Social Structures

Social Structure

Social Structure is the different statuses and roles that make up the guidelines for human interaction.

Other words, social structure is the unscripted reason that people act a certain way in a variety of situations.

Status

This is your position (where you stand) in a society or group.

Forms of Status:

1. Ascribed Status

2. Achieved Status

3. Master Status

Ascribed Status

Ascribed status is based on your personal genetic traits.

Examples: Being a teenager, race, gender, heritage

You cannot do anything about your ascribed status

Achieved Status

Achieved status is earned through individual accomplishments.

Examples: Working hard, good grades, good behavior, job promotion

This form of status is totally controlled by the individual and is dictated by their skills and desire.

Master Status

This is the most important aspect of your life that makes up your identity

This status will change many times throughout your life

Generally based on hobbies or passions and evolve into one’s occupation

Roles

Statuses are categories and roles bring those specific categories to life

Everyday everyone plays multiple roles and each role falls into a status category

Reciprocal Roles

These are roles that you fill that require someone else to interact with

Example: Friend-Friend, Husband-Wife, Student-Teacher, Athlete-Coach

Most of your daily roles are reciprocal roles

Role Expectation

Culture dictates what behaviors and values specific roles perform

Example: Teachers are expected to foster learning in a safe atmosphere, Students are expected to engage in learning while respecting the school, classmates and staff

Role Performance

This is the actual performance of a role by a specific individual

Expectations and Performance do not always match up

Not everyone in a culture believes the same things and many people are asked to perform multiple roles

Role Conflict

This is when it is difficult to fulfill the expectations of one role because of another (and vice versa)

Example: To be a good BF/GF you must give the other attention and affection. To be a good athlete you must dedicate time to practice and preparation. Due to time constraints you will be in conflict.

Role Strain

This is when someone struggles to meet expectations of either of their roles that are in conflict.

Due to the time constraints mentioned before, the BF/GF does not devote enough time to either and both suffer.

Social Institutions

Most sociologists focus on, but not exclusively, five major institutions:

1. Family

2. Economy

3. Politics

4. Education

5. Religion

Social Interaction

There are five basic types of interactions that take place in societies around the world.

1. Exchange

2. Competition

3. Conflict

4. Cooperation

5. Accommodation

Exchange

This is the most basic form of interactions (based on reciprocal roles)

People interact in hopes of receiving a reward

Examples: Relationships

Competition

This occurs when two or more people are attempting to obtain a goal designed for one

Competition is a building block of American society

Pro: Great means of motivationCon: Stress, inequality and possibly

conflict

Conflict

The primary emphasis is on defeating an opponent

There are really no rules that govern conflict Four sources:

1. Wars

2. Disagreements

3. Legal Disputes

4. Clashes over Ideas

Cooperation

This happens when two or more people work together to obtain a goal

This interaction is based on getting things done

Businesses, teams, Armies all work together to reach a certain goal or task

Accommodation

In an interaction, if you give a little and take a little to ensure everyone’s happy

Different forms of Accommodation are:

1. Compromise

2. Mediation

3. Arbitration

Types of Societies

There are four types of Preindustrial Societies:

1. Hunting and Gathering

2. Pastoral

3. Horticultural

4. Agricultural

Hunting and Gathering

Food is obtained by collecting wild plants and hunting small animals

Nomadic tribes that moved in search of food

The size of the society is generally around 60 people

Family is very important because most people are related in some way

Pastoral

They rely on domesticated animalsNomadic, they move the herd from pasture

to pastureLarger population allows people to have

specialized jobs (blacksmiths)Power obtained through wealth and

passed on from generation to generation

Horticultural

They rely on crops (fruits and vegetables) Use slash and burn farming method

(human labor)Live in semi-permanent or permanent

villagesSurplus food leads to job specialization

(craftsmen)

Agricultural

Rely on crops (fruits and vegetables)Often use terracing method of farming

(animal labor)Large population because of large

amounts of foodJob specializationBeginning of a trade based society

Groups Within A Society

Groups have four main components:

1. Must be more than 2 people

2. Must have interactions amongst the members

3. Must have shared expectations

4. Must have some form of common identity

Types of Groups

Here are the various types of groups:

1. Primary Groups

2. Secondary Groups

3. Reference Groups

4. In-Groups and Out-Groups

5. E-Communities

Primary Groups

These are long term relationships among small groups

These friendships are strong and intimateGenerally interact face to faceMost common primary groups are family

relationships

Secondary Groups

These groups have rather casual interactions

Many times these relationships are temporary, able to be replaced

Importance to the group lies in the function they perform

Example would be friends

Reference Group

This is characterized by identifying a group and trying to be like them

Follow a shared set of values and attitudesTeammates, coworkers, classmates

In-Group

This is any group a person belongs to and identifies with

Out-Group

These are any groups people do not belong to or cannot identify with

E-Communities

With the growth of internet communities these E-communities allow people to interact via the web

These communities are outlets for various interactions