Social Interaction and Social Structure Chapter 4 Social Interaction and Social Structure

What Is Society? A system of social interaction that includes culture and social organization. Members of a society have a common culture though there may be great diversity within it. Within society, social interaction is behavior between two or more people that is given meaning by them.

Technology and Interaction The introduction of new technologies is transforming how people interact with each other.

Macro- and Microanalysis Macroanalysis is a sociological approach that takes the broadest view of society by studying patterns of social interaction that are complex and highly differentiated. In the microanalynic approach, sociologists study patterns of social interactions that are less complex and less differentiated.

Describes the order established in social groups at any level. Social organization brings regularity and predictability to human behavior and is present at every level of interaction, from the whole society to the smallest groups. Social Organization

An established and organized system of social behavior with a recognized purpose. The term refers to the broad systems that organize specific functions in society. Examples: Family provides for the care of the young and the transmission of culture. Religion organizes sacred beliefs. Social Institutions

Purpose of Social Institutions Socialization of new members. Production and distribution of goods and services. Maintain stability and existence. Provide members with a sense of purpose. Purpose of Social Institutions

Social Institutions Birth occurs within social institutions that vary in different societies. Here you see the contrast in how birth is defined as a medical event in the United States, contrasted with a health assistant attending a birth in rural Mexico.

Refers to the organized pattern of social relationships and social institutions that compose society. Example: Social class distinctions Class shapes the access different groups have to the resources of society, and many interactions people have with each other. Social Structure

Durkheim and Collective Consciousness Emile Durkheim, a French sociologist, argued that people in society had a collective consciousness. He defined this as the beliefs common to a society that give people a sense of belonging and a feeling of moral obligation. According to Durkheim, collective consciousness gives groups solidarity because members feel they are part of one society. Durkheim and Collective Consciousness

Durkheim: Social Solidarity Mechanical solidarity arises when individuals feel bonded by their similarity. Organic solidarity arises when individuals are bonded through their division of labor. Durkheim: Social Solidarity

Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft Societies Gemeinschafts are characterized by a sense of “we”, a moderate division of labor, strong personal ties, strong family relationships, and a sense of personal loyalty. Gesellschafts are characterized by less prominence of personal ties, a somewhat diminished role of the nuclear family, and a lessened sense of personal loyalty to society. Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft Societies

Types of Societies Foraging Pastoral Horticultural Agricultural Industrial Postindustrial Types of Societies

Types of Societies Different types of societies produce different kinds of social relationships. Some may involve more direct and personal relationships, whereas others produce more fragmented and impersonal relationships.

Examples of Types of Societies Foraging Pygmies of Central Africa Pastoral Bedouins of Africa and Middle East Horticultural Incan empire of Peru

Examples of Types of Societies Agricultural American South, pre-Civil War Industrial 19th and 20th century United States and Western Europe Postindustrial Contemporary United States

Characteristics of Groups A collection of individuals who interact and communicate with each other share goals and norms are aware of themselves as a distinct social unit Characteristics of Groups

Social Groups Social groups are organized around different kinds of relationships, but involve a “we” feeling.

Statuses A status is a rank in society. Vice president of the United States Statuses occur within institutions. “High school teacher” is a status within the education institution. Typically, an individual occupies many statuses simultaneously. Statuses

A status set is the complete set of statuses occupied by a person at a given time. Status inconsistency exists where statuses occupied by a person bring different amounts of prestige and differing expectations. Achieved statuses are those attained by individual effort. Ascribed statuses are those occupied from the moment a person is born. Status

Debunking Society’s Myths Gender is an ascribed status where one’s gender identity is established at birth. Sociological perspective Gender is a social construct and thus is also an achieved status. Debunking Society’s Myths

A role is the expected behavior associated with a particular status. Statuses are occupied; roles are acted or “played.” A person’s role set includes all the roles occupied by the person at a given time. Roles

Role Modeling In role modeling, a person imitates the behavior of an admired other.

A College Student’s Role Set

Role Strain Changes in the roles for women who are mothers can create role strain.

Nonverbal Communication Touch Pitch, loudness and rhythm of the voice. Gestures, facial expressions Use of personal space. Nonverbal Communication

Touch Patterns of touch reflect differences in the power that is part of many social relationships

Proxemic Communication Meaning is conveyed by the amount of space between individuals. The more friendly people feel toward each other, the closer they will stand. According to anthropologist E. T. Hall we carry around us a proxemic bubble that represents our personal, three-dimensional space. When people we don’t know enter our proxemic bubble, we feel threatened. Proxemic Communication

Factors in Attraction Close proximity Exposure Physical attractiveness Similarity in status, race, ethnicity, religion, personality, attitudes and opinions. Factors in Attraction

Imprinting Konrad Lorenz, the animal behaviorist, shows that adult ducks that have imprinted on him the moment they were hatched will follow him anywhere, as though he were their mother duck.

Interpersonal Attraction Romantic love is idealized in this society as something that “just happens,” but research shows that interpersonal attraction follows rather predictable patterns

Debunking Society’s Myths Love is an emotional experience that you cannot predict or control. Sociological perspective: Love can be predicted by such factors as proximity, how often you see the person, how attractive you perceive the person to be, and whether you are similar in social class, race–ethnicity, religion, age, educational aspirations, and general attitudes. Debunking Society’s Myths

Social Construction of Reality Perception of what is real is determined by the subjective meaning we attribute to an experience. There is no objective reality. Social Construction of Reality

Disrupting social norms and observing how individuals attempt to restore normalcy. Human interaction takes place within a consensus and interaction is not possible without this consensus. Ethnomethodology

Theories of Social Interaction The Social Construction of Reality Interprets society as: organized around the subjective meaning that people give to social behavior Analyzes social interaction as: based on the meaning people give to actions in society

Theories of Social Interaction Ethnomethodology Interprets society as: held together through the consensus that people share around social norms; you can discover these norms by violating them Analyzes social interaction as: a series of encounters in which people manage their impressions in front of others

Theories of Social Interaction Dramaturgy Interprets society as: a stage on which actors play their social roles and give impression to those in their “audience” Analyzes social interaction as: enactment of social roles played before a social audience

Theories of Social Interaction Social Exchange Theory Interprets society as: a series of interactions that are based on estimates of rewards and punishments Analyzes social interaction as: a rational balancing act involving perceived costs and benefits of a given behavior

Theories of Social Interaction Game Theory Interprets society as: a system in which people strategize “winning” and “losing” in their interactions with each other Analyzes social interaction as: calculated risks to balance rewards and punishments

Goffman: Impression Management and Dramaturgy Dramaturgy is a way of analyzing interaction that assumes participants are actors in the drama of everyday social life. People present different faces (give different impressions) on different stages (in different situations) with different others. Goffman: Impression Management and Dramaturgy

Impression Management Impression management is the display of how you want others to define you. It can be especially obvious when you feel strong attachments to a particular group or identity.

Internet Network Sites Internet-based network sites, such as Facebook and MySpace, are transforming how people form and sustain relationships with others.