Association: Meaning and Definition

ASSOCIATION

Meaning

A social animal man always lives in groups. Association is a kind of social group which has many sociological importances. Association is the characteristic of modern complex society. Associations may be formed on several bases, for example, on the basis of duration, i.e. temporary or permanent like Flood Relief Association which is temporary and State which is permanent; or on the basis of power, i.e. sovereign like state, semi-sovereign like university and non-sovereign like club, or on the basis of function, i.e. biological like family, vocational like Trade Union or Teachers’ Association, recreational like Tennis Club or Music Club, Philanthropic like charitable societies.

Definition of Association

1. According to Maclver, “An organization deliberately formed for the collective pursuit of some interest or set of interest, which the members of it share, is termed as association.”

2. According to P. Gisbert, “Association is a group of people united for a specific purpose or limited number of purposes.”

3. According to E. S. Bogardus, “Association is usually working together of people to achieve some purposes.”

4. According to Morris Ginsberg writes, “An association is a group of social beings related to one another by the fact that they posses or have instituted in common an organization with a view to securing specific end or specific ends.”

5. According to Gillin and Gillin, “An association is a group of individuals united for a specific purpose or purposes and held together by recognized or sanctioned modes of procedure or behaviour.”