Society is a web of relationships. For example a group of families, kinship, marriage, caste, neighbourhood, peers, political parties, religions, occupation etc. 

In their book on "Society", Mac Iver and Page define: "Society is a system of usages and procedures of authority and mutual aid, of many groupings and divisions, of controlling human behaviour and of liberties. This ever-changing, complex system, we call society. It is the web of social relationships. And it is always changing."

This definition reflects that society is a network of social relationships. An individual is related to others through the ties of kinship, marriage, neighbourhood, caste, occupation, religions, political parties and peers (friends groups). Thus, an individual becomes part and parcel of several layer groups through these different multiple relationships. These relationships do not occur at random. Rather these are patterned. Therefore, sociologists define society as the pattern of society. relationships formed through interaction of its members.

Prerequisites of Society:

The collectivity of individuals created society over a long period of time. Sociologists have identified certain attributes of society.

They are:

1. Likeness and differentiation;

2. Inter-dependence;

3. Cooperation and conflict.

1. Likeness and differentiation: In the first place, there should be an aggregate of individuals who share the sense of likeness. No society can come into existence unless its members feel that they are like one another. Members of the family and kin group, persons belonging to the same village or small town and members of the same caste generally have this feeling of likeness. However, the first likeness is that of physiognomy. Man along with other animals cannot make a human society.

However, we cannot say that society is not marked by differentiation. The members of a society differ from one another in terms of caste, class, occupation and education, etc. Even within the family, members differ from one another in terms of gender, age, personality, outlook and personal preferences. However, these differences complement each other in such a way that family stability is maintained. A similar principle is also applicable to wider society where the differences are subordinated to likeness, which is quite essential for maintaining social harmony.

2. Inter-dependence: is another attribute of society. The members of a society depend on one another for its smooth functioning. In a traditional village or your neighbourhood, members of different caste groups depend on each other in everyday life. For example, washerman, carpenter, cobbler, ironsmith, bus conductor, Brahmin, sweeper are seen to be doing their own tasks yet depending upon each other. No individual can perform all functions on one's own. Therefore, individuals depend on each other to live in society.

3. Co-operation: is another essential attribute of society. No society can come into existence or continue to persist unless the members cooperate with each other. Co-operation is obtained at every level of society such as interpersonal relationship like:

(a) between husband and wife and other family members.

(b) between neighbours.