| social | 1. Of or pertaining to society; relating to men living in society, or to the public as an aggregate body; as, social interest or concerns; social pleasure; social benefits; social happiness; social duties. "Social phenomena." 2. Ready or disposed to mix in friendly converse; companionable; sociable; as, a social person. 3. Consisting in union or mutual intercourse. "Best with thyself accompanied, seek'st not Social communication." (Milton) 4. <botany> Naturally growing in groups or masses; said of many individual plants of the same species. 5. <zoology> Living in communities consisting of males, females, and neuters, as do ants and most bees. Forming compound groups or colonies by budding from basal processes or stolons; as, the social ascidians. Social science, the science of all that relates to the social condition, the relations and institutions which are involved in man's existence and his well-being as a member of an organised community; sociology. It concerns itself with questions of the public health, education, labour, punishment of crime, reformation of criminals, and the like. <zoology> Social whale, the blackfish. The social evil, prostitution. Synonym: Sociable, companionable, conversible, friendly, familiar, communicative, convival, festive. Origin: L. Socialis, from socius a companion; akin to sequi to follow: cf. F. Social. See Sue to follow. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| social adaptation | Adjustment to living in accordance with interpersonal, social, and cultural norms. (05 Mar 2000) |
| social adjustment | Those types of relationships which involve the accommodation of the individual to circumstances in his social environment for the satisfaction of his needs or motives. (12 Dec 1998) |
| social alienation | The state of estrangement individuals feel in cultural settings that they view as foreign, unpredictable, or unacceptable. (12 Dec 1998) |
| social behaviour | Any behaviour caused by or affecting another individual, usually of the same species. (12 Dec 1998) |
| social behaviour disorders | Behaviours which are at variance with the expected social norm and which affect other individuals. (12 Dec 1998) |
| social change | Social process whereby the values, attitudes, or institutions of society, such as education, family, religion, and industry become modified. It includes both the natural process and action programs initiated by members of the community. (12 Dec 1998) |
| social class | A stratum of people with similar position and prestige; includes social stratification. Social class is measured by criteria such as education, occupation, and income. (12 Dec 1998) |
| social conditions | The state of society as it exists or in flux. While it usually refers to society as a whole in a specified geographical or political region, it is applicable also to restricted strata of a society. (12 Dec 1998) |
| social conformity | Behavioural or attitudinal compliance with recognised social patterns or standards. (12 Dec 1998) |
| social control | The influence on the behaviour of a person exerted by other persons or by society as a whole; e.g., through appropriate social norms, ostracism, or the criminal law. (05 Mar 2000) |
| social control, formal | Control which is exerted by the more stable organizations of society, such as established institutions and the law. They are ordinarily embodied in definite codes, usually written. (12 Dec 1998) |
| social control, informal | Those forms of control which are exerted in less concrete and tangible ways, as through folkways, mores, conventions, and public sentiment. (12 Dec 1998) |
| social control policies | Decisions for determining and guiding present and future objectives from among alternatives. (12 Dec 1998) |
| social desirability | A personality trait rendering the individual acceptable in social or interpersonal relations. It is related to social acceptance, social approval, popularity, social status, leadership qualities, or any quality making him a socially desirable companion. (12 Dec 1998) |