Mac Iver: The Elements Of Society

Society possesses a number of elements. Following are the important elements or characteristics of society.

1. Likeness or Similarity

Likeness or similarity is considered as an essential pre-requisite of society. In the words of Mac Iver “society means likeness. It exists among the like-beings, like-bodied and like-minded. It is likeness which provides comfort and it causes various institutions and associations to exist and continue.

The similarity which we find in social relationship of human beings is based upon the identity of interests, objectives, mores, needs, traditions, etc. The characteristics common to human beings include among other things, interests, attitudes, tendencies, anatomy etc.

The sense of similarity found among the

For example the institution of family rests on the biological interdependence of sexes. Man who is incomplete by himself depends on his wife for his fulfillment.

Owing to the rapid advance of society the area of inter-depends rice has been broadened. Not only countries, but also continents have felt the need for inter-dependence these days. In this way interdependence is considered to be an essentials element of society

4. Cooperation

Like inter-dependence co-operation is the basis of society. Society implies co-operation which is the fourth essential pre-requisite of society. Co-operation may be direct or indirect and it plays a vital role in every human society. People cannot lead a happy and comfortable life without co-operation.

No society can be healthy and prosperous without co-operation these days. It is a difference to mutual destructiveness of groups with opposing interests. Consequently it leads to the protection of resources and results in economy. Not only co-operation but also conflict is necessary for the formation of society.

Both are equally essential in a healthy society. In the words of P.Gisbert co-operation is the most elementary process of social life without which society is

Conflict is ever present in human society. It makes us think of the process of struggle through which all things have come into existence. Mac Iver has rightly said that society is co-operation crossed by conflict.

5. Organization

There is an important factor of society. It-is some kind of organization. In other words every society has its own individual and unique organization. It is the division of some kind or other which marks this organization. Society always requires an organization for its formation.

6. Social Relationship

Society consists of social relations, customs, laws, mores etc. These social relations are intangible and unseen. People only feel or realise these relations. Thus they do not have any concrete form and therefore society is abstract. In this way abstractness is a significant ingredient of society.

7. We-feeling

Society is based on we-feeling which means a feeling of belonging together. This we-feeling makes society identifiable and distinct people in comparison to other. It is the we-feeling which can distinguish societies from one another.

8. Social group

A society is the social group. It encompasses all other social groups that exist among the