Mr. Niño | Sociology | Chapter 4 | Social Structure
Objectives Two major components of social structure How social structure affects human interaction Define Social structure, status, role, ascribed status, achieved status, master status, reciprocal roles, role expectations, role performance, role set, role conflict, role strain, social institution Section 4.1 Building Blocks of Social Structure
Society has always been viewed as a system of parts—a structure Social Structure—the network of interrelated statuses and roles that guide human interaction Status—a social defined position in a group/society Each status has a role—the behavior, rights, and obligations, expected of someone occupying a particular status Section 4.1 Building Blocks of Social Structure
Social Structure is built on status Individuals occupy several statuses Ex: teacher/father/husband/African-American Statuses define where individuals fit/relate to others in a society Status
Ascribed and Achieved Status Ascribed Status—a status assigned according to qualities beyond a person’s control; based on inherited traits or age. Ex: teenager/adult; sex, heritage, race Achieved Status—status based on the individuals direct efforts, skills, knowledge or abilitites. Ex: basketball player, actor, husband/wife, college grad Status
Master Status Ranks above all other statuses Plays greatest role in life and social identity Can be achieved or ascribed Changes over time (adolescence, early adulthood, midlife, late adulthood Ex: occupation, wealth, marital status, parenthood Status
Statuses serve simply as social categories Roles are the component of social structure and bring statuses to life “You occupy a status. You play a role.” –Ralph Linton You play several roles in a day Son/daughter, student, athlete, brother Roles
Most roles are reciprocal roles—corresponding roles that define the patterns of interaction between related statuses Ex: husband-wife, teacher-student, doctor-patient Others?... Roles
Role expectations—the socially determined behaviors expected of a person performing a role Ex: doctors treat patients with skill/care; parents provide emotional and physical security for their children Role performance—the individual’s actual/real role behavior Does not always match expectations Serving many roles overwhelms Asked to perform contradictory roles Roles: Expectations vs. Performance
Role set—the different roles attached to a single status We all perform many roles Leads to conflict and strain Role conflict—occurs when fulfilling the role expectations of one status makes it difficult to fulfill the role expectations of another Ex: good employee = go to work while being a good parent= staying home, taking care of a sick child Roles: Conflict and Strain
Role strain—occurs when a person has difficulty meeting the role expectation of a single status Boss keeps up morale, working long hours Roles: Conflict and Strain (cont.)
Statuses and roles determine social structure When they are organized to satisfy one or more of the basic needs of society, the group is called social institution Ex: physical/emotional support, transmitting knowledge, producing goods and services, maintaining social control Major social institutions include: family, economy, medicine, politics, education Social Institutions
StatusExamples of RolesConflicts/Strains Fire-fighterPutting out fires, saving lives, wearing a uniform Voluntarily puts self in danger but has loved ones who depend on him/her Status/Roles Chart