Association in Sociology

1. Association
Made by Agamani Saha

2. Association
Association means pursuing ends . Men have diverse needs , desires and
interests and ends , which demand their satisfaction . They have three ways of
fulfilling their ends :-
• Firstly , they may act independently , each in his own way without bothering about
others.
• Secondly , men may seek their ends through conflicts with one another.
• Thirdly , men may try to fulfil their ends through co-operation and mutual
assistance . This co-operative pursuit has a reference to ‘association’ . It is
spontaneous.
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3. DEFINITIONS
We define an association , then, as a group organized for the pursuit of an interest or
group of interests in common.
Definitions:-
• An association is “an organization deliberately formed for the collective pursuit of
some interest or a set of interests , which its member share.” (R.M. MacIver)
• An association is “a group of social beings related to one another by the fact that
they possess or have instituted in common an organisation with a view of securing
a specific end or specific ends.” (Morris Ginsberg)
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4. EXAMPLES
• Political Associations – The Bharatiya Janata Party , The Congress
Party , etc
• Religious Associations – The Vishwa Hindu Parishad , The
Ramakrishna Mission , The Arya Samaj , etc.
• Student’s Association – The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, Delhi
University Student’s Association , etc.
• Labourer’s Association – Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangha , The Hindu
Mazdoor Pachayat
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5. EXAMPLES
• Professional Associations – Karnataka State College
Teacher’s Association , Indian Medical Association ,
etc.
• Economic Associations/Business Organizations –
Business Corporation , Hotel Owner’s Association
• International Associations – The Rotary Club , The
Lion’s Club
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6. Main Characteristics
of Association

7. 1. Association – a Human Group
An Association is
formed or created
by people
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8. 2. Common Interest or Interests
It consists of those
individuals who
have more or less
than same interest.
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9. 3. Co-operative Spirit
An association is
based on the co-
operative spirit of its
members.
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10. 4. Organisation
Association denotes
some kind of
organisation.
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11. 5. Regulation of Relations
Every association has
its own ways and
means of regulating
the relations of its
members
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12. 6. Association as Agencies
Associations are means
or agencies through
which their members
seek to realize their
similar or shared
interests.
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13. 7. Durability of Association
An Association may
be permanent or
temporary.
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14. 8. Different Entity
An Association
has a different
entity
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15. 9. Comparative Permanence
Goals of association
have consistency . That
is why every
association has a
comparative
permanence.
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16. 10. Transmission of Ideas
Proff. Giddings :-
Associations act as
agents of
transmission of ideas
among members
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17. Role of Association
• Association plays an important role as means of fulfilling
social – psychological needs of the individuals.
• It maintains the stability of social associations as well as
provides flexibility.
• In association , individuals of different classes and groups
meet together , which leads to the growth of mutual
adjustments among them. In this way, well organized social
system develops.
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18. Role of Association
• Through social associations , people can enjoy their
rights.
• Associations encourage individuals to perform social
responsibilities spontaneously.
• The role of associations in modern democratic system is
very significant. Associations are significant in
influencing and controlling public opinion.
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19. Differences between
Association and Society

20. Society Association
1. Originally Society is prior to
Association . It is older than
Association.
1. Originally Association is later to
society . It is younger than society.
2. Society may be organised or
unorganised
2. Association is always organised.
3. Society is formed for welfare of
mass.
3. Association is formed to fulfil some
goals or needs.
4. Society is permanent. 4. Association is temporary in nature .
In some cases , it’s permanency is
relative.
5. Society is natural 5. Association is temporary in nature
6. Society is a complex web of social
relationship.
6. Association is a collection of
individuals.
7. Membership is compulsory. 7. Membership is voluntary20

21. Differences between
Association and Community

22. Association Community
1. Membership of an association is
voluntary . Individuals are at liberty to
join them.
1. By birth itself , individuals become
members of community . In this way ,
membership is rather compulsory
2. An association has some specific
interest or interests.
2. A community has some general
interests.
3. An association does not necessarily
imply the spatial objects.
3. A community is marked by locality
4. An association may be stable and
long-lasting or it may not be so.
4. A community is relatively more
stable and permanent.
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23. Association Community
5. Association may have their legal
status.
5. A community has no legal status.
6. Associations may have their own
rules and regulations to regulate the
relations of their members . They may
have written or unwritten rules.
6. A community regulates the
behaviour of its member by means of
customs , traditions etc. It does not
have written rules or laws.
7. Association is partial . It may be
regarded as apart of the community.
7. Community is integral . It may have ,
within its boundary , several
associations
8. Association is formed consciously 8. Community is formed
spontaneously.
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24. Association Community
9. Association may be formed
without ‘We-feeling’.
9. Community sentiment and
‘We-feeling’ is necessary to form
a community.
10. Association is not self-
sufficient.
10.Community is self-sufficient.
11. A person may take
membership at many
associations at a time.
11. A person can lead his whole
life within a community.
12. All associations have board
of directors
12. Community has no board of
directors
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25. Differences between
Association and Institution

26. Association Institution
1. An association is a group of people
organised for the purpose of fulfilling
a need or needs
1. Institution refers to the organised
way of doing things . It represents
common procedure.
2. It denotes membership . We belong
to associations , political parties ,
trade unions, youth clubs , families
etc.
2. It denotes only a mode or means of
service . We do not belong to
institution . We do not belong to
marriage , property , education or law.
3. It consists of individuals. 3. It consists of laws , rules and
regulations
4. They are concrete. 4. They are abstract.
5. An association has a location ; it
makes sense to ask where it is . Thus ,
a family can be located in space.
5. It does not have locations.
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27. Association Institution
6. Associations are mostly
created or established.
6. Primarily evolved.
7. An association may have its
own distinctive name.
7. It does not possess specific
names , but has a structure and
may have symbol.
8. It may be temporary or
permanent.
8. It may relatively more durable.
9. It denotes membership. 9. It denotes a node or means of
service.
10. It is more vast than
institution.
10. It is an established forms of
procedure of Association.
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28. Association Institution
11. It is goal – oriented. 11. It is function – oriented.
12. We belong to association. 12. We do not belong to any
institution.
13. They are naturally
interdependent.
13. They are not mutually
interdependent.
14. Human beings are born with
association.
14. Human beings (individuals)
work within institutions.
15. Social associations have
both subjective and objective
aspects.
15. Social associations have no
such aspects.
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