Sociology 101Sociology 101

Chapter 4

Social Structure & Interaction in Everyday Life

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.

Social Structure Framework

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