1. Module 16: Social Interaction and Social Structure
Sociology in Modules
Richard T. Schaefer
3rd edition

2. Social structure and Interaction

4. What is social structure?
Criminal justice system
Most criminal justice systems have five components
Law enforcement
Prosecution
Defense attorneys
Courts
Corrections
Each playing a key role in the criminal justice process.
Example -Law enforcement officers take reports for crimes that happen in their areas.

6. What is social structure?
A social structure consists of institutions, rules and practices.
A social structure is socially embodied in the actions, thoughts, beliefs, and durable dispositions of individual human beings.
A social structure is effective in organizing behavior of large numbers of actors.

7. Social structure, Interaction and reality
Social structure makes interaction possible, however according to Herbert Blumer, human beings do not simply react to each others actions, but “define the situation.

8. How social reality is constructed
Social Interaction and Reality: reality is shaped by perceptions, evaluations, and definitions
Nature of social interaction and what constitutes reality varies across cultures – what is ideal relationship (marriage)
Romantic relationship?
Social status?

9. Ability to define social reality reflects group’s power within a society
It reflects norms and values of the dominant culture and..
Secularization experiences within that culture
Consider – when you are stopped by police – what are the norms?
Important aspect of the process of social change involves redefining or reconstructing social reality

10. The Thomas theorem
“Definition of situation” – when you define a situation as real, it is real in consequence
Example – Civil Rights Movement involved changing the definition of situation.
Protest – changing the definition of situation

11. Elements of Social Structure
All social interaction takes place within a social structure, which can be broken down into five elements:
Statuses
Social roles
Groups
Social networks
Social institutions

12. Statuses
Status: any of the full range of socially defined positions within a large group or society - Person can hold more than one at same time

13. Statuses Ascribed and Achieved Status
Ascribed status: status one is born with
Racial background
Gender
Age
Although biological, each culture attaches meaning to these statuses
Example – Indian caste system
American race relations

14. Ascribed status - Age
We cant’ change ascribed status, but change to traditional constrains associated with it
Example – Gray Panthers (1971)
1 October 2016 – The United Nations is marking the International Day of Older Persons by encouraging countries to draw attention to and challenge negative stereotypes and misconceptions about older persons and ageing, and to enable older persons to realize their potential to build a life of dignity and human rights.

15. Achieved status: status one earns

16. Statuses Master Status
Status that dominates other statuses and determines a person’s general position in society
In U.S., ascribed statuses of race and gender can function as master statuses
In India, caste can function as master status

17. Influence of master status on interaction

18. Social Roles What Are Social Roles?
Social role: set of expectations for people who occupy a given status
Example – role of a student
Functionalism – Roles are significant components of social suture
Social stability – members can anticipate behavior of others based on their role.
Dysfunction of role?

19. Role Conflict Role strain
When incompatible expectations arise from two or more social positions held by same person
Example – Friend? Or supervisor?
Conflict between ascribed and achieved roles – Male Nurse
Role strain
Difficulties that arise when same social position imposes conflicting demands and expectations
Example – Navajo Nations Officers – “peacemaking” as alternate form of justice

20. Social Roles
Role Exit
Process of disengagement from a role that is central to one’s identity to establish a new role
Ebaugh’s four stages: 185 respondents who disengaged from a role
“divorced”, “ex-nuns” “retirees”
Doubt
Search for alternatives
Action or departure stage
Creation of a new identity

21. Groups
Group: any number of people with similar norms, values, and expectations who interact on a regular basis
Baseball team
People belonging to a church
Will residents of suburb (Katy) be a group?
Vital part of society’s social structure – because much of social interaction takes place in a group 21

22. Groups and expectations associated with roles

23. Social Networks
Social network: series of social relationships that links a person directly to others, and through them indirectly to still more people
Example – Facebook
Social networks one of five basic elements of social structure
Research indicates that in person and online not everyone participates equally in social networks

24. Social networks: face-to-face and electronic

25. Influence of social networks
Heart Health Study (sample over 12,000)
Longitudinal analysis showed that weight gain in one person is often associated with weight gain in his/her friends, siblings, spouse and neighbors.

26. Social Institutions

27. Replacing personnel Functions of social institutions:
Groups can become smaller when members leave, die or become incapacitated
Example – The “Shakers” who came to US in 1774 – it failed to replace its members
Means of maintaining group membership – annexation, immigration, acquisition of slaves

28. Teaching new recruits
Groups and societies must make sure that its members know the norms and values and accept them.
Example – Sunday schools
Preserving order
-This function is critical to sustain the group.

29. Producing and distributing goods and services
Any relatively permanent group should provide desired goods and services to its members.
Example – Church
Providing and maintaining a sense of purpose
-The group need to motivate its members to be part of the group - Patriotism, tribal identities, religious rituals

30. Module 18: Understanding Groups
Sociology in Modules
Richard T. Schaefer
3rd edition

31. Understanding Groups
A group is any number of people with similar norms, values, and expectations
Examples –
College sorority or fraternity
Dance company
Tenants association
Share a sense of belonging – key feature

32. Groups combine formal and informal elements
College singing group
Same goals based on norms and values
Informal structure – how they meet for practice
Formal – chose a leader

33. Types of Groups Primary and Secondary Groups
Primary group: small group with intimate, face-to-face association and cooperation
Secondary group: formal, impersonal groups with little social intimacy or mutual understanding

34. Table 18-1: Comparison of Primary and Secondary Groups34

35. Charles Horton Cooley Why primary groups are important
Socialization process
Development of roles and statuses

36. Types of Groups In-Groups and Out-Groups
In-groups: any groups or categories to which people feel they belong
Everyone who is regarded as “we” or “us” 36

37. Types of Groups Reference Groups
Reference group: any group that individuals use as standard for evaluating their own behavior 37

38. Types of Groups
Reference group may help the process of anticipatory socialization
Reading “Wall street Journal” - finance student
Set and enforce standards of conduct and belief; also perform a comparison function
Example – an actor will evaluate himself/herself against other actors
Often two or more reference groups influence us at the same time

39. Types of Groups Coalitions
As the group grows larger, a coalition begins to form
Temporary or permanent alliances geared toward common goal
Some intentionally short-lived
Example: Survivor 39