TKM SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE,

MUSALIAR HILLS, KOLLAM

HUMANITIES
THIRD SEMESTER
2016

Notes compiled by,

Aswathy M S
Assistant Professor
TKM School of Architecture

AR1306 HUMANITIES
SYLLABUS

Module I
Introduction to sociology.
Primary concepts- Society, family, Institutions, groups, association and Community. Relating
these concepts to architecture. Relevance of study of sociology for architects.
Module II
Man Environment and Society. Unity and diversity in India. Rural society, Village community,
traditional patterns and trends of change. Society, architecture and settlement pattern of Kerala
Module III
Social change, Social stratification, (Class and caste)Urbanism and urbanization. Modernization.
Influences of these concepts in architecture, Urban safety and security, Urban crime and diasters.
Module IV
Cultural anthropology, Culture and architecture. Concept of social structure. Relation between
social structure and spatial structure. Social aspects of housing. Social problems of slums

References:
1. Vidya Bhushan, An Introduction to Sociology
2. K. Singh, Principles of Sociology
3. Dr. Valsyayan, Urban Sociology
4. James V. Mc Cannel, Understanding Human Behaviour
5. Dr. K. Kumar, Rural Sociology

University Examination Pattern:

Examination duration: 3 hours Maximum Total Marks: 100
The question paper shall consist of Two Parts
Part A (40 marks) - Eight Short answer questions of 5 marks each. All questions are
compulsory. There should be two questions from each module.
Part B (60 Marks) Two Questions from each module. Candidates have to answer any one
full question out of the two from each module. Each question carries 15 marks.
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MODULE 1
1. Introduction to Sociology
1.1 Nature, Scope, Significance

What is Sociology?
We live today in a world that is intensely worrying. It is a world awash with change, marked by
deep conflicts, tensions and social divisions, as well as by the destructive onslaught of modern
technology on the natural environment. Yet we have possibilities of controlling our destiny and
shaping our lives for the better that would have been unimaginable to earlier generations. How
does the world come out? Why are our conditions of life so different from those of our parents
and grandparents? What directions will change take in the future? These questions are the prime
concern of Sociology, a field of study that consequently has a fundamental role to play in
modern intellectual life. Sociology is the scientific study of human social life, groups and
societies. It is a dazzling and compelling enterprise, as its subject matter is our own behaviour as
social beings. The scope of sociological study is extremely wide, ranging from the analysis of
passing encounters between individuals on the street to the investigation of global social
processes. Sociology demonstrates the need to take a much broader view of why we are as we
are, and why we act as we do. Sociology is the youngest of social sciences. Its major concern is
society, and hence it is popularly known as the science of society. No other science endeavors
to study it in entirely. In Sociology we do not study everything that happens in society or under
social conditions. But we study culture, for example, only for the light it throws on social
relationships. Similarly, we do not study religion as religion, art as art or inventions as
inventions. We study social relationships, their specific forms, varieties and patterning. We study
how the relations combine, how they build up smaller or greater systems, and how they respond
to changes and changing demands or needs.
Definition of Sociology
Comte introduced the term Sociology for the first time in his famous work Positive
Philosophy at about 1839. This new science originally and preferably called Social Physics
by Comte but owing to an unfortunate coincidence of the term appearing in the study of Belgian
scientist by the name of Quetelet, Comte was forced to change the name of the study into
Sociology.
The term Sociology is derived from the Latin word Socius, meaning companion or associate and
Greek word Logos, meaning study or science. Thus the etymological meaning of Sociology is
the science of society. Sociology has been defined in a number of ways by different sociologists.
No single definition has yet been accepted as completely satisfactory.
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1. Emile Durkheim defines sociology as the science of social institutions.

2. Small defines sociology as the science of social relations.
3. Kingsley Davis says that sociology is a general science of society.
4. Park regards sociology as the science of collective behaviour.
5. Jones defines sociology as the study of man in relationship to men.
The common idea underlying all the definitions mentioned above is that sociology is concerned
with man, his social relations and his society.
Nature of Sociology
Sociology, as a branch of knowledge, has its own characteristics. It is different from other
sciences in certain respects. The main characteristics of sociology as enlisted by Robert
Bierstedt in his book the social order.
1. Sociology is an independent science:- As an independent science it has its own field,
boundary and method. It is not treated and studied as a branch of any other sciences. The subject
matter of sociology is social relationship. As a science, it has scientific method.
2. Sociology is a social science not a physical science:- As a social science it concentrates its
attention on man, his social behavior, social activities and social life.
3. Sociology is a pure science not an applied science:- The main aim of pure sciences is the
acquisition of knowledge and it is not bothered whether the acquired knowledge is useful in a
particular field or can be put to use in an area.
4. Sociology is relatively an abstract science not a concrete science:- Sociology is not concerned
with particular wars and revolutions but with war and revolution in general, as social
phenomena, as types of social conflict.
5. Sociology is a generalizing not a particularizing science:- It does not study each and every
event that takes place in society. It tries to make generalizations on the basis of the study of some
selected events.
6. Sociology is a general science not a special science:- It is concerned with human interaction
and human life in general. History and Economics etc also study man and human interaction, but
not all about human interaction. They concentrate their attention on certain aspects of human
interaction and activities and specialize themselves in those fields.
7. Sociology is a categorical science not a normative discipline:- Sociology confines itself to
statements about what is not what should be. It does not make any kind of value judgments.
Sociology as a discipline cannot deal with problems of good and evil, right and wrong and moral
and immoral.
8. Sociology is both a rational and an empirical science:- There are two broad ways of approach
to scientific knowledge. One known as empiricism, is the approach that emphasizes on
experience and those facts that result from observation and experimentation. The other, known as
rationalism, stresses reasons and theories that result from logical inference.
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It is clear from the above that Sociology is an independent, social, pure, abstract, generalizing,
general, categorical, an empirical and rational science.
1.2 Sociology and other sciences
Sociologists examine the ways in which social structures and institutions such as class, family,
community, and power, and social problems such as crime and abuse influence society. Social
interactions or the responses of individuals to each other is the basic concept of sociology,
because such interaction is the elementary component of all relationships and groups that form
human society.
Sociology differs in key ways from the other social sciences in their approaches to understanding
human behavior. It focuses heavily on the influences of social groups and the wider society, the
operative word being society. This social science differs from the others in that it seeks ways and
uses methods to improve society as a whole, not just the individual and also to understand how
society operates. It looks at the individual in the context of society.
The social sciences similar to sociology include Anthropology, Criminology, Economics,
History, Psychology, Geography, Political Science, and Communication studies. Each of these
academic and communities within society which would inevitably benefit society as a whole.
One distinct differences between sociology and other social sciences is, sociology is a discipline
that mainly nurtures. Its nurturing has a stronger influence on human behavior than psychology,
which focuses ion the nature aspect. Where sociology focuses on an individuals behavior in
relation to society, psychology places more importance on the genetic framework that influences
an individuals behavior.
Sociology takes a broad approach to helping us understand human interactions while other social
sciences focus on specific areas. As a discipline, sociology does not focus on certain specific
areas of human behavior as do political science and economics, but rather seeks to explain the
broad range of human behavior as it is influenced by society and human groups. It also
investigates the nature and constitution of societies, to discover the laws which regulate their
growth and decay, to do in short for them what biology has already done for the animal and
vegetable kingdom. Sociology devotes most of its attention to the collective aspects of human
behavior, because sociologists place greater emphasis on the ways external groups influence the
behavior of individuals.
There are distinct similarities between sociology and the other social sciences. All social sciences
are concerned with human behavior, relationships and interactions. The methods of study and
research (both qualitative and quantitative) are similar across social sciences and most social
sciences, (including sociology, psychology, social work, economics and others) are concerned
with solving societys problems. The social sciences though distinct, are interconnected and
share symbiotic relationships. There is no structure of hierarchy, making none subordinate to the
other, they all work together to benefit individuals and the societies in which they live.
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1.3 The relevance of Sociology in Architecture?

Sociology is an interesting subject which is very important in the study of Architecture.
Sociology is the study of people. Socious means people and logy means study. We
Architects design spaces for the people to live in. We have the ability to create various types of
environments, which serve different purposes.
Creating something for other people depends on the persons choice, their culture. Architects are
the masters that possess the ability to modify, transform and blend various design forms and
cultures together. But to be able to do this, study of sociology is must.
Sociologists study how people act in a society and what others do to influence them. Sociologists
need not necessarily be Architects but Architects have to be necessarily Sociologists.

Architectural Sociology
What is the relationship between the individual and his or her designed environment or social
setting? What is the relationship between an organization and the building wherein it resides?
Architectural sociology approaches these questions in examining how architectural forms both
influence and react to socio-cultural phenomena. A large proportion of our human experience
and social interaction occurs in the buildings in which we live and work. Therefore, architectural
sociologists use sociological perspective to enhance building design. The person in the building
is just as important as the building itself.
Smith and Bugni define Architectural sociology as the application of social theory and
methods to the architectural design process. It provides quantitative and qualitative research tools
to anticipate how designs impact people on a variety of levels. Architectural sociology addresses
the purpose of architecture as it relates to our society.
Even if architectural sociology is an emerging subfield, it draws on the existing fields of
environmental psychology, ecological sociology, organizational ecology, organizational
sociology, and community sociology. In practice, architectural sociology builds upon social
design theory and uses research methods such as survey research, Internet research, interviewing,
field observation, secondary data sources, and unobtrusive measures.
Bugni explains how observing people in their natural setting can provide clues for the architect
on how social interaction occurs in various settings such as classrooms, meeting rooms, office
spaces, and pedestrian walkways. In particular, the areas where research methods assist the
architect include human use of space, environmental and user preferences, and post-occupancy
evaluation. Sociology informs architecture in all phases of the design process, including the predesign and programming, design, construction, and post-construction phases.
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It helps Architects to see the potential impacts of their design decisions on the users who will
occupy the space before it is even constructed, including how the space can support social
interaction. In this way, sociology, in considering the individuals within the social setting,
enhances the architectural process.
Architecture and sociology will continue to inform each other, Bugni says. Architectural
sociology will remain viable because it addresses questions such as what the buildings we
construct say about us as a society. Bugni believes the future of the field is linked to educating
design professionals to
a) see the relationship between social setting and the individual and organization,
b) encourage sociologists to contribute outside the field, and
c) network with those interested in architectural sociology.
Sociology has a huge contribution to make to a new way of thinking in architecture and
sociology will also further expand upon some of its theories. As with all new paradigms,
architecture will not change easily. Nevertheless, architectural sociology has a promising future.
Proximic Theory
Edward T. Hall, the cultural anthropologist who coined the term in 1963, defined proxemics as
"the interrelated observations and theories of man's use of space as a specialized elaboration of
culture." In his foundational work on proxemics, The Hidden Dimension, Hall emphasized the
impact of proxemic behavior (the use of space) on interpersonal communication. According to
Hall, the study of proxemics is valuable in evaluating not only the way people interact with
others in daily life, but also "the organization of space in [their] houses and buildings, and
ultimately the layout of [their] towns." Proxemics remains a hidden component of interpersonal
communication that is uncovered through observation and strongly influenced by culture.

Intimate distance for embracing, touching or whispering

Close phase less than 6 inches (15 cm)

Far phase 6 to 18 inches (15 to 46 cm)

Personal distance for interactions among good friends or family

Close phase 1.5 to 2.5 feet (46 to 76 cm)

Far phase 2.5 to 4 feet (76 to 122 cm)

Social distance for interactions among acquaintances

Close phase 4 to 7 feet (1.2 to 2.1 m)

Far phase 7 to 12 feet (2.1 to 3.7 m)

Public distance used for public speaking

Close phase 12 to 25 feet (3.7 to 7.6 m)

Far phase 25 feet (7.6 m) or more.

1.4 Basic Concepts of Sociology

1.4.1 Society
The term Society is the most fundamental one in sociology. It is derived from the Latin word
socius, which means companionship. Companionship means sociability. It is this element of
sociability which defines the true essence of society. It indicates that man always lives in the
company of other people. Man is a social animal, said Aristotle centuries ago. Man needs
society for his living, working and enjoying life.
1. Society is a web of social relationship MacIver
2. The term society refers not to group of people, but to the complex pattern of the norms
of interaction, that arise among and between them. Lapiere
3. A society is a collection of individuals united by certain relations or modes of behavior
which marks them off from others who do not enter into the relations or who differ from
them in behavior Ginsberg
Characteristics of Society
1. Society depends on Likeness. The principal of likeness is essential for society. Likeness refers
to the similarities. Society exits among those who have the similarities with regards to their
needs, goals, outlook and values etc.
2. Society rests on Difference too. If men are exactly alike, their social relationships would be
very much limited. There would be little give and take, or little reciprocity, if there would no
differences.
3. Co operation: Society is based on co operation. It is the essential part of our social life. Co
operation arises when men realize that they have common interests. It refers to the mutual
working together for the attainment of a common goal.
4. Interdependence. Social relationships are characterised by interdependence. One depends
upon the other for the satisfaction of ones needs.
5. Society is Dynamic: Change is ever present in society. No society can ever remain constant
for any length of time. Changes may take place slowly and gradually or suddenly.
6. Culture: Each society is unique because it has its own way of life, called culture. Culture is
not society, but an element of society. Human society constitutes interacting people; while
culture is patterning of their behavior. According to Tylor, culture includes knowledge, law,
morals, custom any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society.
7. Mutual interaction and mutual awareness: Society is composed of people. Without people
there can be no society, social relationships and no social life at all. Individuals are in continuous
interaction with other individuals of society. Society is understood as a network of social
relationships. But all relations are social relations. Social relationships exist only when the

members are aware of each other. Social interaction is made possible because of mutual
awareness.
8. Social control: Society has its own ways and means of controlling the behavior of its
members. Along with co operation, competition and conflict are also exists in society. Hence, the
behavior and activities of people are to be regulated by informal and formal means of social
control.
1.4.2

Community

1. Community is social group with some degree of we feeling and living in a given area.
Bogardus
2. Community is the smallest territorial group that can embrace all aspects of social life.
Kingsley Davies
3. Community is an area of social living marked by some degree of social coherence.
MacIver
The main elements of Community: 1) Locality and 2) We feeling or Community sentiment.
A community is a territorial group. It always occupies some geographic area. Locality alone can
not make a group, a community. Sometimes people residing in the same area may not have any
contacts and communications. A community is essentially an area of common living with a
feeling of belonging. Community sentiment means a feeling of belonging together.
Difference between Society and Community:
Society

Community

1. Society is a web of social relationships

1. Community consists of a group of people

living in a particular area with some
degree of we feeling

2. A definite geographic area is not

essential aspect of society

2. A definite geographic area is essential

aspect of community

3. Community sentiment may or may not be

present in society

3. Community sentiment is the essential

element of community

4. Society is abstract

4. Community is concrete

5. Society is wider. There can be more than one

community in a society

5. Community is smaller than society

6. Society involves both likeness and

difference. Common interest and diverse
interests are in society.

6. Likeness is more important than difference

in community. There is more common
interests among the members of
community
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1.4.3 Institutions
The concept of institution is one of the most important in the entire field of sociology.
Durkheim has gone to the extent of defining sociology as the science of social institution.
1. Ginsberg: Institution may be described as recognized and established usages governing
the relations between individual and groups.
2. MacIver and page: Institutions may be defined as the established forms or condition of
procedure characteristic of group activity.
Characteristics of Institution
The main Characteristics of social institution may be described here:
1. Social in nature. Institutions come in to being due to the collective activities of the people.
2. Universality. They exist in all the societies and existed at all the stages of social development
3. Institutions are standardized norms .An institutions must be understood as standardized
procedures and norms. Marriage, as an institution, for example, governs the relations between
husband and wife.
4. Institutions as means of satisfying needs. They cater to the satisfaction of some basic and
vital needs of man.
5. Institutions are the controlling Mechanisms. Institutions like religion, morality, state,
government, law, legislations, etc.., control the behavior of men.
6. Relatively permanent. Institutions normally do not undergo sudden or rapid changes.
Changes take place slowly and gradually in them.
7. Abstract in Nature. Institutions are not external, visible or tangible things. They are abstract.
Thus marriage cannot be kept in a museum, religion cannot be rated or qualified; war cannot be
weighed and law cannot be brought to the laboratory experiments and so on.
8. Oral and Written Traditions. Institutions may persist in the form of oral and /or written
traditions. For the primitive societies they may be largely oral. But in modern complex societies
they may be observed in written as well as unwritten forms.
9. Synthesising symbols. Institutions may have their own symbols, material or non material Ex.
the state has flag emblem, and religion may have its own symbols like crucifix, crescent, star.
10. Institutions are interrelated. Institutions, though diverse, are interrelated. The religious,
moral, Educational, political, economic and other type of institutions are essentially interlinked.
Functions of Social institutions
1. Institutions cater to the satisfactions of needs.
2. Institutions control Human behavior.
3. Institutions Simplify Actions For the Individual.
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4. Institution Assign Roles and Statuses to the Individual.

5. Institutions contribute to unity and uniformity.
6. Manifest functions of Institutions:
Every Institution has two Types of manifest function
(i) The pursuit of its objectives or Interests, and (ii) the Preservation of its own internal cohesion
so that it may survive.
7. The negative function of institution .When they become too conservative they retard progress.

1.4.4

Family

The family forms the basic unit of social organization and it is difficult to imagine how human
society could function without it. The family has been seen as a universal social institution an
inevitable part of human society. According to Burgess and Lock the family is a group of
persons united by ties of marriage, blood or adoption constituting a single household interacting
with each other in their respective social role of husband and wife, mother and father, brother
and sister creating a common culture.G.P Murdock defines the family as a social group
characterized by common residence, economic cooperation and reproduction.
Characteristics of Family
1. Universality: There is no human society in which some form of the family does not appear.
Malinowski writes the typical family a group consisting of mother, father and their progeny is
found in all communities, savage, barbarians and civilized. The irresistible sex need, the urge for
reproduction and the common economic needs have contributed to this universality.
2. Emotional basis: The family is grounded in emotions and sentiments. It is based on our
impulses of mating, procreation, maternal devotion, fraternal love and parental care. It is built
upon sentiments of love, affection, sympathy, cooperation and friendship.
3. Limited size: The family is smaller in size. As a primary group its size is necessarily limited.
It is a smallest social unit.
4. Formative influence: The family welds an environment which surrounds trains and educates
the child. It shapes the personality and moulds the character of its members. It emotionally
conditions the child.
5. Nuclear position in the social structure: The family is the nucleus of all other social
organizations. The whole social structure is built of family units.
6. Responsibility of the members: The members of the family has certain responsibilities,
duties and obligations.Maclver points out that in times of crisis men may work and fight and die
for their country but they toil for their families all their lives.

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7. Social regulation: The family is guarded both by social taboos and by legal regulations. The
society takes precaution to safeguard this organization from any possible breakdown.
1.4.5

Groups

Society consists of groups. A social group existed when two or more people are in direct or
indirect contact and communication. The members of the group stimulate and respond to one
another in some meaningful way. This mutual stimulation & response of individuals and groups
is social interaction. The nature and character of social relationship underlie different forms of
social groups such as primary and secondary groups, In Groups and Out Groups, Organised and
Unorganised groups, Formal and Informal groups and so on.
Definition of Social Group
1. H M Johnson : A social group is a system of social interaction
2. R M Mac Iver & C H Page: Social group is any collection of human beings who are brought
into human relationship with one another.
3. Ogburn & Nimkoff: Whenever two or more individuals come together & influence one they
may be said to constitute a social group.
Characteristics of Social Group

Collection of individuals
Interaction among members
Mutual awareness
We Feeling
Group unity & Solidarity
Common interest
Similar behavior
Group norms
Size of the group
Groups are dynamic
Stability
Influence of personality

Classification of Groups:
Different sociologists have classified social groups on the basis of different criteria.
1. In Groups and Out Groups: W. G. Sumner in his Folkways differentiates between In Groups
and Out Groups. In Group is simply the we group and Out Group is the they group. For a
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Hindu, all the other Hindus are constituted the in group & all the other religious persons are
constituted the Out group.
2. Involuntary & Voluntary Groups
3. Organised and Unorganised groups
4. Formal and Informal groups
5. Primary & Secondary Groups
6. Small & Large Groups

1.4.6

Association

A form of organizational structure for a defined group of individuals, for a religious, scientific,
social, literary, educational, recreational or benevolent or commercial purpose.
Characteristics of Association
1. A group of People: An association is basically a group of people who have some common
objectives. Without a group of people no association can be formed. Hence a group of people is
important.
2. Organization: Association does not refer to any ordinary group of people rather it refers to
an organized group of people. In other words when a group of people organize themselves for
the pursuit of some common interest an association is formed. Hence association is called as an
organized group. There is certain rules which guide the people.
3. Common Aims and Objectives: It is the most important characteristic of association.
Because association does not refers to a mere collection of human beings rather it refers to those
group of individuals who have some common aims and objectives. All the members tries to
achieve the common objectives. Hence association is a means to achieve common objectives.
For example people having similar political objectives may join in a particular political party.
4. Some rules and regulations: We know association is an organised group. Every organised
group or organization based on some rules and regulations. This body of rules and regulations
governs and guides the relations of its members. These rules and regulations are either written or
unwritten. Members or officials of an association obey these rules and works according to these
rules and regulation.
5. Co-operative Spirit : Association is the result of cooperative spirit of some organised
individuals. Hence the other name of association is co-operation. Here people work together with
a cooperative spirit to fulfil some common purposes. This co-operative spirit helps them to
realize their objectives. When this spirit is lacking there is no co-operation and no association.
6. Voluntary Membership : The membership of an association is voluntary in nature. People
voluntarily join in an association to fulfill their desired aims and objectives. They can also

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withdraw their membership when they feel so. Similarly no one can compel them to be a
member of any association. But he have to obey the rules and regulations of the association.
7. Degree of Permanency: The degree of permanency varies from association to association.
Some association may be temporary where as some are permanent. There exists some long lived
association like family or state. Similarly there exists some temporary associations like flood
relief association.
8. Legal Status : Association is an organised social group which has responsible members. This
shows that association has legal status. It can sue and be sued. Legal action can also be taken
against the members as well as officials if disobey its rules and regulations.
9. Office Bearers : An association have office bearers who manage its affairs and guides its
functioning. These office bearers are elected for a definite period of time by its members.
10. Artificial Nature: Association is an artificial creation. It is man made in nature. Some
individuals deliberately form association to fulfill their common objectives. It does not grow
naturally or spontaneously. There exists no natural bond between the members of association.
Rather there exists a bond of self interest.
11. Limited Significance: Membership of an association has limited significance. Because
association is a temporary group organised for the fulfillment of specific interests of its
members. It has significance for its members so far it serves their purpose. When it fail to serves
the purpose it lose its significance.
12. Association performs a variety of functions for its members as well as for society.
Thus we could say an association is a group within society or community. It is a formal
organization as its membership is formal in nature. But all formal organizations like army are not
associations. Association is guided by formal rules and regulations. Hence though association
seems like a formal organization but in reality it is not so. But both association and formal
organizations is the product of modern industrial society and new political system. At present
association plays a very important role in the new socio-economic and political set up.

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