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GNDU Question Paper-2021
B.A 1
st
Semester
SOCIOLOGY
(Fundamentals of Sociology-l)
Time Allowed: Three Hours Max. Marks: 100
Note: Attempt Five questions in all, selecting at least One question from each section. The
Fifth question may be attempted from any section. All questions carry equal marks.
SECTION-A
1. (a) Define Sociology and discuss its importance as a course of study.
(b) Is Sociology a corpus of social sciences or a specialism?
2. "History is past Sociology and Sociology is present History". Discuss and justify.
SECTION-B
3. Characterise and distinguish society and community.
4. Define a social institution. How does it differ from an association?
SECTION-C
5. Distinguish between Primary and Secondary Group stressing their importance for social
life.
6. Write a detailed note on Reference Group.
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SECTION-D
7. Describe the role of various agencies in the process of socialization.
8. Discuss Cooley's theory of "looking glass self" with appropriate example.
GNDU Answer Paper-2021
B.A 1
st
Semester
SOCIOLOGY
(Fundamentals of Sociology-l)
Time Allowed: Three Hours Max. Marks: 100
Note: Attempt Five questions in all, selecting at least One question from each section. The
Fifth question may be attempted from any section. All questions carry equal marks.
SECTION-A
1. (a) Define Sociology and discuss its importance as a course of study.
(b) Is Sociology a corpus of social sciences or a specialism?
Ans: A New Beginning: The Village Fair of Ideas
In a quiet town nestled between two green hills, a school hosted an annual Village Fair of
Ideas. Students, teachers, and parents all gathered to celebrate different subjects. There
were stalls for Mathematics, Biology, History—even one with physics tricks. But standing
quietly in one corner was an old wooden stall titled “Sociology – The Study of Society.”
Most students passed it by, not understanding what it truly offered. That was until a curious
girl named Tara walked in and asked the wise teacher sitting there, “What is Sociology? And
why should I study it?”
The teacher smiled, and thus began a fascinating conversation—one that we're about to
share with you here.
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󽄡󽄢󽄣󽄤󽄥󽄦 Part (a) – What is Sociology and Why Is It Important?
󼨐󼨑󼨒 Definition of Sociology
Let’s start with the simplest definition:
Sociology is the scientific study of society, human behavior, social relationships, and
institutions.
It helps us understand how humans interact, how societies evolve, and how our everyday
lives are shaped by rules, customs, and patterns we often don’t even notice.
It looks at:
• Family life,
• Education systems,
• Religion,
• Politics,
• Culture,
• Crime,
• Gender roles,
• And much more.
Sociology asks big questions like:
• Why do people live the way they do?
• What causes inequality or social change?
• How do customs, traditions, and beliefs evolve?
󹵅󹵆󹵇󹵈 A Short Historical Note
Sociology as a discipline began in the 19th century when thinkers like Auguste Comte
(known as the Father of Sociology), Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, and Max Weber tried to
understand the fast-changing European societies during industrialization.
They saw massive urbanization, poverty, new family patterns, and class conflicts—all of
which needed explanation. Hence, sociology was born to study society systematically.
󷆭󷆬 Why Should We Study Sociology?
Let’s return to Tara’s question at the Village Fair: “Why is Sociology important?”
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The teacher told her, “Sociology is like a mirror. It reflects who we are as individuals, who
we are as a group, and what we might become.”
Let’s explore this idea further.
1. 󼩎󼩏󼩐󼩑󼩒󼩓󼩔 Sociology Helps Us Understand Society
Society is like a large, living machine with many parts working together—family, education,
religion, economy, etc.
Sociology helps us understand these parts, their roles, and how they interact. For example:
• Why does crime occur more in some areas than others?
• Why do some people face discrimination?
• What leads to poverty despite wealth in the country?
Through Sociology, we can see the patterns, ask the right questions, and find solutions.
2. 󹂴󺯦󺯞󺯧󹂷󹂸󹂹󺯨󹂻󺯟󺯩󺯪󺯠󺯡󹃀󺯢󺯫󺯣󺯤󺯬󺯭󺯮󺯥󺯯󺯰󺯱󺯶󺯷󺯸󺯹󺯺󺯻󺯼󺯽󺯾󺯿󺰀󺯲󹃌󺯳󺰁󹃏󺯴󺰂󺰃󺰄󺰅󺯵󺰆󺰇 It Encourages Social Tolerance
By studying different communities, beliefs, and practices, Sociology builds:
• Empathy
• Understanding
• Respect for diversity
It teaches us not to judge people quickly. For example, a sociologist doesn't say, “That
person is poor because they’re lazy.” Instead, they ask, “What social or economic conditions
might have contributed to this situation?”
3. 󼿍󼿎󼿑󼿒󼿏󼿓󼿐󼿔 It Helps in Social Reform
Social evils like:
• Caste discrimination,
• Gender inequality,
• Child labor,
• Domestic violence
...have all been understood and challenged through sociological research.
Social reformers like Dr. B.R. Ambedkar used sociological insights to build fairer systems.
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4. 󷕘󷕙󷕚 Career and Practical Use
Sociology isn't just theory. It plays a key role in:
• Civil services (IAS, IPS)
• Social work and NGOs
• Market research
• Law and judiciary
• Urban planning and policymaking
• Education and journalism
For example, a sociologist working in a city can help create policies that reduce crime or
improve transportation.
5. 󹻊󹻋󹻌󹻎󹻍 It Builds Responsible Citizens
Sociology opens our eyes to how society influences us and how we influence society. We
begin to act more responsibly:
• We vote more wisely.
• We treat others more kindly.
• We contribute to nation-building.
󷇴󷇵󷇶󷇷󷇸󷇹 Story: The Traffic Light That Taught Sociology
In another town, a sociologist named Rehan conducted an experiment. He set up a traffic
light in a chaotic market street where no one followed rules. He studied how people
responded—not just to the light, but to the behavior of others.
He found that if one person followed the rule, others were more likely to do the same. This
simple act helped reduce traffic jams.
He concluded that social behavior spreads like waves, and understanding this pattern can
change societies. That’s the power of Sociology—it turns everyday moments into powerful
lessons about human behavior.
󷆰 Part (b) – Is Sociology a Corpus of Social Sciences or a Specialism?
This question asks whether Sociology is:
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• A general body of knowledge that overlaps with other social sciences (like
economics, political science, anthropology),
OR
• A specialized subject with its own distinct field, methods, and theories.
Let’s explore both views and arrive at a conclusion.
󼨻󼨼 Sociology as a Corpus of Social Sciences
A corpus means a collection or body. So, when people say Sociology is a corpus, they mean:
Sociology is a broad umbrella discipline that connects with many other social sciences.
For example:
Discipline
Common Link with Sociology
Economics
Studies wealth and inequality in society
Political Science
Studies power and governance in groups
Anthropology
Studies culture and human development
Psychology
Studies individual behavior in social contexts
History
Studies past societies and their social changes
Sociology borrows ideas, methods, and concepts from all these fields to understand social
life more fully.
Just like a rainbow has different colors blending into each other, Sociology blends with these
fields to create a complete picture of society.
Example:
To understand poverty, a sociologist may:
• Use economics to study income levels
• Use political science to study welfare policies
• Use psychology to study mindset and stress
• Use anthropology to study cultural practices
Hence, Sociology often acts as the central lens through which other social sciences also get
interpreted.
󹴷󹴺󹴸󹴹󹴻󹴼󹴽󹴾󹴿󹵀󹵁󹵂 Sociology as a Specialism
Now let’s look at the other side.
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Many scholars argue that:
Sociology is not just a collection of borrowed ideas—it is a unique subject with its own
theories, methods, and scope.
Here’s what makes Sociology distinct:
1. Its Central Focus on Social Relationships
Unlike economics (which focuses on wealth) or political science (which focuses on power),
Sociology focuses on human interaction and social structures.
It asks:
• How do people form groups?
• How do norms and values shape behavior?
• How does culture evolve?
2. Unique Theories and Thinkers
Sociology has its own foundational theories:
• Marx’s Conflict Theory
• Durkheim’s Functionalism
• Weber’s Social Action Theory
These are core ideas not borrowed from other fields.
3. Distinct Methodology
Sociology uses surveys, interviews, ethnography, participant observation, and statistical
analysis.
It combines both quantitative and qualitative techniques, offering a balanced lens that is
both measurable and human-centered.
󷗭󷗨󷗩󷗪󷗫󷗬 Conclusion: Which One is It?
So, is Sociology a corpus or a specialism?
󹰤󹰥󹰦󹰧󹰨 Answer: It's both.
Sociology is:
• A bridge that connects various disciplines through its broad themes.
• And yet, a tower of knowledge that stands tall on its own foundation of unique
theories and methods.
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It is a general science of society, yet it specializes in understanding social behavior and
change better than any other.
󹸯󹸭󹸮 Why This Matters
Understanding this dual nature helps students and scholars appreciate:
• The interconnectedness of knowledge
• The depth of Sociology as a subject
It prepares us to approach society’s problems with a blend of wisdom, technique, and
empathy.
2. "History is past Sociology and Sociology is present History". Discuss and justify.
Ans: Introduction: The Conversation Beneath the Old Banyan Tree
Under a centuries-old banyan tree in a quiet Indian town, two curious minds sat talking—
Aarav, a history enthusiast, and Naina, a budding sociologist. One loved the tales of kings,
revolutions, and empires; the other preferred the study of how people live, work, think, and
interact today. At one point, Naina smiled and said, “You know, Aarav, History is just past
Sociology… and Sociology is present History.”
That one sentence sparked a conversation—and an intellectual journey—that mirrors what
we’re about to explore.
Let’s take this beautiful thought and walk together through its meaning, justification, and
relevance.
󷉃󷉄 Understanding the Statement: “History is Past Sociology and Sociology is Present
History”
This statement beautifully captures the deep relationship between History and Sociology.
Though they are different academic disciplines, they often overlap, influence, and support
each other.
To understand this, let’s first unpack what both subjects deal with:
• History studies past human events—wars, revolutions, cultural changes, empires,
colonialism, reforms, and societal transformations.
• Sociology studies the present structure, functioning, and development of human
society—social institutions, relationships, norms, conflicts, and behaviors.
So, the statement suggests:
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• History is past Sociology: The events and societies of the past can be analyzed using
sociological concepts. The way people lived, behaved, and organized themselves in
earlier times is what Sociology would have studied if it existed back then.
• Sociology is present History: The societal patterns and behaviors of today are in the
making of future history. Today’s social structure, cultural values, conflicts, and
changes will eventually be recorded as history.
󹸯󹸭󹸮 Similarities Between History and Sociology
Let’s dive deeper into the similarities and links between these two disciplines that justify the
statement.
1. Both Study Society
• History studies past societies.
• Sociology studies contemporary societies.
They both seek to understand how humans behave and organize themselves, just across
different timeframes.
2. Both Examine Change
• History examines how and why societies changed in the past.
• Sociology examines how societies are changing today, in real time.
Both are concerned with transformation, whether it’s the fall of feudalism or the rise of
social media.
3. Both Use Evidence and Analysis
• Historians use written records, artifacts, and monuments to draw conclusions.
• Sociologists use surveys, observations, interviews, and data to analyze patterns.
Though the tools are different, the goal is the same: understanding human behavior in a
broader context.
󼨐󼨑󼨒 Applying the Statement with Examples
Let’s bring the idea to life with just two powerful stories—one historical, one modern.
Story 1: The French Revolution – A Historian’s Event, A Sociologist’s Case Study
The French Revolution (1789) is one of the most studied events in history. Historians tell us
about the storming of the Bastille, the execution of King Louis XVI, and the rise of Napoleon.
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But if a sociologist were to examine the same event, they’d look at:
• The class structure of French society—nobles, clergy, peasants.
• The inequality and exploitation faced by the common people.
• The collective behavior of crowds and mobs.
• The emergence of new ideologies like equality and nationalism.
So, while a historian might say “The Revolution began in 1789”, a sociologist would ask
“Why did the masses revolt? What social forces caused the collapse of monarchy?”
That’s how history becomes past sociology—the sociological forces behind the events
matter as much as the dates.
Story 2: Today’s Social Media Revolution – Sociology in the Present, History in the Making
Now imagine a sociologist today studying social media:
• They observe how Instagram and TikTok shape people’s identities.
• They analyze how online communities form and influence behavior.
• They study cyberbullying, digital activism, and online relationships.
This might seem like pure sociology today.
But imagine 100 years from now, a historian trying to understand the early 21st century.
They will say:
• “In the 2020s, human interaction was transformed by digital networks.”
• “Movements like #MeToo and Arab Spring were influenced by online platforms.”
• “Technology shaped politics, mental health, and public opinion.”
So, what is sociology today, will become history tomorrow.
That’s why we say Sociology is present History.
🏛 Differences Between the Two – But Still Complementary
Even though they overlap, they differ in some ways:
Basis
History
Sociology
Time
Focuses on the past
Focuses on the present
Method
Uses archival and documentary
research
Uses surveys, observation, and data
analysis
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Nature
Narrative and descriptive
Analytical and interpretative
Focus
Unique events and personalities
General patterns and social behavior
Still, both disciplines feed into each other. History offers raw material for Sociology.
Sociology offers analytical tools to understand History.
󷗭󷗨󷗩󷗪󷗫󷗬 Why This Relationship Matters
Understanding the link between the two helps students:
• Analyze today’s problems by learning from the past.
• Understand past events with modern social theory.
• Develop a holistic view of human society—how it evolved and where it is going.
Policy makers, educators, and thinkers use both perspectives to design better systems,
correct social injustices, and predict future trends.
󹴷󹴺󹴸󹴹󹴻󹴼󹴽󹴾󹴿󹵀󹵁󹵂 Famous Thinkers Who Support the Idea
• Karl Marx, a key sociologist, deeply studied historical events like capitalism’s rise to
understand class struggles.
• Emile Durkheim, the father of Sociology, wrote on the French education system by
using both historical and sociological methods.
• Max Weber, another pioneer, used historical context to explain religion’s role in
modern capitalism.
Even historians like Arnold Toynbee emphasized the need for social understanding to study
the rise and fall of civilizations.
󼨻󼨼 Final Thoughts: Two Sides of the Same Coin
The statement “History is past Sociology and Sociology is present History” is not just a poetic
phrase. It’s a deep truth about how interconnected human knowledge is.
History gives us roots—the stories of where we came from.
Sociology gives us wings—the understanding to shape where we are going.
Together, they help us understand not just what happened or what is happening, but why,
and how we can make the future better.
So, like Aarav and Naina under that banyan tree, when we bring these two disciplines
together, we don’t just study time—we understand life itself.
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SECTION-B
3. Characterise and distinguish society and community.
Ans: Society and Community: A Tale of Two Gatherings
In the heart of Rajasthan, two events happened on the same weekend. In a small village,
everyone came together for a local fair—sharing food, laughter, and traditions. Meanwhile,
just 300 kilometers away, a national convention gathered people from across the country to
discuss climate policy. Both events involved human interaction and shared goals—but were
they the same?
No. What unfolded in the village was the spirit of a community, and the city conference
embodied the framework of a society.
These two concepts—while seemingly similar—represent different forms of social life. Let’s
untangle them, like threads in a rich cultural tapestry, through stories, comparisons, and
careful characterisation.
󷉸󷉹󷉺 Defining Community: Where Hearts Reside
A community is an intimate, tightly-knit group of people who share common interests,
traditions, space, or emotional bonds. It is often defined by geography, belief systems, or
shared practices.
Characteristics of a community include:
• Small and localized: Villages, neighbourhoods, religious groups.
• Emotional closeness: Members know each other personally.
• Common values and traditions: They celebrate festivals together, follow shared
customs.
• Informal social control: Elders, traditions, or group norms guide behavior.
In a community, people don’t just live together—they live with one another.
󼪈󼪊󼪉 Story 1: The Weavers of Kanchipuram
In Kanchipuram, a cluster of families has woven silk for generations. They celebrate harvest
festivals, help during weddings, and gather for temple prayers. Though they’re not bound by
written rules, their commitment to one another is powerful. This is a community—rooted in
tradition, closeness, and shared identity.
󷆯󷆮 Defining Society: The Grand Network
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A society is a much broader term. It refers to a complex system of social relationships,
institutions, and structures where individuals and groups coexist—sometimes in harmony,
sometimes in tension.
Characteristics of a society include:
• Large and diverse: Encompasses cities, nations, or entire civilizations.
• Formal systems: Laws, government, education, economy.
• Heterogeneity: Different castes, religions, languages, interests.
• Indirect relationships: Members may not know each other personally.
• Structured organization: Society works through roles, norms, and institutions.
In society, people may not share personal bonds, but they are linked through systems and
interactions.
󼩎󼩏󼩐󼩑󼩒󼩓󼩔 Story 2: The Metro Rush
In Delhi’s metro, thousands commute daily. A teacher, a lawyer, a farmer’s son studying
engineering—none know each other personally, yet their lives intersect through shared
resources, traffic rules, and public spaces. Though strangers, they are all part of the same
society, bound not by emotion but by infrastructure, law, and collective living.
󹸯󹸭󹸮 Key Differences Between Society and Community
Let’s decode the distinctions through an easy comparison:
Feature
Community
Scale
Small and localized
Relationships
Personal and emotional
Composition
Homogeneous (similar)
Regulation
Informal (customs, norms)
Purpose
Belonging and support
Stability
More stable and tradition-oriented
Example
Village, religious group
󼨐󼨑󼨒 Why Understanding This Matters
Knowing how society and community differ helps us navigate life more consciously:
• Community gives us identity—a place to belong, celebrate, mourn, and grow.
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• Society provides opportunity—access to systems, rights, education, and governance.
Both are essential.
Communities nurture us like families, while societies challenge us like schools. We first learn
to share sweets at festivals with neighbours (community), and then we learn about taxes
and civil rights (society).
In times of crisis, like a natural disaster, communities offer immediate support. But for long-
term recovery—laws, funds, and planning—society steps in.
󼳇󼳈󼳉 Conclusion: Threads That Weave Us Together
Imagine a colorful quilt. Each patch is a community—unique, close-knit, warm. The stitching
that holds them together? That’s society—strong, structured, and essential.
Whether it’s a family gathering in a courtyard or a parliamentary debate in a capital city,
both forms of human interaction are vital. Society and community aren’t rivals—they are
partners in the story of civilization.
As Mr. Iyer from our earlier tale often said:
“You first learn to say ‘Namaste’ to your neighbor… and then you learn to respect a stranger
in your democracy. One is community, the other is society. Honor both.”
Let me know if you'd like this turned into a revision chart or a short practice test next!
4. Define a social institution. How does it differ from an association?
Ans: 󷉃󷉄 The Tale of Two Seeds: Understanding Social Institutions and Associations
Long ago, in a peaceful valley nestled between mountains and forests, lived an old
gardener named Ayaan. He had spent his whole life growing not just plants but also people's
understanding. Villagers often came to him, not just for herbs or flowers, but for wisdom.
One day, a curious student named Tara visited Ayaan and asked,
“Master, my sociology book talks about social institutions and associations. But I can’t figure
out the difference. Both seem to be groups of people working together. Aren’t they the
same?”
Ayaan smiled, handed her two seeds, and said,
“Plant them both and water them daily. Come back after a week.”
Tara did as told. One seed grew into a giant, strong tree—steady and unshakable. The other
turned into a vibrant flowering bush, beautiful but needing constant care.
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When she returned, Ayaan explained:
“The strong tree is a social institution—deeply rooted, long-lasting, and part of the
landscape. The flowering bush is an association—organized, colorful, and useful, but it
needs specific attention and may fade if not cared for.”
Let’s now step into Tara’s shoes and understand what this means in terms of Sociology.
󼩎󼩏󼩐󼩑󼩒󼩓󼩔 What is a Social Institution?
A social institution is a permanent, organized system of social behavior that helps society
function smoothly. It is deeply rooted in tradition, culture, and shared values.
󹸯󹸭󹸮 Key Definition:
“A social institution is an established set of norms and structures that guide the behavior of
individuals within a society in relation to specific functions like education, family, religion,
economy, or governance.”
Social institutions exist to fulfill basic human needs and provide stability and continuity in
society.
󷨕󷨓󷨔 Examples of Social Institutions:
• Family: Teaches love, care, and responsibilities.
• Education: Develops knowledge and social skills.
• Religion: Provides moral values and spiritual guidance.
• Government/Politics: Maintains order and justice.
• Economy: Manages resources, trade, and labor.
These institutions are like pillars holding up society, passed down from generation to
generation. People are born into them, and they continue even when individuals leave or
pass away.
󼩉󼩊󼩋󼩌󼩍 Features of Social Institutions:
1. Established Norms – Institutions have set rules and expectations (e.g., schools
expect punctuality and homework).
2. Continuity and Stability – They last for generations.
3. Cultural Importance – Institutions reflect the culture and values of a society.
4. Universality – Found in every society, though in different forms.
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5. Functional Role – Each institution meets a vital need (like food, safety, or learning).
6. Internal Structure – Institutions are organized (like courts in law, schools in
education).
7. Social Control – They shape and regulate behavior (e.g., religion discourages crime;
family teaches respect).
󼴜󼴗󼴘󼴙󼴚󼴛 What is an Association?
An association is a deliberate group of people who come together for a specific purpose or
goal. It is not a part of society's core structure like institutions but serves important
interests.
󹸯󹸭󹸮 Key Definition:
“An association is a group of individuals who voluntarily come together to achieve a specific
common objective under a formal structure or agreement.”
In simpler terms, it’s like a club, organization, or group formed to do something specific.
󼪺󼪻 Examples of Associations:
• Sports Club – e.g., a cricket club formed by local players.
• Environmental Group – e.g., a society for planting trees.
• Trade Union – formed to protect workers' rights.
• NGOs – like child education or women's welfare groups.
Associations are man-made, flexible, and can be dissolved once their goal is achieved.
󷉸󷉹󷉺 Features of Associations:
1. Voluntary Membership – People choose to join.
2. Specific Purpose – Exists for a defined aim (e.g., sports, charity, rights).
3. Organized Structure – Has rules, leadership, and meetings.
4. Legal Identity – Many associations register legally.
5. Short or Long-Term – Can be temporary or permanent.
6. Changeable Goals – Can update or modify aims as needed.
󹸯󹸭󹸮 Major Differences Between Social Institutions and Associations:
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Feature
Social Institution
Association
Origin
Natural, cultural evolution
Man-made, formal decision
Purpose
Broad societal needs (e.g. family,
law)
Specific goals (e.g. sports,
activism)
Continuity
Long-lasting, passed through
generations
May be temporary or situational
Membership
Involuntary in many cases (e.g.,
family, religion)
Voluntary
Structure
Deep-rooted in traditions, formal or
informal
Always formal with clear rules
Changeability
Hard to change, evolves slowly
Easily changeable or dissolved
Universality
Found in all societies
May or may not exist in every
society
Examples
Family, Religion, State, Education
Lions Club, Greenpeace, PTA,
Football Club
󷊀󷊁󷊂󷊃 A Second Short Story: The Village School
In Tara’s village, there was an old school—a symbol of learning for generations. That school
was part of the education institution, teaching literacy, discipline, and values.
One year, some villagers formed a “Book Readers’ Club” to promote reading habits. They
collected funds, held weekly meetings, and encouraged library visits. But after two years,
the group disbanded as members moved away.
Tara now understood—the school belonged to a social institution. It served a permanent
purpose in society. But the Book Readers’ Club was an association, formed for a limited
purpose and time.
󼨐󼨑󼨒 Why This Difference Matters
Understanding the difference helps us:
• See how society functions on both tradition and innovation.
• Respect institutions as stabilizers of social life.
• Value associations as agents of change and action.
• Learn how people contribute both passively (through institutions) and actively
(through associations) to society.
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󷗭󷗨󷗩󷗪󷗫󷗬 Conclusion: Rooted Trees and Blossoming Bushes
To summarize:
• A social institution is like a tree with deep roots, holding society together through
tradition and stability.
• An association is like a blooming bush, colorful, useful, and purposeful—but
depending on active human care.
Both are essential: institutions give us structure, and associations give us voice.
Tara smiled, thanked Ayaan, and walked back with more than just two seeds in her hand—
she now carried the seeds of understanding.
SECTION-C
5. Distinguish between Primary and Secondary Group stressing their importance for social
life.
Ans: 󷊄󷊅󷊆󷊇󷊈󷊉 Two Benches in the Park: A Story of Social Bonds
It was a calm Sunday morning in Harmony Park. Birds chirped in the trees, children played
near the fountain, and two old benches stood under a spreading banyan tree. On one bench
sat little Aarav, just six years old, holding his grandmother’s hand. On the other sat Riya, a
college student, deeply engaged in conversation with a team from her university project
group.
These two benches, though close in distance, represented something much deeper—two
types of social groups that shape our lives: the Primary Group and the Secondary Group.
Let’s explore this important concept by walking through these benches of life and seeing
how Primary and Secondary groups differ, and why both are essential for our society.
󷉃󷉄 What is a Social Group?
Before we dive in, let’s understand what a social group is. A social group is simply a
collection of two or more people who interact with each other, share common goals, and
influence each other’s behavior.
But all groups are not the same.
Some feel like home—warm, personal, and emotional. Others are more formal, purposeful,
and practical.
These are called:
• Primary Groups – our first, emotional bonds.
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• Secondary Groups – goal-oriented, temporary, and task-based relationships.
󷺚󻮬󸞚󻮭󷺞󷺟󷺠󷺡󷺢󷺣󸞝󸞞󸞟󸞠󸞡󸞢󸞣󸞤󸞥󸞦󸞧󸞨󸞩󷹔󷹕󷹖󷹗󷸢󷸣󷸤󷸥󷸦󷸧󷸨 󷸞󷸟󷸠󷸡󷸢󷸣󷸤󷸥󷸦󷸧󷸨 1. Definition and Nature
󷇴󷇵󷇶󷇷󷇸󷇹 Primary Group
A primary group is a small, intimate group where members share close, face-to-face, long-
term emotional connections. This group is not based on achieving any particular goal but
rather exists for mutual support, care, and belonging.
Examples: Family, close friends, childhood playmates.
In the story, Aarav and his grandmother represent a primary group. The bond between
them is not about any project or profit—it’s about love, care, and emotional closeness.
Charles Horton Cooley, a famous sociologist, coined the term Primary Group and described
it as the “nursery of human nature.”
󷿋󼌐󷿍󸖈󷿏󷿐󷿑󹌖󼌑󼌒󹌘󼌓󼌔󼌕󼌖󼌗󼌘󸆇󸆈󼌙󸀁󹌙󹌚 Secondary Group
A secondary group is larger, more impersonal, and often temporary. The relationships here
are based on shared interests or tasks, like school projects, workplaces, political parties, etc.
In the same park, Riya with her university project team represents a secondary group. They
are gathered not because of affection, but to complete a common goal: finishing their
academic assignment.
󹱑󹱒 2. Type of Relationship
• Primary Group: Personal, emotional, and deep-rooted.
o Members love, support, and care for each other.
o They are irreplaceable; your parents or siblings can’t be “swapped” like
coworkers.
• Secondary Group: Formal, practical, and superficial.
o Members interact for a specific purpose.
o You might not even know the personal details of everyone in your group.
Aarav will still love his grandmother even if they are silent, but Riya must speak and
coordinate with her team to get results.
󼼧󼼨󼼫󼼬󼼩󼼪 3. Duration and Stability
• Primary Group: Long-lasting or even lifelong.
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o Family bonds stay with you through thick and thin.
o Friendships that start in childhood can last for decades.
• Secondary Group: Often short-term.
o Once the goal is achieved, the group may dissolve.
o A project team may break apart once the semester ends.
󷨲󷨳󷨸󷨴󷨵󷨶󷨷 4. Size and Structure
• Primary Group: Small in size, often limited to 3–10 people.
o This makes the group more personal.
o Every member knows each other closely.
• Secondary Group: Can be large, sometimes including hundreds or thousands.
o Examples include political organizations or professional associations.
o It’s impossible to know everyone in such groups personally.
󹰝 5. Importance in Social Life
Now let’s talk about why these groups are so important in our lives.
󷇴󷇵󷇶󷇷󷇸󷇹 Importance of Primary Groups
• Emotional development: Primary groups teach us how to love, trust, and feel
secure.
• Socialization: Our family and close friends are the first teachers of norms, values,
and culture.
• Identity formation: We develop self-worth and confidence through the support of
our primary groups.
Aarav, sitting with his grandmother, is not just passing time—he’s learning the warmth of
relationships, stories of his culture, and how to treat others with kindness.
󺫦󺫤󺫥󺫧 Importance of Secondary Groups
• Goal achievement: Secondary groups help us complete tasks we can’t do alone—like
education, employment, or social change.
• Social mobility: These groups help people rise in life, gain skills, earn, and improve
their standard of living.
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• Wider interaction: We meet people from diverse backgrounds, enhancing
understanding and tolerance.
Riya’s team may not be emotionally close, but together they’re learning skills that will help
them succeed in the professional world.
󼩎󼩏󼩐󼩑󼩒󼩓󼩔 A Second Short Story: From Classmates to Family
An interesting thing about these groups is that sometimes secondary groups can turn into
primary ones.
Riya once had a classmate named Nitin. They started as partners on a debate team—a
secondary relationship. But over time, as they shared struggles, successes, and late-night
calls, they became close friends. Eventually, they became like family.
This shows that social groups are dynamic—relationships can evolve over time depending
on how deep the connection becomes.
󹳨󹳤󹳩󹳪󹳫 Table: Difference between Primary and Secondary Groups
Basis of
Difference
Primary Group
Secondary Group
Nature of Bond
Personal and emotional
Formal and goal-oriented
Size
Small
Large
Duration
Long-term or permanent
Temporary or task-based
Purpose
Relationship itself is the goal
Achieving a specific task
Examples
Family, close friends
School team, office colleagues
Importance
Emotional and social
development
Skill-building and goal
fulfillment
󷗭󷗨󷗩󷗪󷗫󷗬 Conclusion: Both Benches Matter
Just like Aarav and Riya, we all sit on both benches of life. We need Primary Groups to feel
loved, valued, and emotionally safe. We need Secondary Groups to grow, achieve, and
interact with the larger world.
A healthy social life is a balance between both—where the heart finds warmth and the mind
finds direction.
So next time you sit in a park or classroom, ask yourself—am I forming a bond of love or a
bond of purpose? Or perhaps… both?
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6. Write a detailed note on Reference Group.
Ans: 󷇴󷇵󷇶󷇷󷇸󷇹 Reference Group: Mirrors We Choose to See Ourselves In
Long before social media and viral trends, humans still looked around to decide how to
behave, what to believe, and even how to dress. This instinct wasn’t born in the internet
age—it’s been part of us since the day we joined groups and asked silently: “Who should I be
like?”
To explain this concept, let’s step into the shoes of Arjun, a college student from Pune.
Though he comes from a modest background, Arjun dreams big. He closely follows the
lifestyle, ideas, and speech of business entrepreneurs—even dressing like them in campus
presentations. These business icons don’t know Arjun personally, but they influence him
deeply.
What Arjun is experiencing is the power of a Reference Group—a concept that quietly
shapes individuals, choices, and entire cultures. Now, let’s explore this powerful sociological
idea and unravel its depth through relatable examples and thoughtful analysis.
󹸯󹸭󹸮 What Is a Reference Group?
In simple terms, a Reference Group is any group that individuals look to for guidance in
forming attitudes, values, beliefs, or behaviors—even if they are not a formal part of that
group.
They can be:
• Groups we belong to
• Groups we want to belong to
• Or even groups we compare ourselves against
These groups influence our actions either directly (through interaction) or indirectly
(through observation and aspiration). They act like mental benchmarks, helping us decide
what’s appropriate, admirable, or desirable.
󷉃󷉄 Characteristics of a Reference Group
1. Influence Without Membership You don’t have to be part of a group to be
influenced by it. A schoolboy might admire Bollywood actors or athletes without
ever meeting them.
2. Psychological Bonding Reference groups affect how people see themselves—like a
mirror that reflects our desired image.
3. Directional Impact These groups shape:
o Normative behavior (how we think we should act)
o Comparative standards (how we measure success or failure)
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4. Versatility A reference group can be a family, a peer group, a religious community, a
celebrity clique, or a professional circle—any group we mentally align with or react
against.
󷸌󷸍 Types of Reference Groups
Sociologists generally classify reference groups into a few meaningful categories:
1. Normative Reference Groups
• These set the standards for behavior and values.
• Example: Religious institutions, family units, school communities.
• They teach us what is considered "right" or "wrong."
2. Comparative Reference Groups
• These provide benchmarks for self-evaluation.
• Example: A student comparing their performance to toppers or influencers.
• Helps in shaping goals and self-worth.
3. Aspirational Reference Groups
• Groups people aspire to join or emulate.
• Example: A teenager follows fashion bloggers hoping to someday live that lifestyle.
• They motivate and inspire.
4. Dissociative Reference Groups
• Groups that individuals do not want to be associated with.
• Example: A person avoids dressing in a certain way to avoid being linked to a
stereotype.
• These shape behavior through contrast and rejection.
󹴡󹴵󹴣󹴤 Story: The Painter of Pushkar
In Pushkar, a small town in Rajasthan, lived Tara, a gifted painter who admired modern
European artists. Though she had never left India, Tara studied their styles meticulously.
Over time, her artwork transformed—abstract forms, bold strokes, and daring subjects. Her
local community didn’t understand it at first, but Tara painted with conviction.
Here’s the twist: Her reference group wasn’t her family or neighbors—it was artists like
Picasso and Frida Kahlo, who existed in books and galleries. These distant creators gave Tara
a lens to view her talent, challenge her boundaries, and discover a new version of herself.
This is the subtle beauty of reference groups—they don’t have to be present. They only
have to matter.
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󼨐󼨑󼨒 Importance and Impact of Reference Groups
󷃆󼽢 Shaping Identity
• Teenagers often look to pop stars or athletes to model behavior.
• Professionals might align with elite institutions or successful CEOs.
󷃆󼽢 Consumer Behavior
• Marketing thrives on reference groups.
• Ads often show aspirational lifestyles to influence purchasing decisions.
󷃆󼽢 Social Mobility and Conflict
• Aspiring to join a higher-status group can cause conflict with one's current identity.
• Examples include migration, educational choices, and career transitions.
󷃆󼽢 Attitudinal Change
• Opinions evolve when individuals align with groups having different ideologies or
values.
󹳨󹳤󹳩󹳪󹳫 Quick Comparison Table
Aspect
Community
Reference Group
Nature of Bond
Close-knit and participatory
Psychological and aspirational
Membership
Required
Yes
Not necessarily
Influence Type
Direct through interaction
Indirect through
comparison/emulation
Function
Support, identity
Direction, motivation, evaluation
Examples
Neighborhood group,
religious sect
Celebrity circle, professional class
󽄻󽄼󽄽 Conclusion: The Hidden Influencers Around Us
Reference Groups are like silent mentors—guiding without speaking, influencing without
meeting, and inspiring without obligation. They help us craft who we are, who we wish to
be, and who we refuse to become.
Whether it’s Arjun copying a business icon’s style or Tara painting her dreams through
foreign inspiration, these groups color our canvas of identity. And as society becomes more
global and connected, our reference groups become even more powerful—sometimes
subtly, sometimes boldly—but always shaping us.
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SECTION-D
7. Describe the role of various agencies in the process of socialization.
Ans: 󷅶󷅱󷅺󷅷󷅸󷅹 A Different Beginning: The Mirror and the World
Imagine standing in front of a mirror for the very first time. You don’t yet know who you are,
what to do, how to speak, laugh, cry, or behave. You simply exist—like a blank page waiting
to be written upon.
Now imagine the people around you—your parents, teachers, friends, and even the
television—each holding a pen. As you grow, they start writing on your page. A word here, a
sentence there. Over time, you begin to form an identity. You learn your name, how to eat,
what is right and wrong, how to talk, dream, respect, or protest.
This magical, lifelong process of learning how to live in society is called socialization. And the
people, groups, and institutions that help you through this process are known as agencies of
socialization.
Let’s dive into this journey and discover how these different agencies shape us—like
sculptors shaping a block of marble into a beautiful statue.
󷉃󷉄 What is Socialization?
Before we meet the agents, let’s understand the term.
Socialization is the process through which an individual learns the norms, values, beliefs,
language, customs, and behavior patterns of their society. It teaches us how to function in a
group, how to differentiate right from wrong, and how to play our social roles effectively.
It begins at birth and continues throughout life—from learning to say "thank you" as a
toddler to following work ethics as an adult.
󷸌󷸍 The Main Agencies of Socialization
Socialization is not a solo act—it’s a group performance. Let’s meet the lead characters in
this lifelong play:
1. The Family – The First Classroom
Story: Riya and Her First Lessons
Riya, a cheerful five-year-old, learned her first words by watching her parents talk. She
clapped when praised and cried when scolded. She saw her mother respecting elders and
offering food to neighbors. Without even realizing it, Riya began to mimic this behavior.
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This is the power of family as a socializing agent.
󷃆󼽢 Role of Family:
• Teaches language, manners, and emotions.
• Instills basic values like honesty, respect, and discipline.
• Shapes gender roles (how boys and girls are expected to behave).
• Acts as the emotional foundation for identity and self-esteem.
Family is the primary agency—the first and most influential. What children learn at home
often stays with them for life.
2. The School – The Temple of Discipline and Knowledge
When a child enters school, their world expands. Teachers replace parents as authority
figures, and rules become more formal.
󷃆󼽢 Role of School:
• Teaches formal education and life skills.
• Develops discipline, cooperation, and responsibility.
• Encourages competition, teamwork, and goal-setting.
• Introduces social roles like student, leader, or friend.
Through daily routines like prayers, uniforms, punctuality, and exams, school shapes the
child's role in society. It is the bridge between private (family) and public (society) life.
3. Peer Groups – The Circle of Equals
As children grow, they crave connection with others their age. These peer groups—friends
and classmates—play a huge part in forming their identity.
󷃆󼽢 Role of Peer Groups:
• Allow freedom of expression and exploration of personal choices.
• Provide a safe space to challenge or question norms.
• Encourage group behavior, fashion trends, and social codes.
• Teach conflict resolution, support, and loyalty.
Peer groups influence behaviors like what to wear, what games to play, how to talk, and
even what dreams to follow. They help an individual break away from family influence and
discover their unique personality.
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4. Mass Media – The Invisible Instructor
Story: Aman and the TV Hero
Aman grew up watching superhero cartoons. He admired their honesty, bravery, and sense
of justice. Over time, he started behaving like them—helping others, speaking against
bullies, and even mimicking their catchphrases.
This is how mass media becomes a powerful agent of socialization.
󷃆󼽢 Role of Mass Media:
• Spreads cultural values, fashion, language, and attitudes.
• Influences opinions on politics, gender, violence, and lifestyle.
• Offers role models—actors, singers, athletes, influencers.
• Bridges socialization across regions, nations, and classes.
From cartoons to news channels, from YouTube to Instagram, media shapes how we think,
feel, and behave—even subconsciously.
5. Religion – The Moral Compass
Religious institutions teach values beyond what is taught in school or at home. Through
rituals, festivals, and scriptures, they offer spiritual guidance and moral structure.
󷃆󼽢 Role of Religion:
• Teaches concepts of good and evil, reward and punishment.
• Promotes values like kindness, humility, forgiveness, and charity.
• Provides community bonding and a sense of belonging.
• Shapes identity through symbols, customs, and belief systems.
Religion teaches people not just how to live, but why to live a certain way—it provides
meaning, purpose, and inner discipline.
6. State and Law – The Rule Makers
As individuals grow, they become part of a larger structure governed by laws and rights. The
state—through laws, policies, and institutions—plays a subtle but firm role in socialization.
󷃆󼽢 Role of State:
• Enforces rules, civic duties, and citizenship values.
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• Educates through campaigns on health, environment, rights, and duties.
• Encourages behaviors like voting, paying taxes, and obeying the law.
State-run programs, like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan or Digital India, shape how citizens behave
and interact.
7. Workplace – The Agent of Adult Socialization
When individuals enter the job world, they undergo a fresh round of socialization.
󷃆󼽢 Role of Workplace:
• Teaches professional behavior, hierarchy, and responsibility.
• Encourages teamwork, time management, and adaptability.
• Reinforces roles like manager, employee, or entrepreneur.
In this stage, people learn how to balance personal values with organizational expectations.
󼨐󼨑󼨒 Conclusion: We Are the Product of Many Sculptors
Just like a river is shaped by the valleys, stones, and winds it meets, a human being is shaped
by the various agencies of socialization. From the first words taught by a mother to the
silent influence of a social media post, each agency plays a unique role.
Some teach us with love (like family), some with books (like school), others with trends (like
peers and media), and still others with laws or beliefs.
Together, they ensure that an individual is not just biologically born into society, but socially
and emotionally prepared to live in it, improve it, and pass on its values.
8. Discuss Cooley's theory of "looking glass self" with appropriate example.
Ans: 󼯀󼯁󼯂 The Looking Glass Self: How Others Shape Who We Believe We Are
One misty morning in Shimla, a young boy named Veer nervously stepped into his new
classroom. With his worn-out shoes and thick glasses, he hoped to blend in quietly. But that
hope faded when a few students snickered at his appearance. Veer walked home that day
thinking, “Maybe I really do look strange. Maybe I’m not good enough.”
That feeling, that internal dialogue, wasn’t just sadness—it was psychology in action.
What Veer experienced is exactly what the sociologist Charles Horton Cooley described
more than a century ago in his profound theory of the “Looking Glass Self.” And today, this
theory remains as relevant in classrooms, social media feeds, workplaces, and families as it
was when Cooley first penned it.
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󼨐󼨑󼨒 What Is the “Looking Glass Self”?
At its heart, Cooley’s theory of the Looking Glass Self suggests that our sense of self is
shaped by how we think others perceive us. Just like a mirror reflects our physical
appearance, society reflects our identity back to us.
We don’t discover who we are by only looking inward. We build our self-image by imagining
how others see us and respond to us.
󷃆󹸊󹸋 The Three-Step Process
According to Cooley, the development of self through social reflection involves three key
steps:
1. We Imagine How We Appear to Others
We mentally picture how we look, act, or sound in others’ eyes. For example, in Veer’s case,
he imagined the classmates saw him as awkward or strange.
2. We Imagine Others’ Judgments About Us
We speculate: Do they admire me? Laugh at me? Think I’m smart? These imagined
judgments—whether accurate or not—deeply affect how we view ourselves.
3. We Develop Feelings and Beliefs Based on These Perceived Judgments
We form emotions like pride, shame, confidence, or self-doubt—and over time, these
emotions sculpt our identity.
So in Veer’s mind, the laughter wasn’t just a moment—it became a mirror showing him
something negative, altering his self-worth.
󹴷󹴺󹴸󹴹󹴻󹴼󹴽󹴾󹴿󹵀󹵁󹵂 Cooley’s Message in Simpler Terms
You don’t just become who you are. You become who you think others believe you are.
It’s not about real feedback—it’s about perceived feedback. Even if someone doesn’t say
anything, we still construct meanings from their expressions, actions, and silence.
And this process isn’t restricted to childhood—it continues throughout life.
󺂟󺂠󺂧󺂡󺂢󺂣󺂤󺂥󺂦󺂨 Story 2: The Dancer in the Shadows
Meera, a passionate dancer from Jaipur, had never performed in public. At her first stage
recital, she saw one person in the front row frowning. Despite receiving thunderous
applause, she fixated on that one expression. She later said, “I guess I wasn't good enough.”
In reality, the audience loved her. But her imagined interpretation of the frown—perhaps
just someone concentrating or distracted—defined how she saw herself as a dancer.
That’s the Looking Glass Self. It makes mirrors out of strangers, shaping us in silent ways.
󹸯󹸭󹸮 Real-Life Applications
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󷪛󷪜󷪝󷪞󷪟󷪠󷪢󷪡 In School:
Children often develop academic confidence or fear based on teachers’ praise or criticism,
and peer reactions.
󹶯󹶲󹶳󹶰󹶱󹶴 On Social Media:
Likes, comments, and followers serve as powerful feedback loops. Even a single emoji can
influence someone’s self-perception.
󷺚󷺛󷺜󷺝󷺞󷺟󷺠󷺡󷺢󷺣󷺤󸞞󸞟󸞠󸞡󸞢󸞣󸞤󸞥󸞦󸞧󸞨󸞩󷹔󷹕󷹖󷹗󷸢󷸣󷸤󷸥󷸦󷸧󷸨 In Families:
Parents’ reactions to a child’s success or mistakes can heavily impact how the child views
their own abilities and worth.
󷩃󷩄󷩅󷩆󷩇󷩈 In the Workplace:
Employees form their professional self-esteem through colleagues' feedback, recognition,
and perceived status.
󷗭󷗨󷗩󷗪󷗫󷗬 Why This Theory Matters
Understanding Cooley’s Looking Glass Self helps us recognize:
• The power of perception: Not just how others treat us, but how we interpret their
treatment.
• The role of empathy: Our words and actions influence others’ identities—sometimes
unintentionally.
• The need for validation and reassurance: Constructive feedback and kindness can
build someone’s confidence and identity.
󼩎󼩏󼩐󼩑󼩒󼩓󼩔 Limitations and Critique
While Cooley’s theory is widely respected, it’s not flawless:
• It focuses heavily on external perception, possibly ignoring internal resilience or self-
awareness.
• Sometimes people reject societal feedback and still form strong self-concepts.
• In modern contexts like therapy or solitude, self-discovery can happen
independently of others.
Still, the theory lays the foundation for understanding how deeply social interaction molds
personal identity.
󹰤󹰥󹰦󹰧󹰨 Conclusion: Every Person a Mirror
In life, we’re surrounded by mirrors—friends, family, strangers—all silently influencing how
we see ourselves.
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Cooley’s Looking Glass Self reminds us of the invisible power of perception and imagination.
Just like Veer and Meera, we continuously shape our identity not only by interacting with
others but by imagining those interactions.
So next time someone smiles at your effort, acknowledges your talent, or simply listens—
remember, you might just be shaping their mirror, their self. And they’re shaping yours.
“This paper has been carefully prepared for educational purposes. If you notice any mistakes or
have suggestions, feel free to share your feedback.”