Association

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. 2

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) 3

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 4

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 5

6. Main Characteristics of Association

7. 1. Association – a Human Group An Association is formed or created by people 7

8. 2. Common Interest or Interests It consists of those individuals who have more or less than same interest. 8

9. 3. Co-operative Spirit An association is based on the co-operative spirit of its members. 9

10. 4. Organisation Association denotes some kind of organisation. 10

11. 5. Regulation of Relations Every association has its own ways and means of regulating the relations of its members 11

12. 6. Association as Agencies Associations are means or agencies through which their members seek to realize their similar or shared interests. 12

13. 7. Durability of Association An Association may be permanent or temporary. 13

14. 8. Different Entity An Association has a different entity 14

15. 9. Comparative Permanence Goals of association have consistency . That is why every association has a comparative permanence. 15

16. 10. Transmission of Ideas Proff . Giddings :- Associations act as agents of transmission of ideas among members 16

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. 17

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. 18

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 voluntary 20

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. 22

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. 23

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 24

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. 26

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. 27

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. 28

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