One app for all your study abroad needs
Sociology studies society systematically, using specific terms and concepts to understand social relationships, structures, and processes. NCERT Class 11 Sociology Chapter 2 introduces the key terms and concepts used in sociology, explaining their importance and how they differ from everyday language.
These concepts help sociologists analyse social phenomena, identify patterns, and develop theories. This chapter also explores the nature of social groups, social stratification, and the dynamic nature of society and culture.
Table of Contents
Explore Notes of Class 11: Introducing Sociology
| Chapter 1 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 |
Introduction
NCERT Class 11 Sociology Chapter 2: Terms, Concepts, and Their Use in Sociology notes introduce key sociological terms and concepts to understand social realities. It covers social groups, stratification, and control, distinguishing them from common knowledge.
Students can expect questions on definitions, group types, and societal impacts. These notes simplify complex ideas, enhance conceptual clarity, and aid revision, fostering a deeper understanding of sociology.
- Sociology requires precise terms and concepts to study society scientifically.
- Every day, words like “group” or “culture” have specific meanings in sociology, different from common usage.
- Concepts act as tools to:
- Organise observations.
- Identify patterns in social behaviour.
- Build theories to explain social phenomena.
- Example: The concept of “social stratification” helps explain why some groups have more power or wealth than others.
- Sociological concepts are:
- Abstract: They generalise patterns across different societies.
- Precise: They avoid vague or ambiguous meanings.
- This chapter covers:
- Types of social groups.
- Social stratification (inequalities in society).
- Society and its dynamic nature.
- Culture and its role in shaping social life.
Why do we Need Concepts?
The section explains how sociological concepts provide tools to systematically analyse and understand complex social structures and interactions.
- Sociology studies complex social realities, like inequality, family dynamics, or community behaviour.
- Concepts simplify and organise these realities for analysis.
- Example: The concept of “class” helps us understand economic inequalities, not just individual wealth.
- Concepts are:
- Building blocks of sociological theories.
- Tools to compare societies or track changes over time.
- Without concepts, sociology would rely on vague descriptions or common sense, which lack precision.
- Sociological concepts evolve through:
- Empirical research (data collection and observation).
- Debates among sociologists.
- Concepts connect personal experiences to broader social patterns.
- Example: A student’s failure in exams (personal) may reflect educational inequalities (social).
The “Social Groups” section of NCERT Class 11 Sociology Chapter 2 notes explores the concept of social groups, their types, and significance in shaping interactions, identity, and social structures in society.
- A social group is a collection of individuals who interact regularly, share common goals, and feel a sense of belonging.
- Not all collections of people are social groups.
- Example: People waiting at a bus stop are not a group because they lack interaction or shared identity.
- Features of social groups:
- Regular interaction among members.
- Shared norms, values, or interests.
- A sense of unity or “we-feeling.”
- Types of social groups:
- Primary Groups:
- Small, close-knit, and personal (e.g., family, close friends).
- Emotional bonds and face-to-face interaction.
- Example: A family supports each other during tough times.
- Secondary Groups:
- Larger, impersonal, and goal-oriented (e.g., workplace, school).
- Formal relationships based on roles or tasks.
- Example: Colleagues working on a project.
- In-Group and Out-Group:
- In-Group: A group you identify with and feel loyalty toward (e.g., your community).
- Out-group: A group you feel distant from or in competition with (e.g., a rival team).
- Reference Groups:
- Groups we compare ourselves to or aspire to be like.
- Example: Teenagers may follow the lifestyle of a celebrity group.
- Primary Groups:
- Social groups shape individual behaviour, identity, and social roles.
Also Read:
- NCERT Solutions for Class 9 History Chapter 5 “Pastoralists in the Modern World” (Free PDF)
- NCERT Class 8 History Chapter 3 Ruling the Countryside Notes
Community, Association, and Institutions
The section “Community, Association, and Institutions” in NCERT Class 11 Sociology Chapter 2 explores distinct social structures, their characteristics, and roles in shaping organised social interactions and behaviour.
- Community:
- A group of people living in a specific area, sharing common interests and a sense of belonging.
- Example: A village community celebrating a local festival together.
- Features:
- Localised (tied to a place).
- Emotional bonds and shared culture.
- Informal relationships.
- Association:
- A group formed for a specific purpose or goal, with formal rules and structure.
- Example: A trade union or a student council.
- Features:
- Organised and goal-oriented.
- Membership is voluntary and based on shared interests.
- Formal roles (e.g., president, secretary).
- Social Institutions:
- Established systems of rules and relationships that fulfil essential societal functions.
- Examples: Family, education, religion, economy, government.
- Features:
- Stable and enduring structures.
- Regulate behaviour through norms and roles.
- Example: The institution of marriage defines roles like husband and wife.
- Difference:
- Communities are based on shared living and emotional ties.
- Associations are organised for specific purposes.
- Institutions are broader systems that structure social life.
The “Social Stratification” section in NCERT Class 11 Sociology Chapter 2 explores the hierarchical division of society based on wealth, power, and status, examining systems like caste and class.
- Social stratification refers to the division of society into layers (strata) based on inequalities in wealth, power, or status.
- It creates hierarchies where some groups have more privileges than others.
- Features of social stratification:
- Universal: Found in all societies, though forms differ.
- Persistent: Inequalities continue across generations.
- Social: Based on social factors (not natural differences).
- Types of social stratification:
- Caste:
- Hereditary, rigid system based on birth (e.g., Indian caste system).
- Determines occupation, marriage, and social status.
- Example: Brahmins traditionally had a higher status than other castes.
- Class:
- Based on economic factors like wealth, income, or occupation.
- More fluid than caste, allowing social mobility.
- Example: A person can move from the working class to the middle class through education.
- Gender:
- Inequalities based on gender roles and expectations.
- Example: Women may face discrimination in the workplace.
- Ethnicity/Race:
- Inequalities based on cultural or racial differences.
- Example: Discrimination against tribal groups in access to education.
- Caste:
- Stratification affects:
- Access to resources (e.g., education, healthcare).
- Social opportunities and life chances.
- Power dynamics in society.
Society
This section in the NCERT Class 11 Sociology Chapter 2 explores society as a dynamic web of social relationships, emphasising its structure, interactions, and influence on individual behaviour.
- Society is a system of social relationships where individuals and groups interact, guided by shared norms, values, and institutions.
- Features of society:
- Interdependence: Members rely on each other for survival and cooperation.
- Shared culture: Common beliefs, customs, and practices.
- Dynamic: Societies change over time due to technology, economy, or social movements.
- Types of societies:
- Pre-modern Societies:
- Hunters and gatherers, pastoral, and agrarian.
- Small-scale, based on kinship or tradition.
- Modern Societies:
- Industrialised, urban, and complex.
- Based on formal institutions and rational systems.
- Pre-modern Societies:
- Example: Indian society is a mix of traditional (caste, village life) and modern (urbanisation, technology) elements.
- Sociology studies how societies maintain order and adapt to change.
Status and Role
This section explores how social positions (status) and their expected behaviours (role) shape individual interactions and societal structures.
- Status:
- A position an individual occupies in society (e.g., teacher, mother, student).
- Types:
- Ascribed Status: Assigned at birth, involuntary (e.g., caste, gender).
- Achieved Status: Earned through effort or choice (e.g., doctor, athlete).
- Each status comes with expectations and responsibilities.
- Role:
- The behaviour expected of a person occupying a particular status.
- Example: A teacher’s role includes teaching, grading, and mentoring students.
- Role Conflict:
- When expectations of different roles clash.
- Example: A working mother balancing job responsibilities and childcare.
- Role Set:
- Multiple roles are attached to a single status.
- Example: A teacher may also be a mentor, disciplinarian, and colleague.
- Status and role link individuals to social structures, shaping interactions.
Culture
This section of the NCERT Class 11 Sociology Chapter 2 explores culture as shared beliefs, values, norms, and practices shaping social life, emphasising its role in sociology.
- Culture is the shared way of life of a society, including beliefs, values, norms, customs, and material objects.
- Features of culture:
- Learned: Acquired through socialisation, not innate.
- Shared: Common to a group or society.
- Dynamic: Changes over time due to innovation or contact with other cultures.
- Components of culture:
- Values: Beliefs about what is right or desirable (e.g., honesty, equality).
- Norms: Rules guiding behaviour (e.g., respecting elders).
- Material Culture: Physical objects like tools, clothes, or buildings.
- Non-material Culture: Ideas, beliefs, and values.
- Example: Indian culture includes diverse languages, festivals (Diwali, Eid), and traditional clothing (sari, kurta).
- Cultural Diversity:
- Societies have multiple subcultures based on region, religion, or class.
- Example: Tribal cultures in India differ from urban cultures.
- Ethnocentrism:
- Judging other cultures by the standards of one’s own culture.
- Example: Assuming Western clothing is “modern” and traditional clothing is “backwards.”
- Culture shapes identity, behaviour, and social interactions.
Also Read:
- NCERT CBSE Chapter 1 Development Class 10 Notes (Free PDF)
- NCERT CBSE Class 10 Chapter 3 Economics Notes: Money and Credit (Free PDF)
Important Definitions in NCERT Class 11 Sociology Chapter 2: Terms, Concepts, and Their Use in Sociology
This section introduces essential sociological terms and concepts that form the foundation of understanding social structures and interactions. Below are the important definitions from Chapter 2, “Terms, Concepts, and Their Use in Sociology,” of NCERT Class 11 Sociology that are crucial for grasping the core ideas of sociology.
- Social Group: A collection of individuals who interact regularly, share common goals, and have a sense of unity.
- Primary Group: A small, intimate group with emotional bonds (e.g., family).
- Secondary Group: A larger, formal group based on specific goals (e.g., workplace).
- Community: A group sharing a common area, culture, and sense of belonging.
- Association: An organised group formed for a specific purpose with formal rules.
- Social Institution: An established system of rules and relationships that fulfils societal functions (e.g., family, education).
- Social Stratification: The division of society into layers based on inequalities in wealth, power, or status.
- Status: A social position an individual occupies in society.
- Role: The expected behaviour associated with a particular status.
- Society: A system of social relationships where individuals and groups interact, guided by shared norms and institutions.
- Culture: The shared beliefs, values, norms, customs, and material objects of a society.
- Ethnocentrism: The tendency to judge other cultures by the standards of one’s own.
Explore Notes of Class 11: Introducing Sociology
| Chapter 1 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 |
Download the Solutions of Other Chapters of Class 11 Sociology
| Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 |
Related Reads
Credits: Renaissance 2.0
Explore Notes of Other Subjects of NCERT Class 11
| Business Studies | Sociology | Economics | English | History |
FAQs
Concepts provide precise tools to analyse social phenomena, identify patterns, and build theories, making sociology systematic and scientific.
Primary groups are small, personal, and emotionally bonded (e.g., family), while secondary groups are larger, impersonal, and goal-oriented (e.g., workplace).
For NCERT study material, follow NCERT Notes and Solutions Class 11 Introducing Sociology by Leverage Edu now.
