Traditional society, otherwise known as simple, is a precapitalistic structure with an agrarian structure. It has a special way of cultural and social regulation, formed under the influence of traditions and customs. Such a set of people is characterized by a number of distinctive features. Most of them will be considered in this article.
What are the main features of traditional society? Quite a complicated question. Often, this parameter is due to the form of state power and political relations. With regard to this particular type, the following can be noted: the behavior of each person is prescribed and controlled by established social institutions (community and family) and is determined through norms of behavior, traditions and customs. Reject any attempts at transformation and rigidly suppress any innovations. In this regard, the characteristic features of traditional society - isolation, lack of mobility of structures and weak rates of development.
In addition, the type presented differs by the natural division of labor according to age and specialization by sex. He also has a peculiar structure of communication, when there are no status and officials, and there are only older individuals. The result is the adherence to the norms of unwritten laws of morality and religion (informal regulation of relationships and interactions). The features of a traditional society described earlier can be considered the cause of both a complete lack of government and cases in which there are several different states in one group. At the same time, each of them seeks isolation and self-management. The patriarchal way of life can also be attributed to a characteristic feature. The transfer of status and power is determined by the rule of elders and the right of inheritance. This type of leadership is considered a primitive system.
Distinctive features of traditional society exist in all spheres of human life. For example, unlike industrial and post-industrial societies, a person here is absolutely dependent on the outside world. The influence of the forces of nature is considered quite large, and the impact of man, in turn, is minimal. However, the relationship between the individual and nature is strong and strong. Thus, the traits of a traditional society are the absence or minimal presence of industrial production, the life of the totality of people at the expense of cattle breeding and agriculture, which are widespread.
From the above, we can also draw the following conclusion: the main goal of society is to maintain the population of the human species. As a result of a small amount of industry, there is no question of producing consumer goods. Consequently, the traits of a traditional society are the development of a larger territory and the spread of the population on it, as well as the extraction and collection of natural resources.