Ch. 4: Social Structure and Social Interaction 2 ways to view world- macro/micro sociology 2 ways to view world- macro/micro sociology Social structure- the typical patterns in a group, consisting of the relationships of people and groups to one another Social structure- the typical patterns in a group, consisting of the relationships of people and groups to one another Guides our behavior Guides our behavior Overrides personal feelings/desires Overrides personal feelings/desires

Major components of social structure Culture- determines what kind of people we become Culture- determines what kind of people we become Social class- based on income, education, and occupational prestige Social class- based on income, education, and occupational prestige Social status- position an individual occupies in society or in a social group Social status- position an individual occupies in society or in a social group Several positions at same time Several positions at same time Status set Status set

Ascribed status- involuntary Ascribed status- involuntary Achieved status- voluntary, earned Achieved status- voluntary, earned Positive or negative Positive or negative Found in all human groups Found in all human groups Status symbols- signs to identify status Status symbols- signs to identify status Master statuses- cuts across other statuses an individual occupies Master statuses- cuts across other statuses an individual occupies Status inconsistency- contradiction or mismatch between statuses Status inconsistency- contradiction or mismatch between statuses

Social statuses come w/ built in norms/expectations that guide our behavior Social statuses come w/ built in norms/expectations that guide our behavior Roles- behaviors, obligations, and privileges attached to a status Roles- behaviors, obligations, and privileges attached to a status Occupy a status, play a role Occupy a status, play a role Roles lay out what is expected of people Roles lay out what is expected of people

Groups- consist of people who regularly and consistently interact w/ one another Groups- consist of people who regularly and consistently interact w/ one another Share similar values, norms, & expectations Share similar values, norms, & expectations Organization varies- status: well-poorly defined; informal-formal; differing degrees of connection w/ other groups Organization varies- status: well-poorly defined; informal-formal; differing degrees of connection w/ other groups Involuntary memberships- assigned membership Involuntary memberships- assigned membership Voluntary memberships- choose to join Voluntary memberships- choose to join

Social institutions The organized means that each society develops to meet its basic needs The organized means that each society develops to meet its basic needs Family, religion, law, politics, economics, education, science, medicine, military Family, religion, law, politics, economics, education, science, medicine, military Differentiation- dominant feature of human societies is continual creation of new social institutions (Parsons) Differentiation- dominant feature of human societies is continual creation of new social institutions (Parsons) Mass media as emerging social institution Mass media as emerging social institution

Nature of social institutions Functionalist perspective Functionalist perspective Perform vital functions for society Perform vital functions for society Five functional requisites Five functional requisites Replace members Replace members Socialize new members Socialize new members Produce/distribute goods and services Produce/distribute goods and services Preserve order Preserve order Provide sense of purpose Provide sense of purpose

Conflict perspective Conflict perspective Social institutions do not work harmoniously for the common good Social institutions do not work harmoniously for the common good Power elite Power elite

What holds society together? Social cohesion Social cohesion Mechanical solidarity Mechanical solidarity Division of labor Division of labor Organic solidarity Organic solidarity Gemeinschaft (intimate community) Gemeinschaft (intimate community) Gesselschaft (impersonal association) Gesselschaft (impersonal association) As societies change so do people’s orientations to life As societies change so do people’s orientations to life

Social interaction and symbolic interactionism Stereotypes in everyday life Stereotypes in everyday life Personal space- varies by culture Personal space- varies by culture 4 distance zones 4 distance zones Intimate distance Intimate distance Personal distance Personal distance Social distance Social distance Public distance Public distance Touching and eye contact Touching and eye contact

Dramaturgy Social life like a drama or stage play Social life like a drama or stage play Front stage vs. back stage (Goffman) Front stage vs. back stage (Goffman) Role conflict Role conflict Role strain Role strain We tend to become the roles we play We tend to become the roles we play Impression management Impression management Use social setting Use social setting Appearance Appearance Manner Manner Face-saving behavior Face-saving behavior

The social construction of reality Symbolic interaction Symbolic interaction The definition of the situation (Thomas theorem)- if people define situations as real, they are real in their consequences The definition of the situation (Thomas theorem)- if people define situations as real, they are real in their consequences Subjective interpretation Subjective interpretation Need macro and micro sociology Need macro and micro sociology The Saints and the Roughnecks The Saints and the Roughnecks