Society is a group of individuals involved in persistent social interaction or a large social group sharing the same spatial or social territory, typically subject to the same cultural, political, and economic authority. The characteristics of society include:
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Shared norms, values, and beliefs: These characteristics help to socially construct society. Societies have the same characteristics of shared values, beliefs, and cultures. However, every individual society has different values, beliefs, and cultures; no two societies are the same.
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Abstract in nature: Society is viewed as a process as well as a structure that is complementary to each other. It means that society exists only when people behave toward each other (process) and it is a structure as it is made up of a web or network of relationships among the people and institutions.
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Dynamic in nature: The very nature of society is dynamic and changeable. No society is static. Every society changes and changes continuously. Old customs, traditions, folkways, more values, and institutions get changed, and new customs and values take place. Society changes from its traditional nature to modern nature.
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Consists of people: Society is a group of people in continuous interaction with each other. Social interaction is made possible because of mutual awareness. So without interaction and awareness, there are no societies.
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Not only a group of persons: Society refers not only to a group of people but to the complete pattern of the norms of interaction that arise among them. It is a process rather than a thing, motion rather than structure.
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Cooperation and conflict: Society is characterized by cooperation and conflict. Cooperation is necessary for the survival of society, while conflict arises due to differences in interests, values, and beliefs.
In summary, society is a complex system of relationships, norms, and values that arise among individuals who share a distinctive culture and institutions. It is dynamic, abstract, and consists of people who interact with each other. Society is characterized by shared norms, values, and beliefs, and it is not only a group of persons. Cooperation and conflict are also important characteristics of society.
