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Ind. J. of Applied & Clinical Sociology 10 (3), 2015, 49-57 ISSN: 2230-9772 (Print); 2347-5927 (Online) ©: Human Development & Welfare Institute Disorganization: Concept, Causes, and Consequences Navlesk Kumar‡‡ Abstract: Social Disorganization studied sociologically through different angles. A society is made of individuals as its members or their groups. While forming society certain aspirations, desire, and objectives remained associated with each of its member that interest keep a member or members associated or organized. The moment any departure, deviation or sustained obstruction occurs to any member or members of the society then the process of adjustments and readjustment gets disturbed within the society among different individual, members or their groups. If this disturbance is, permanent, members, or their groups consider that situation would not improve favorably then the process of disorganization starts. When the various parts of society properly adjusted society remains organized however if adjustment failed and equilibrium is lost and that could refer as Social Disorganization. Any Social Disorganization could lead to varied Social Problems depending upon the kind, amount, and veracity of the disorganization. Family Disorganization followed same principles. Concept Causes and Consequences could differ. In any case, any disorganization bound to induce Social Problems. Key Words: Social Order; Theory of Social Order, Defining Social Disorganization; Characteristics of Social Disorganization; Causes of Social Disorganization: Symptoms of Social Disorganization & Social Problems. ‡‡ Doctoral Research Student of Sociology, Magadh University, Bodh-Gaya. Joint Family and Nuclear Family. Nuclear family is a family consisting of a husband, wife, and child or Children. Family of orientation defined as the family in which a person grows up. Family of procreation means the family formed when a couple’s first child is born. Description of terms: Disorganization: Could be of any type among Individual Disorganization, Social Disorganization; Community/ National Disorganization. Family: If two or more people who consider themselves related by blood, marriage, or adoption. Family is an organization of relationships, roles and status, power and authority and customs, values and young married spouses, parents and unmarried brothers and sisters and older members constitute three integral units of the family. Patriarchy a group in which men as a group dominate women as a group; authority is vested in males. Matriarchy a society in which women as a group dominate men as a group. Egalitarian authority more or less equally divided between people or groups (in marriage, for example, between husband and wife) 49 Marriage: A relationship recognized by custom or state. Monogamy if men have single wife. Polygamy when men have more than one wife. Polygyny a form of marriage in which men have more than one wife. Polyandry a form of marriage in which women have more than one husband. Endogamy the practice of marrying within one’s own group. Exogamy the practice of marrying outside one’s own group Social Order theory Percy S. Cohen refers to four main types of theories to explain the existence of Social Order and they are1. Coercion theory: The theory emphasizes use of force, compulsion, and pressure to maintain order. It could involve with some form of physical punishment, denial of property, incomes, or privileges. Sometimes it also worked upon certain stigma and mystic influences. It has weaknesses because use of force could be useful to a certain limit and beyond that limit, things could go out of control. 2. Interest theory: It works on two principles firstly, it emphasizes that any member cannot attain their objectives without the co-operation of others. Secondly, it is found that order is in their collective interests. Emile Durkheim and Talcott Parsons gives two objections to this theory, as the theory does not explain the derivation of interests. Both Durkheim and Parsons argue that interests, to some extent, are given by society itself; that is, their existence assumes social order. 3. The value consensus theory: This theory stresses that order is based on some minimal consensus on certain values that are predominantly moral but may also be technical and aesthetic. The theory often criticized because a commitment to common values and ideas in complex societies is unlikely to be extensive even where it is powerful. 4. The Inertia theory: The theory asserts that if social order exists, it provides the conditions for its own continuation. This appears to be tautological in that Descent: Kinship is traced over the generations. Bilinear is a system of descent that counts both the mother’s and the father’s side. Patrilineal, a system of reckoning descent that counts only the father’s side. Matrilineal a system of reckoning descent that counts only the mother’s side. Social Order Social Order in any Social Organization could refer to a specific established system that could conserve, maintain, and enforce certain patterns of relating and behaving. Social Order is apposite to social chaos, anarchy, or disorder, and could refer as a stable state of society in which the existing social order accepted and maintained by its members. The problem of order considered dominant factor of sociology, political science, and political philosophy. A Social Order required for proper function of the society and a society cannot function without a Social Order. Though the Social Order attained, however it is never consistent, continuous, and sustainable. 50 According to Ogburn and Nimkoff when the harmonious relationship between the various parts of culture is disturbed, social disorganization, ensue. According to R.E.L. Faris, “Social disorganization is a disturbance in the patterns and mechanisms of human relations. According to Elliott and Merrill, “Social disorganization is the process by which the relationship between members of the group are broken or dissolved.” the notion of social order implies that of continuity. Although the theory cannot be accepted as such, when formulated more clearly and precisely it emphasizes the point that some of the causal processes of social phenomena are often circular. This theory implies that when social order is maintained; it tends to resist pressures for disruption and change, at least from within. Defining Social Disorganization Thus based on these definitions it could say that social disorganization is not just loss of temporary adjustments, readjustments or even casual loss of equilibrium however it most serious than all those and symmetrical to the stage or point of no return. Emile Durkheim defined social disorganization as “a state of disequilibrium and a lack of social solidarity or consensus among the members of a society.” W.I. Thomas and Florien Znaniecki conceived of social disorganization as “a decrease of the influence of existing rules of behaviour upon individual members of the groups.” According to Queen and Harper, “If social organization means the development of relationships which persons and groups find mutually satisfactory, then disorganization means their replacement by relationships which bring disappointment, thwarted wishes, irritation, and unhappiness.” Social disorganization often brings personal disorganization, since a person is a social creation and his “self” a social product. According to Mowever, social disorganization is “the process by which the relationships between members of a group are shaken.” Stuart A. Queen, Walter B. Bodenhafer, and Ernest B. Harper described social disorganization in their book ‘Social Organization and Disorganization’ as the counterpart of social organization. Characteristics Disorganization According to them, just as social organization provides the means by which a society maintains its unity and cohesion through effective control of its members, and, hence, functions smoothly; social disorganization causes a weakening of group solidarity, loss of control over its members, and, therefore, conflict and disintegration. (i) 51 of Social Conflict of Mores and of Institutions: With the passage of time, founding mores and institution become outdated. New ideals arise and new institutions formed. The existing mores come into conflict with new mores. (ii) (iii) (iv) (iii) Industrialization: the process of industrialization could led to chronic capitalism, exploitation, and class conflicts. That ultimately could result in Social Disorganization. (iv) Cultural Change & Difference: Cultural change is a continuous process. Change in life styles, living standards also induced by changing technology. World has never changed since invention of electricity, electronics, electrical, and IT Technology. All those entirely changed the society and its culture. If such cultural change is not equal between members and their groups that could cause Social Disorganization. (v) Natural Catastrophes: Natural Calamities such as earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions and various other catastrophic phenomena of nature may also have a disorganizing effect on society. It may also include outbreaks of epidemics, endemic or any other certain diseases. (vi) Leadership crisis: Sudden death of a leader or any other leadership crisis could lead to Social Disorganization. Even conflicts within political parties and its leaderships could cause Social Disorganization. (vii) War, Aggression, and Armed Conflicts: Sustained war or war like situation including terrorism, Maoism or any other kind of violence, aggression, or even fear of consequences could lead to Social Disorganization. Mal adaptation of Inherited Nature to Culture: All societies are changing rapidly accumulating numerous cultural lags at every point. In the family, in the industry, in the government, in the school and in the church a number of cultural lags can be seen. The traditional informal controls have failed to regulate the behavior of individuals in modern society. Many Transfer of Functions from one Group to Another: if certain powers vested to any individual or member or groups of members or individual transferred to other member, individual or groups; that could induce Social Disorganization Individuation: if in any society system developed in self-interests in, mostly arbitrary manner ignoring the interests of other members or groups and such individualism in decision making and working in self-interest could induce Social Disorganization. Change in the Role and Status of the Individuals; in a society every member of the society or group may have certain roles that liked mostly; however, any shift in their favorable role could induce Social Disorganization. Causes of Social Disorganization (i) Division of Labour: Division of Labour considered healthy and productive for the society. If Division of Labour fails that could cause Social Disorganization. Emile Durkheim considered extreme Division of Labour is the cause of Social Disorganization. Extreme Division of Labour gives rise to economic crises of all kinds, class struggles, and industrial strife, and leads to the demoralization(viii) of individuals, the family, and the community. (ii) Violation of Social Rules: If the rules and regulations of society violated that most often resulted in keeping individuals under control, and that could lead to the Social Disorganization. 52 high rate of population mobility, high rates of divorce, desertion, illegitimacy, dependency, delinquency and criminality, a disproportionately high rate of males, a low rate of home ownership, high rates of suicides, commercialized vice and death from disease and alcoholism. people fail to internalize a coherent system of values and behavior controls. They become disorganized and are diagnosed as mentally ill. Symptoms of Social Disorganization & Social Problems Social Disorganization has it symptoms just as if a particular disease in the body shows its symptoms. However, those symptoms usually largely dependent on situation and in any case any kind of Social Disorganization could give birth to varied Social Problems and for this sake several those symptoms termed as Social Problem according to specific place and situation. Herbert A. Bloch divided the symptoms of Social Disorganization into two categories sociological, and literaryideological. He further divided the sociological symptoms into three classes: individual, family, and community. By literary-ideological symptoms, he meant certain tendencies appearing in literary and artistic works that indicate a disturbed state of mind. Among these tendencies, he mentioned nostalgic themes and themes dealing with personal frustration and rebellion or protest. Mabel, A. Elliot and Francis E. Merrill have pointed out that Social Disorganization may be of three types i.e., disorganization of the individual, the family, and community. Queen, Bodenhafer and Harper included in their list of Social Disorganization, unemployment, poverty, sickness, homelessness, insanity, and feeblemindedness. Among the symptoms of personal disorganization, they included juvenile delinquency, various types of crime, insanity, drunkenness, suicide, and prostitution. According to Faris, Social Disorganization could lead to Formalism, decline of sacred elements, Individuality of interests and tastes, Emphasis on personal freedom and individual rights, Hedonistic behavior, Population heterogeneity, Mutual distrust, Unrest phenomena. Among the symptoms of family disorganization, they included divorce, illegitimate births, desertion, and venereal disease. Among the symptoms of community disorganization, they included poverty, unemployment, crime, and political corruption. Family Disorganization Family Disorganization is a condition threatening the well-beings of the Calvin F Schmid listed the following symptoms of disorganized communities: 53 Divorce, Theory of Women Desertion; Consequences of Family Disorganization. members of the family and that could further lead to Social Problems. Family remained the most primitive and intimate Social Group in a Society and one of the most significant milestone in the Social Development. Concept of Family Disorganization In the broadest sense, Family Disorganization may be thought to include any sort of non-harmonious functioning within the family. Thus, it may include not only the tensions between husband and wife, but also those arising between children and parents as well.It has been referred as irreversible damage of the relationships between a husband and a wife and sometimes between children and their parents. However, fall of relationships between husband and wife considered most significant. Family Disorganization refers to deviations from the expected roles, statuses, and breakdown in power and authority in a family. In nutshell, Family Disorganization is any sort of nonharmonious functioning within the family. Family Disorganization includes the tensions between husband and wife, parents and children and between younger older generations. Family Disorganization also sometimes refereed as Family Division, Family Disintegration, Family Break Up, or even Family Insatiability. Disorganization of family termed by sociologists as an important cause for several Social Problems. When fallacies and disparities surfaced among family that could lead to disruption, disturbance and anxiety that could cause Family Disorganization. • • Family Disorganization could contribute to the fall of Social Control that could lead to fall of Social Order and ultimately resulting in Deviant behavior. Family Disorganization is the most common factor for Social Problems. According to Shaw & McKay socially disorganized people tended to produce crimes increasingly or more rapidly. Key words: Concept of family disorganization; Social Change; Factors of family disorganization; Desertion and • 54 It is also associated with loss of significant roles of elders who served as central or main part for the family support (Joseph, 2011). There is a disappearance of a common object and the individual aims are substituted for family aims, All cooperative effort ceases, Mutual services tend to be withheld, The relationships of husband and wife are no longer coordinated or held, The status of the family in its outer relations to other social groups is altered, The emotional attitudes of husband and wife either become antagonistic or are replaced by attitudes of indifferenceThe act of upsetting, damage of system (Memoria, 1960). Those situations where behavior patterns are un-productive and need to be changed. • Subjectivism; False pluralism; Reductionist ideology; Individualism and secular humanism. A constant interruption and weakness in the family social system. Social Change 5. Political factors: Violation of basic family rights; Violation of the principles of subsidiarity; Unjust state legislation; Poor law enforcement; Manipulated public education; Lack of sex education; Certain political pressure group and international societies. Social change refers to an alteration in the social order of a society. Social change may include changes in nature, social institutions, social behaviours, or social relations. Society’s world over changing fast and new order, values, and norms keep emerging time to time. It is considered one of the major cause/ factor for Family Disorganization. 6. Psychological factors: Psychoses; Sociopath; Lack of impulse control; Sexual anomalies; Addiction; Bad habits; Weak temperament. Factors of family disorganization 1. Physical Factors: Death; Serious sickness; Permanent/ even partial disablement; Sever handicap; Sterility; Impotency and other sexual problems; Prolonged physical separation; Age gap; Color; Change in Physical build up. 7. Irresponsibility or immaturity; Responsibility; Maturity; Irresponsibility to God; Selfishness; Possessiveness; Excessive independence or dependence; Lack of commitment; Failure to communicate properly; Undutiful; Lack of priorities. 2. Economic factors: Only wealth does not guarantee family harmony. Poverty and misery; Unemployment; Loss of livelihood; Loan; Declared Diwalia; Dowry. Desertion and Divorce Desertion has been referred as, irresponsible departure from the home on the part of either husband or wife, leaving the family to fend for itself (Goode, 1963). According to Eshleman (1978), desertion refers to a separation of the spouses that is against the will of one spouse and is intended by the other spouse to end marital life. Desertion is a social relationship where both spouses sever marital bonds but legally remain husband-wife. However, divorce means judicial dissolution of marital bonds and lose all social, economic, legal, and sexual rights. 3. Social Factors: Short-term contact; Rejection of established tradition; Started following any particular religious sect; Lack of secularization; Propaganda against family; Social rivalry; Abortion, sterilization, and artificial contraception; Easy divorce mentality; Marriage against social norms; Marriage against will of families; Planetary misbelieves. 4. Confusion and distortion of truth: Relativism: Denial of all norms and standards; Positivism and agnosticism; 55 1. Functionalist Theory: The functionalist theory explains desertion due to the changing social values in general and those associated with marriage and family. Functionalists like Parson’s (1955) believe that a change in the larger social system will bring about changes in the sub-system. Changes in the larger society such as education, employment occupation, legal, and mass media will bring about changes in the institutions of marriage and family. In legal terms, a desertion must satisfy following conditions:1. Factum of Separation: Marital partners must have parted and terminated all forms of joint living. 2. Animus Deserdendi: It means, intentions to desert must be there. The deserting spouse must have the real intention to terminate cohabitation permanently but not temporarily. 3. Absence of Consent: The deserted spouse must not have agreed or consented to the separation or abandonment of matrimonial obligations and relationships. 2. Conflict Theory: The conflict theory or the Marxist perspective focuses on clash of roles. It means whenever women take to full-time employment they cannot fulfill employment and familial roles effectively. 4. Statutory Period: Desertion or cessation of matrimonial duties and relationship must have continued for a minimum period of two years, 3. Incompatibility Theory: A majority of the young married couples go in for desertion and divorce because they cannot take each other into confidence and build up a minimum of level of trust. 5. Absence of Reasonable Cause: Desertion must have occurred without any reasonable ground or cause. 4. Adolescent Stress and Strain: G.Stanley Hall (1954) believed that adolescence which begins with the onset of puberty, inevitably involves psychological disturbances or tensions. According to Erikson (1950), adolescence is a turning phase in an individual’s life. It is here he/s he develops his/ her identity. Desertion types 1. Constructive Desertion: There may exist a fact of desertion even if both the spouses reside in the same home or roof. 2. Willful Neglect: Willful neglect of matrimonial duties constitutes desertion according to Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. 3. Actual Desertion 4. Permanent Desertion 5. Temporary Desertion 5. Age at Marriage: Age at marriage and desertion are related with each other. Early marriage between 14-16 years for girls is likely to create marital tensions, as the spouses do not know how to relate with each other. Theories of Women Desertion 56 Disorganization may effects the life of peoples, who suffer. 6. Family Disorganization Theory: According to Memoria (1981) and Madan (1965), desertion/ divorce are the byproducts of family disorganization. The effects of family disorganization may be: 7. Domestic Violence: Studies conducted on domestic violence indicate• that young married women are likely to• desert the family due to the violence perpetrated on them. The most common• family violence against women is the• harassment by husbands and in-laws for• dowry or any other reason. • • Consequences of family • disorganization • • Family Disorganization manifests in • desertions, separations, divorces, court • litigation, and domestic violence on • women, aged and children. Ogburn • (1955) has discussed family disorganization as resulting from the loss• of functions. In short, woman desertion,• as a form of marital conflict, results out• of family disorganization. Family• Individual disorganization Stress, anxiety & other mental disorders/illness. Hopelessness. Sense of un-security/loneliness. After divorce of parents, children have low or no warmth feelings. Low self-esteem. Stubbornness. Pessimism. Criminals/social evils. Prostitution Beggary Alcoholism Juvenile delinquency Emotionally & mentally unsatisfaction/disturbance. Attempt suicide. Lack of empathy. Vagabond Drunkard. ***** 57