sociology 101 chapter 4 social structure & interaction in everyday life
TRANSCRIPT
Social Structure and Interaction
Social structure is the framework of societal institutions (politics, and religion) and social practices (social roles) that make up a society and establish limits on behavior.
Social interaction is the process by which people act toward or respond to other people and is the foundation for all relationships and groups in society.
What Is Social Structure?
Refers to the way in which society is organized
It contains four elements:–a. Statuses–b. Roles–c. Groups–d. Institutions
Status
A socially defined position in a group (or society); accompanied by certain rights and duties
Status Set - All of the statuses occupied by a person at one time
Three Types of Status
Ascribed - Conferred at birth or received involuntarily later in life
Achieved - The result of choice, merit or effort
Master - The most important status a person occupies
ROLES
A set of behavioral expectations that accompany a status.
Role Conflict - Incompatible demands between multiple roles
Role Strain - Incompatible demands within a single role
GROUPS
A number of people (more than one) who share similar norms, values and expectations or regularly and consciously interact.
A gathering of multiple people is not necessarily a group:–Aggregate: A group of people who
happen to be together–Category: A collection of people
who have similar characteristics, but may not know one another
Primary Groups
Characteristics:–1. Small–2. Extended interaction–3. Intimate/face-to-face
contact–4. Emotional ties–5. Cooperative
Secondary Groups
Characteristics:–1. Larger–2. Temporary–3. Superficial–4. More Impersonal–5. More Formal
Social Institutions
A set of organized beliefs and rules that establishes how a society will attempt to meet basic social needs:– Family, Religion,
Education, Government, and Economy
The Functions of Social Institutions
1) Replace members2) Socialize new members3) Produce, distribute and
consume goods and services4) Preserve social order
Social Structure and Modern Society
Durkheim was interested in understanding this question:
How do societies manage to hold together?
Mechanical Solidarity
Typical of Preindustrial Societies:– Similar work– Emphasis on group– There are few social roles– Social interaction is
based on intimate social contact
Organic Solidarity
Greater division of labor Society is less personal People relate based on
status and roles, not human qualities
Interdependence is key
Social Structure From the Macroperspective
Functionalism– Social structure creates order and
predictability in a society• We know what is expected of us and thus act
accordingly which creates and maintains social order
• Thus, social structure is functional for the maintenance of society
Social Structure From the Macroperspective
Conflict Theory– The way economic production is organized is
the most important structural aspect of society• Social structure creates boundaries that define
which persons or groups are “insiders” and which are “outsiders”– The Bourgeoisie vs. Proletariat
• Thus, social structure is a source of conflict in society
Social Structure From the Microperspective
Social structure is based on shared understanding:– Social Constructionism (Peter
Berger and Thomas Luckmann)
– Ethnomethodology (Harold Garfinkle)
–Dramaturgy (Erving Goffman)
Peter Burger & Thomas Luckmann – Social Constructionism
Social reality is a “social construction”– Our perception of reality is largely shaped by
the subjective meaning that we give to our experiences• The Thomas Theorem: “If men define situations as
real, they are real in their consequences”– We act on reality as we see it
• Reality is what we believe it to be
– Can lead to a Self-fulfilling prophecy: A false belief our prediction that produces behavior that makes the originally false belief come true
Erving Goffman – Dramaturgical Analysis
Erving Goffman – Dramaturgical Analysis– You are a collection of social roles (student, sister, athlete, etc.)– Daily interactions are similar to dramatic productions.
– Members of our “audience” judge our performance and are aware that we may reveal our true character.
– Most of us attempt to control the impressions we give to others. – We learn how to play our roles because others teach (socialize) us
• others taught you how to be “a good student”, sorority member, etc.”– But how do we actually perform these roles?– Goffman argues that we assume roles much like a movie or stage actor– “All the world is a stage”
• Frontstage• Backstage
– Impression Management– Team work
• Helps avoid embarrassing situations and maintains social order…– E.g. “The Party”
Harold Garfinkle - Ethnomethodology– Sharing norms and rules of behavior provide:
• Meaning• Social stability
– The social order is challenged when these norms are broken– We see the underlying structure which holds society together when norms
are broken• “Breaching experiments”
– Breaching Experiments• The professor• Elevator...• Store bartering...• Boarders at home...• Supermarket “borrowing”...• Handing out change…
Each of the above examples suggests:– That the norms governing and sustaining social
order are taken for granted until challengedv Deference, politeness, and authority exist because they are
taken for granted v These beliefs can be successfully challenged by people with
sufficient power or self-assurance v That challenging the norms governing and sustaining
social order creates chaos, embarrassment, frustration, and a breakdown in the social order