTINDUSTRIAL SOCIETY

 Preindustrial Societies are held together by Mechanical Solidarity  People share the same values and perform the same tasks, they become united as a whole  As division of labor becomes more complex, mechanical solidarity gives way to Organic Solidarity  Impersonal relationships that rise with increased job specialization – individuals no longer provide for all their own needs  We become dependent on others for aspects of our survival 1.Gemeinschaft (guh-myn-shahft) – German for “community”  Societies in which most members know one another and relationships are tight – people share sense of solidarity to the group 2.Gesellschaft (guh-zel-shahft) – German for “society”  Relationships are based on need not emotion – therefore relationships tend to be impersonal and temporary CONTRASTING SOCIETIES - DURKHEIM

 Subsistence Strategies  Preindustrial Society  Hunting and Gathering Society  Pastoral Society  Division of Labor  Horticultural Society  Agricultural Society  Barter  Industrial Society  Urbanization KEY VOCABULARY