Information about Social Order

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Social order is a concept used in sociology, history and other social sciences.

It refers to a set of linked social structures, social institutions and social practices which conserve, maintain and enforce "normal" ways of relating and behaving.

Thus, a "social order" is a relatively stable system of institutions, pattern of interactions and customs, capable of continually reproducing at least those conditions essential for its own existence. The concept thus refers to all those facets of society which remain relatively constant over time.

These conditions could include both property, exchange and power relations, but also cultural forms, communication relations and ideological systems of values.

The Problem of Social Order

Bold text The "problem of social order," how and why it is that social orders exists at all, is historically central to sociology. Thomas Hobbes is recognized as the first to clearly formulate the problem, to answer which he conceived the notion of a social contract. Social theorists (such as Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, Talcott Parsons, and Jürgen Habermas) have proposed different explanations for what a social order consists of, and what its real basis is. For Marx, it is the relations of production or economic structure which is the basis of a social order. For Durkheim, it is a set of shared social norms. For Parsons, it is a set of social institutions determining moral behaviour. For Habermas, it is all of these, as well as communicative action. Bold text

Principle of Dependence

The principle of dependence is one that has a huge role on Social Order as a whole. It states that the more dependent a person is on a group, the more likely they are to conform to group "norms". This means that if a group means a lot to a person, they will be more likely to do what it is that the group wants them to. (Sociology: Tenth Edition by Rodney Stark, 211)

An example of this would be Greek Life at a College or University. If belonging to a group like this is very important to someone, they will be more likely to conform to group norms and participate in hazing and other illegal activities in order to gain the groups trust and respect. In this case, the status that the group gives a person is more important than what they lose by conforming to the group's norms.

Principle of Visibility

One of the main principles of social order is the principle of visibility. The principle of visibility refers to the extent that the behavior of group members can be observed by other members of the group. The higher the observation rate of a group is, the more likely the members of that group are to follow group norms. (Sociology: Tenth Edition by Rodney Stark, 211)

A prime example of a society with a high level of observability is Japan. Most offices are close quartered, open office spaces without any partitions. The employees work in full sight and hearing of their supervisors. This high level of visibility encourages workers to stay constantly on task lest they suffer reproaches from their supervisors.

Principle of Extensiveness

Another key factor concerning social order is the principle of extensiveness. Simply put, it states the more norms and the more important the norms are to a society, the better these norms tie in and hold together the group as a whole.

A good example of this are smaller religions based around the U.S., such as the Amish. Many Amish live together in communities and because they share the same religion and values, it is easier for them to succeed in upholding their religion and views because their way of life is the norm for their community.

Status Groups and Social Order

"Status groups" can be based on a person's characteristics such as race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, region, occupation, physical attractiveness, gender, education, age, etc. They are defined as "a subculture having a rather specific rank (or status) within the stratification system. That is, societies tend to include a hierarchy of status groups, some enjoying high ranking and some low." (Sociology: Tenth Edition by Rodney Stark, 114) One example of this hierarchy is the prestige of a school teacher compared to that of a garbage man.

A certain lifestyle usually distinguishes the members of different status groups. For example, around the holidays a Jewish family may celebrate Hanukkah while a Christian family may celebrate Christmas. Other cultural differences such as language and cultural rituals identify members of different status groups.

Inside of a status group there are more, smaller groups. For instance, one can belong to a status group based on one's race and a social class based on financial ranking. This may cause strife for the individual in this situation when he or she feels they must choose to side with either their status group or their social class. For example a wealthy African American man who feels he has to take a side on an issue on which poor African Americans from the wealthy white Americans are divided. Does he stay within his class or within his status group?

Social Honor

Social Honor can also be referred to as social status. It is considered the distribution of prestige or "the approval, respect, admiration, or deference a person or group is able to command by virtue of his or its imputed qualities or performances.". The case most often is that people associate social honor with the place a person occupies with material systems of wealth and power. Since most of society finds wealth and power desirable they respect or envy people that have more than they do. For example a Brain Surgeon who drives a Porsche and owns a million dollar home would most likely have more social honor than a janitor that lives in and apartment and drives a Geo Metro.

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References

• Hechter, M. and Horne, C. 2003. Theories of Social Order. ISBN?
• Hobbes, T. ??. Leviathan ISBN?
• Stark, 2007. Sociology. ISBN?
• Weber, M. 1968. Economy and Society. ISBN