The term society has multiple aspects. First, society refers to the groups and communities of which we are a part, which exert a conditioning influence on our behaviour, known as social constraint. Second, an individual in modern times belongs to more than one society simultaneously—it could be the neighbourhood, community, caste or tribe, professional circle, or the nation. This is called the 'relevant society'. Third, societies are unequal in terms of status, resources, and opportunities. Fourth, society shapes values—ideas about what is desirable, proper, good, or bad—which vary across different cultures.

Our common sense understanding of society is based on everyday notions through which we live our lives. We all have ideas about our own and others' societies. However, common sense explanations are generally 'naturalistic' and/or 'individualistic', assuming that one can identify 'natural' reasons for behaviour. In contrast, sociology as a discipline makes observations about society that are different from both philosophical reflections and common sense. Sociological knowledge goes beyond everyday notions to provide a systematic understanding of society, its structures, and the social constraints that shape human behaviour.