Social Structure Chapter 4 Do you think a society can exist without a social structure?

Building Blocks of Social Structure Section 1

Status Part of the social structure Each status has one or more roles Ascribed: Assigned from inherited traits or assigned at a certain age Adult, female, Italian Achieved: Earned through direct efforts (skills, abilities, knowledge) Wife, college graduate, college athlete Master: Achieved or assigned; change over time Teacher, parent, grandparent

Roles Bring statuses to life; occupy statuses but play a role Reciprocal roles: interaction between related statuses Role set: different roles attached to single statuses Teacher-student doctor-patient Teacher, wife, parent, friend Role expectations: socially determined behaviors Role conflict: when it is difficult to fulfill roles of multiples statuses Teachers are expected to educate students Hard being a teacher, wife, friend; one usually suffers Role performance: actual role and may not match expectations Role strain: Can’t meet the role expectations of a single status Teacher watches Netflix all class

Social Institutions Organized statuses and roles that meet the needs of society Family Economy Politics Education Religion Media Medicine Science

Types of Social Interaction What is the purpose of interacting with others? Section 2

Interactions Help stabilize the social structure Help promote change Most common: Exchange Competition Conflict Cooperation Accommodation

Exchange An effort to receive a reward or a return for their actions Dating, family life, friendships, etc. Reciprocity: “You scratch my back I’ll scratch yours” May be material or nonmaterial Exchange Theory: People are motivated by self-interest during interactions Costs outweigh the reward-end the relationship Maximize rewards, minimize costs

Competition Two or more people/groups oppose each other to achieve a goal that only one can attain. Cornerstone of capitalistic societies As long as rules are followed it is consider one of the main motivators for performance Can lead to stress, inequality, conflict

Conflict Deliberate attempt, to control a person by force, to oppose someone, or to harm another person. Minimal rules of conduct Sources: Wars, disagreements within groups, legal disputes, and clashes over ideology Positives: Reinforces group boundaries, strengthens group loyalty by focusing on attention on an outside threat, can find solutions to problems

Cooperation Occurs when two or more people or groups work together to achieve a goal that will benefit more than one person Social process that accomplishes tasks

Accommodation A state of balance between cooperation and conflict Forms: Compromise: Both members give up something for mutual agreement Truce: Brings halt to conflict until a compromise can be reached Mediation: Someone else outside of the group help advise the group

Types of Societies Section 3

Societies Group: a set of people who interact on the basis of shared expectations and who possess some degree of identity. Subsistence strategies: the way a society uses technology to provide for the needs its members.

Preindustrial Societies Food production is the main economic activity (human & animal labor) Production is slow Less populated areas

Hunting & Gathering Collection of wild plants and hunting wild animals Move from place to place No permanent villages 60-100 people Statuses are equal Family forms social unit

Pastoral Rely on domesticated herd animals Move herds from pasture to pasture Support larger populations Fewer people needed due to food surpluses Divisions of labor: Specialization of people to perform specific activities Encourages trade Can lead to inequality

Horticultural Slash & burn method for plots of land for fruits and vegetables Move to new areas become barren May return to previous plots years later Semi permanent 30-2000 people in villages Economic & political systems are possible Divisions of labor also exist

Agricultural Animals used to plow fields & irrigation is used Support large populations & cities can lead to development Armies are created for protection Transportation of goods Bartering or exchanging of money is used Status differences (landowner or peasants)

Industrial Societies Production of goods Reduces the demand of agricultural laborers Urbanization: Concentration of population into cities Low level of skills needed due to machines Education takes place outside of family units Freedom to compete for social positions Statuses are achieved

Postindustrial Societies Information and services 73% of the United States Standard of living and quality of life is high Science and education is extremely important

Contrasting Societies Mechanical Solidarity Organic Solidarity People share the same values and perform the same tasks United as a common whole Impersonal social relationships that arise when increase job specialization; no longer provide for their own needs Based on need rather than value

Contrasting Societies Gesellschaft Gemeinschaft Society Based on need rather than emotion Impersonal & temporary Traditional values are weak Individual goals over group goals United State Community Members know one another Relationships are close Activities centered around family and community Group solidarity Preindustrial societies

Groups Within Society What would you life look like if you didn’t belong to any groups? Section 4

What is a Group Consist of two or more people Interaction among members Shared expectations Possess common identity

Factors of a Group Size: 15 is the largest number for a group for all to work well together Time: Interaction is not continuous (meet once vs. many years) Organization: Formal vs informal Formal: Rules are established and followed Informal: hanging out with friends

Types of Groups Primary group: Intimate and face-to-face, communication is deep Secondary group: casual and limited in personal involvement Reference group: Looking at others and adopting their behaviors and expectations In-group vs. out-group: “Us” vs. “Them” E-communities: Regular interactions over the internet Social networks: No clear boundaries; included both indirect and direct relationships

Group Functions Define boundaries Setting goals Assigning tasks Making decisions Control members behaviors Sanctions for those that don’t conform to norms

The Structure of Formal Organizations Section 5

Formal Organizations A large, complex secondary group that has been established to achieve specific goals Schools, businesses, government agencies, religious organizations, labor unions, etc.

Bureaucracies Ranked authority structure that operates according to specific rules and procedures Created to rationally organize groups to complete a set of goals Organization that has many departments (hospitals, DMV/BMV)

Rationality Subjecting every human behavior to calculation , measurement and control

Voluntary Association A nonprofit organization formed to pursue some common interest Membership is voluntary Office holders and workers are unpaid volunteers Amateur sports team, charities, political interest groups, etc.