society

Also known as societies, human society

A 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 political authority and dominant cultural expectations. Societies are characterized by patterns of relationships (social relations) between individuals who share a distinctive culture and institutions; a given society may be described as the sum total of such relationships among its constituent members.

AI overview

A society is a group of people who live together in the same area, share common cultures and institutions, and interact with each other over time, usually under a shared government. What makes a society matter is that it's defined by the distinctive patterns of relationships and shared expectations among its members, which together create the structure and identity of that community.

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Has part: human
Image: Каменный век (1).jpg

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equivalent class: pcp-on-web.de/ontology#Societies
Commons category: Society

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~27 min read

Article

31 sections

Contents

Etymology and usage
Conceptions
In biology
In sociology
Functionalism
Conflict theory
Symbolic interactionism
Non-Western views
Types
Pre-industrial
Hunting and gathering
Pastoral
Horticultural
Agrarian
Industrial
Post-industrial
Information
Knowledge
Characteristics
Norms and roles
Gender and kinship
Ethnicity
Government and politics
Trade and economics
Conflict
See also
References
Citations
Sources
Further reading
External links

Human social structures are complex and highly cooperative, featuring the specialization of labor via social roles. Societies construct roles and other patterns of behavior by deeming certain actions or concepts acceptable or unacceptable—these expectations around behavior within a given society are known as societal norms. So far as it is collaborative, a society can enable its members to benefit in ways that would otherwise be difficult on an individual basis.