--- title: "Characteristics of society, community elements" subject: "Engineering Professional Practice" chapter: 1 key: "semester_8/engineering_professional_practice:society-characteristics-community" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/engineering_professional_practice/society-characteristics-community site: BCT Engineering --- # Characteristics of society, community elements Engineering Professional Practice · Chapter 1: History of Engineering Practices - Asked in: 2074 Bhadra, 5 marks - Video: [Essential Elements of Society](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsrGSb8RnMc) — drkaushal kishore Srivastava - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/engineering_professional_practice/society-characteristics-community - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_8/engineering_professional_practice/chapter-1 ## Question Write down in brief the characteristics/features of society. What are the elements of community? ## Short answer Society is characterized by a group of people, mutual interaction, likeness and difference, cooperation and conflict, permanence, dynamism, culture, social control, abstractness, and territory. A community's elements are a group of people, locality, we-feeling, naturalness, permanence, common interests, and interdependence. ## Answer #### Characteristics of society 1. **Group of people:** society consists of many individuals, not one. 2. **Mutual interaction and relationship:** members depend on and influence each other; society is a "web of social relationships". 3. **Likeness and difference:** common culture and goals bind people, while differences (age, skill, role) create division of labour. 4. **Cooperation and conflict:** both exist; cooperation is the main basis. 5. **Permanence:** society continues beyond the lifetime of its members. 6. **Dynamic and changing:** norms, institutions and technology change over time. 7. **Culture:** shared language, customs, values and traditions. 8. **Social control:** laws, norms and customs regulate behaviour. 9. **Abstract:** it is a system of relations, not a physical thing. 10. **Defined territory and organisation** (usually) with roles and status. #### Elements of community A community is a group of people living in a specific area with a sense of belonging and common life. Its elements are: - **A group of people:** a definite number of persons. - **Locality:** a definite geographical area (village, ward, city). - **Community sentiment / "we-feeling":** feeling of belonging and unity. - **Naturalness:** it grows naturally, not by deliberate formation. - **Permanence:** people live there for long. - **Common basic interests and life:** members share most basic activities and needs. - **Wider ends and interdependence:** it satisfies most of the needs of life (economic, social, cultural). ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. Why is society called 'abstract'? A. Because it cannot be studied B. Because it is a system of relations, not a physical thing C. Because it has no members D. Because it has no culture Answer: B. Society is a system of social relationships, not a physical, visible thing. (Key point: Society is abstract) 2. What does 'permanence' of society mean? A. It never changes B. It continues beyond the lifetime of its members C. Members never leave it D. It occupies fixed land forever Answer: B. Society continues beyond the lifetime of its individual members, while still being dynamic. (Key point: Permanence) 3. Which statement about cooperation and conflict in society is correct? A. Only conflict exists B. Only cooperation exists C. Both exist, but cooperation is the main basis D. Neither exists in a stable society Answer: C. Both cooperation and conflict exist; cooperation is the main basis. (Key point: Cooperation and conflict) 4. What is the 'we-feeling' element of a community? A. Feeling of belonging and unity B. Feeling of competition among members C. A legal contract among members D. Dependence on government Answer: A. Community sentiment is the feeling of belonging and unity among members. 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