The 5 functions of society: how does it influence our lives?

How does living in a society benefit and influence us?

In psychology and other social sciences we often talk a lot about "society". We discuss how it affects us, the types of societies we have built, we talk about the changes our societies have gone through, and so on. We even differentiate between Western, non-Western, individualistic, collectivistic, knowledge societies, developed, undeveloped, and many others. However, we rarely ask ourselves what exactly we mean when we talk about "society".

Considering that there is no single definition, and that it is a subject that could be approached from very different perspectives, in this article we will briefly review the psychosocial approach to what society is and what some of its elements are. Specifically, we will look at several of the main functions that life in society has..

• Related article, "What is Social Psychology?"

What is society and what elements does it have?

Since the most classical traditions of the social sciences, society has been presented as the opposite of the individual. the opposite element to the individualthat is, as an entity that is external to the subjects and that affects us, molds us, oppresses us, or the other way around: it liberates us, strengthens us or drives us. In other words, society is usually thought of as something that exists outside the subject, but in relation to it: it sustains it and at the same time limits it.

However, society can also be understood as the result of human beings' own activity; activity which, being shared, also generates a set of rules.activity which, being shared, also generates a set of norms. In other words, society can also be understood as the result of our interaction.

As we interact, we produce and share a series of codes that allow us to organize ourselves in different ways. These codes translate into elements that promote socialization (the process by which an individual becomes a competent subject for society).

Examples of these elements are institutions (family, marriage, school, science, religion, etc.), which depends on the geographical, economic, political situation, traditions, values and history of each country.The history, values and history of each group of individuals.

In other words, there is not a single way of making society; the same dynamics and processes are not generated everywhere, just as they have not been the same in all times. And beyond being an entity different from the subject, society is the result of the activity and interaction of the subjects themselves.

5 functions of society

Based on the above, we could ask ourselves: why do we live in society, what is the use of it, could we live without society or outside of it?

Undoubtedly, the functions of society are, to say the least, problematic. Beyond whether society itself is good or bad, harmful or beneficial, the whole of our own activity is often uncertain, thus, the effects and functions of society become ambiguous as well..

If we also think of society in pragmatic terms, we can say that it is not only responsible for influencing our lives or our activity, but that it is through society itself that we are able to maintain our own (physical and psychological) life. However, depending on what dynamics are generated, it can also have the opposite effect.

We can broadly describe the functions of society in different processes that are generated through shared human activity: identity, social norms, care-related practices, provision-related activities, and environmental management.

1. Generating identity

Identity is a psychosocial process through which a person recognizes him or herself in relation to a set of characteristics, traits, interests, desires, abilities, and so on. Such recognition occurs largely through other people. And this is so because it is only through others that we can recognize ourselves as "equal to..." or "different from...", that is, as unique individuals and at the same time part of a group.

In other words, if an individual recognizes himself as such, it is because there are other individuals who have recognized him as such as well. Thus, one of the functions of life in society is to shape the subject and the small to shape the subject and small groupsSociety generates both psychic structures and social groups, without which it would be difficult for us to relate to the world.

2. Producing social norms

Social norms are the set of implicit or explicit guidelines that tell us how we should behave. Not only that, but they also tell us what interests, desires, habits or expectations are appropriate or possible. It is through social norms that we relate to the world and to other members of society..

We generate and reproduce them through that same relationship, and when it is transformed, social norms also change. For example, the interaction and behavioral norms between human beings (and between human beings and nature), was not the same before we developed technology, and this is so because by introducing small material and discursive changes, social norms also change.

In short, another of society's main functions is to generate and transform the norms of behavior that distinguish us as part of a social group. Thanks to this, we can make our interests fit together without too many conflicts to live close to each other.

3. Ensuring caring and filiation practices

Another function of life in society is to generate practices that ensure the satisfaction of our human needs. To ensure this satisfaction, it is also necessary to that the practices generated correspond to the needs and values of a specific geographical and historical moment. specific geographic and historical moment. For example, one need that human beings share is filiation, which is related to affective interdependence and care practices.

The latter is a value shared by some societies, and to a lesser extent by others. It is also related to the sexual division of labor and gender socialization, which may differ among human groups. For example, in some Western societies with more economic resources, practices related to care and filiation are different from other societies in which, having fewer resources, there is also an important need for support and care among individuals.

4. Generate activities related to provision

Related to the previous point, another of the functions of life in society is to ensure that practices related to provisioning are generated, i.e, activities that ensure the supply of basic necessities, which we do through exchange and relationships with other people.This is done through exchange and relationships with other people.

In other words, the interaction and shared activity among human beings has among its objectives to ensure that we survive. In this case, like care-related activities, provisioning is a practice that in the history of Western societies is usually socialized in relation to masculine values and based on the sexual division of labor..

5. Managing the environment in which we develop

Organizing ourselves as a society, and becoming competent members of it, has among its effects the management and manipulation of the environment where our interaction takes place. That is, the manipulation of the environment. Life in society allows us not only to take from the environment what we need to survive, but also, by the very norms and identities that are generated, social activity can have as a consequence excessive wear and tear on the environment due to the constant use of its resources..

Thus, society often not only has the function of satisfying basic needs, but also generates other needs and other forms of satisfaction that lead to the massive exploitation of the environment where society itself emerges. For this reason, another of the functions that our societies have generated has been the production of knowledge and the development of knowledge. the production of knowledge and the development of technology.devices that have had an important influence, not only on the management of the environment but also on interpersonal relationships.

In short, more than having determined functions, life in society has a series of effects that are not precisely external to the subjects, but are the result of our interaction. They can also be problematic, which is why it is important to take into account to ensure that such interaction translates into coexistence and quality of life.