---
title: "Criteria of society"
subject: "Engineering Professional Practice"
chapter: 1
key: "semester_8/engineering_professional_practice:society-criteria"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/engineering_professional_practice/society-criteria
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Criteria of society

Engineering Professional Practice · Chapter 1: History of Engineering Practices

- Asked in: 2074 Magh, 4 marks
- 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-criteria
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_8/engineering_professional_practice/chapter-1

## Question

Explain criteria of society.

## Short answer

Criteria of society include plurality, mutual awareness, social interaction, common territory, shared culture, interdependence, cooperation, social control, continuity, and common goals. A crowd at a bus stop lacks permanence, shared culture, and organisation, so it is not a society.

## Answer

Criteria of society are the essential conditions or marks that distinguish a society from a mere crowd or a casual gathering of people. Sociologists (e.g. MacIver and Page) list the following.

1. **Group of people (plurality):** two or more persons living together; one person is not a society.
2. **Mutual awareness:** members recognise each other and know they belong together.
3. **Social interaction and relationships:** continuous, regular interaction through cooperation, exchange and communication.
4. **Common territory:** in most cases people live in a definite area, which gives stability.
5. **Likeness and shared culture:** common language, norms, beliefs, customs and values hold members together.
6. **Interdependence and division of labour:** members depend on each other for their needs; roles are shared.
7. **Cooperation (and conflict):** working together for common aims, while conflict is regulated.
8. **Social control and order:** accepted rules, laws, institutions and authority maintain discipline.
9. **Continuity / permanence:** it continues across generations through reproduction and socialisation.
10. **Common goals or ends:** shared aims for survival and development.

A crowd at a bus stop lacks permanence, shared culture and organisation, so it is not a society.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. What do the criteria of society help to distinguish?
   A. Society from a mere crowd or casual gathering
   B. Rich from poor people
   C. Community from state
   D. Urban from rural areas
   Answer: A. Criteria are the essential marks that distinguish a society from a mere crowd. (Key point: Criteria vs crowd)

2. Why is 'group of people (plurality)' a criterion?
   A. A society needs at least 100 members
   B. One person alone is not a society; at least two or more are needed
   C. Only large groups can have culture
   D. Because laws need many people
   Answer: B. At least two or more persons living together are needed; one person is not a society. (Key point: Plurality)

3. What does interdependence and division of labour mean in a society?
   A. Every member does the same job
   B. Members work alone without help
   C. Members depend on each other for needs and roles are shared
   D. Only leaders do the work
   Answer: C. Members depend on each other for their needs and share roles. (Key point: Interdependence)

4. Why is a crowd at a bus stop not a society?
   A. It has too many people
   B. It lacks permanence, shared culture and organisation
   C. It has no territory at all
   D. It is always in conflict
   Answer: B. A casual crowd lacks permanence, shared culture and organisation. (Key point: Bus stop crowd)