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Vice-Chancellor, Deans, Heads of departments and so on. Each one of the authorities Social Networks

is vested with some defined power to carry out the functions of the university, which
may include recruitment of staff, admission of students, administration of educational
functions, and conduct of the examinations.
iii) Formal Organisation in a Traditional Society
In India, a traditional society, the collectivities such as the family, kin, caste, religion
and language, help an individual to achieve his ends through personal and informal
relationships. The introduction of formal organisation has created a serious problem.
Indians, generally speaking, are used to personal and informal relations. Armed
with such relations they feel safe. However, formal organisations function on the
basis of universalistic rules and procedures, which operate impersonally and formally.
Thus, the juxtaposition of formal organisation with traditional collectivities, such as
caste, has created an anomaly.
27.5.2 The Concept of ‘Source’
The people who are used to operating on a personal basis do not feel secure with an
impersonal system. You must have heard people using the word ‘source’ and trying
to find ‘sources’, for getting things done through informal organisations. A source
may be conceived of as a person, through whom the power vested in an authority of
a formal organisation may be utilised for personal ends. These may or may not be in
conflict with the goals of formal organisation.
27.5.3 Resource Networks and Resource Groups
These networks and groups are called resource networks and groups. Resource
networks are extracts from the total network. They are based on the criterion of
shared interest, in the mobilisation of power of formal organisations for personal
ends. Therefore, they may be called partial networks. They may be either ego-
centric personal networks, or non-ego-centric personal networks.
The linkages between the members of a personal resource network may be diverse.
They may be based on kin, caste, family, classmateship, etc. An ego may have
different degrees of understanding with the members of his resource network,
regarding the mobilisability of each other. The transactions on which resource
networks develop lead to the development of instrumental relationships. Finally, the
uncertainties inherent in the mobilisability of members, marks the boundary of a
resource network indistinct. Let us now look at the idea of resource groups, and
functions of resources networks and groups.
i) Resource Groups
When the exchange of obligations between the members of a resource group
stabilises the unity, then identity and consciousness of kind emerge. Thus, a resource
network would turn into a resource group. Its boundary is identifiable and interactions
between the members become patterned.
ii) Functions of Resource Networks and Groups
The functions of resource networks and groups, may be seen from the viewpoint of
individuals, formal organisations and the Indian society. For individuals, they are
functional or beneficial because they serve their interest, whether it is in the context
of formal organisations or conflicts. They guarantee the requisite support. but for
formal organisations they are highly dysfunctional. In other words, they contribute
negatively to the achievement of goals of formal organisations, by putting a premium
41
on individual ends vis-a-vis the goals of formal organisation.

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Social Structure The social structure is affected by resource networks in a very fundamental manner.
The social relations inherent in resource networks and groups, as particular and
personal, and, therefore, may be treated as extensions from the traditional social
structure. The traditional social structure, however is based on greater normative
and juridical support for the corporate groups. Besides these, love, respect and
loyalty play significant roles in the maintenance of the traditional collectivities. In
contrast to such collectivities, resource networks are based on instrumental
relationships, which affect a much larger number of social interactions. The underlined
expectations about reciprocal obligations in such relationships, bring uncertainty and
fluidity in social relationships, whether in the traditional colletivities or in formal
organisations.
Check Your Progress 3
Note: a) Use the space given for your answer.

b) Compare your answer with the one given at the end of this unit.

1) What is the resource network? Explain briefly in three lines.

................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................

2) A resource group is one from which one can get a loan without interest.

Yes No

27.6 LET US SUM UP

In this unit, you were introduced to the concept of social networks, which was
defined in terms of the chain of social relationships. In this perspective, individuals
establish social relations in the pursuit of their self-interests, and the society is viewed
as a chain of social relations which forms the total network.

Then, personal network was contrasted with group-based social network. This
was followed by an outline of the morphological and interactional characteristics
of personal networks. The morphological characteristics are anchorage, density,
reachability and range, while the interactional characteristics are content, directedness,
durability, intensity and frequency of interactions. On the basis of anchorage, a
further distinction was made between ego-centric personal networks which are co-
ordinated by an individual, and non-egocentric personal networks which are not so
co-ordinated. However, in a specific situation, for achieving a specific objective,
any member can mobilise others. For such an action-set the ego performs the role
of the coordinator.

The unit also pointed out the problems one encounters in identifying a personal network
empirically. These problems are:

i) nature of contacts,

ii) centricity of the ego,

42
iii) nature of transactions,

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iv) types of social relations, Social Networks

v) mobilisability of the members, and

vi) identification of the boundary.

This discussion was followed by a focus on the relationship between personal

networks, and the social structure. This relationship was illustrated by describing
the introduction of formal organisations in a traditional society. It was pointed out
that personal networks and groups are formed for the mobilisation of the power of
formal organisations for personal ends. Such networks and groups have been termed
as resource networks and resource groups.

27.7 KEY WORDS

Anchorage : Ego as the centre of his/her network.

Centricity : The central nature of ego in a network.

Density : The proportion of persons in a network who know

each other.

Directedness : Whether a relation is one sided or reciprocal.

Ego : Terms used to denote an individual.

Expressive Relationship : Relationship in which one derives satisfaction from

the relationship itself.

Formal Organisation : A social collectivity, the goals of which are formally

defined.

Mobilisability : The ability to put into circulation the resources or

contacts for action.

Morphological : Those features which help in the form and structure

of something e.g., density, reachability etc. of personal
networks.

Personal Network : This indicates all those persons with which ego is in
contact.

Range : Denotes the limit or span of direct and regular

contacts which an individual has.

Total Network : Chains of social relationship which cover the whole

of society.

27.8 FURTHER READINGS

Bott, Elizabeth, 1971. Family and Social Network. Tavistock Publications : London.

Mayer, Adrian c., 1966. The Significance of Quasi-Groups in the Study of

Complex Societies. In M. Banton (ed.), The Social Anthropology of Complex
Societies. Tavistock Pulications : London. pp. 97-119.
43

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Social Structure Persell, C.H., 1987. Understanding Society. Harper and Row Publishers : New
York. Chapter IV.

Sharma, K.N., 1975. Institutions, Networks and Social Change. Indian Institute
of Advanced Study : Simla. Chapters 5, 6, 7, 8, pp. 191-197.

27.9 MODEL ANSWERS TO CHECK YOUR

PROGRESS
Check Your Progress 1
1) The basic unit in social networks is a dyadic relationship i.e., between two
individuals.
2) The process of formation of a social network begins right from the time of
birth of a human being.
Check Your Progress 2
1) The morphological characteristics of personal networks are:
i) anchorage;
ii) density;
iii) reachability; and
iv) range.
The interactional characteristics of personal networks are :
i) content;
ii) directedness;
iii) durability;
iv) intensity; and
v) frequency.
2) When a person or the ego is the centre of a network and he or she coordinates
it, we find the emergence of an ego-centric personal network.
Check Your Progress 3
1) A resource network is a part of the total network. Shared interest is basic to
them. They are partial networks and may be ego-centric or non-ego-centric
personal networks.
2) No.

44

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UNIT 28 SOCIAL FUNCTIONS

Structure
28.0 Objectives
28.1 Introduction
28.2 Definition of Function
28.3 Function and Collective Conscience
28.4 Function : Cultural Perspective
28.5 Function : Biological Perspective
28.6 Function : System Perspective
28.7 Function : Critical Perspective
28.7.1 Functions and Dysfunctions of Religion

28.7.2 Manifest and Latent Functions

28.8 Uses of Functional Analysis

28.9 Limitations of Functional Analysis
28.10 Let Us Sum Up
28.11 Key Words
28.12 Further Readings
28.13 Model Answers to Check Your Progress

28.0 OBJECTIVES
After reading this unit, you should be able to:
• define functionalism;
• state Durkheim’s view on social function and describe his analysis of social
life;
• describe social function as given by Malinowski from a cultural perspective;
• describe the biological perspective of social function;
• describe social function from the critical perspective; and
• explain the uses and limitations of functional analysis.

28.1 INTRODUCTION
In this unit we will discuss the concept of social function. You will learn about the
meaning of social function and the major ideas developed around this concept. We
first describe the concept of function and collective conscience, as formulated by
Emile Durkheim. This is followed by a discussion of the cultural perspective, and its
relation to social function as described by Malinowski. His ideas regarding the
45 relationship of magic with the concept of social function, have been outlined in this

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