Chapter 5 Social Structure and Society

Chapter Outline Using the Sociological Imagination Social Structure and Status Social Structure and Roles Doing Research

Chapter Outline Sociology and the News Media: Being Gay in America Theoretical Perspectives and Social Structure Society Technology and Society

Social Structure The underlying pattern of social relationships. Relationships among individuals are patterned. Status, role, role performance, and social interaction explain social structure.

Status A position that a person occupies within a social structure. Individuals in interrelated statuses usually behave in orderly and predictable ways. Statuses may be assigned or earned. A person’s master status affects most other aspects of a person’s life.

The Interrelationships of Social Statuses

Roles, Rights and Obligations Roles are culturally defined rights and obligations attached to social statuses. Rights inform one person of the behavior that can be expected from another person. Obligations inform individuals of the behavior others expect from them.

Role Performance Occurs when roles are put into action through social interaction. Role conflict occurs when role performance in one status clashes with role performance in another status. Role strain occurs when the roles of a single position are inconsistent.

The Links Between Culture and Social Structure

The Stage Analogy StageSocial Life PartsStatuses Script (lines)Roles CuesSocial Interaction Actual performancesRole performances

Students Expelled for Bringing Guns to School, 1998–1999

Theoretical Perspectives: Social Structure Concepts Theoretical Perspective Social Structure Concept FunctionalismRole Conflict theoryAscribed master status Symbolic Interactionism Social interaction

Types of Society How societies solve the problem of subsistence influences culture and social structures. Societies become more complex as the means for solving subsistence problems improve. Major types of societies are hunting and gathering, horticultural, pastoral, agricultural, industrial, and postindustrial.

Comparison of Major Types of Society: Hunting and Gathering OriginFirst type of society to emerge SubsistenceHunting and gathering TechnologySimple handmade tools Culture and Social Structure Nomadic bands based on kinship; Common property ownership; Scant division of labor based on sex and age

Comparison of Major Types of Society: Horticultural Origin9,000 years ago SubsistenceDomesticating plants TechnologyHandmade tools (digging sticks,hoes, spades) Culture and Social Structure Less nomadic bands; more conflict among bands; less division of labor based on sex and age

Comparison of Major Types of Society: Pastoral OriginAbout 9,000 years ago SubsistenceDomesticating animals TechnologyMeat cutting tools; knowledge of grazing, land, breeding, weather, water supply Culture and Social Structure Live in villages; some trade; women at home while men attend herds; greater economic surplus

Comparison of Major Types of Society: Agricultural OriginAbout 5,000–6,000 years ago SubsistencePermanent land cultivation TechnologyPlow and animal energy Culture and Social Structure Increased productivity; complex division of labor; separate political, economic, and religious institutions; social classes; emergence of trade and money

Comparison of Major Types of Society: Industrial OriginAbout 250 years ago SubsistenceApplication of science and technology to production TechnologyPower-driven machines Culture and Social Structure Economy shifts to open market; women are less subordinate; institutions become more specialized; impersonal social relationships

Comparison of Major Types of Society: Post- Industrial OriginAround 1970 SubsistenceDevelopment of service industries TechnologyIntellectual Culture and Social Structure Greater social instability;less social and cultural consensus; reduced gender inequality; individualism increases; urban population moves out of large cities

Major Features of Postindustrial Society 1. Majority of labor force is employed in services rather than agriculture or manufacturing. 2. White-collar employment replaces blue-collar work. 3. Theoretical knowledge is the key organizing feature.

Major Features of Postindustrial Society 4. Through new means of technological forecasting, society can plan and control technological change. 5. Intellectual technology dominates human affairs.