1. Chapter 4 -
The building blocks of culture

2. Chapter 4 – Roles/Statuses
In This Chapter…
Review of Norms and Values
I know you’re getting sick of them…
Roles
Statuses
Group Activity in-class
Stanford Prison video
Milgram Experiment video
Only a quiz at the end… not a full chapter test
It’s a short chapter!

3. What is happening here?

4. Culture, Norms & Values
How we interpret images like this depends very much on who we are, where we come from, and how we came to be there
It also depends on factors that we may not be consciously aware of but have made us what we are and given us our viewpoint on the world and other people
Sociologists refer to Culture, Norms & Values to explain these attitudes and beliefs

5. The ‘building blocks’ of culture
Values
Norms
Customs
Statuses
Roles 5

6. Norms
Norms are the rules that a group uses for appropriate and inappropriate values, beliefs, attitudes and behaviours.
Norms can be defined as attitudes and behaviours common to members of a particular group, or what they believe is “normal”.
These rules may be explicit or implicit.

7. Norms
Our ability to function in society depends upon the existence of these societal norms
They can vary over time, cultural context and in their degree of enforcement
Within a society different groups may construct their own norms

8. Norm or not? Driving on the left Brushing your teeth morning & night
Opening doors for ladies
Farting in public
Wearing clothes in public
Smiling at strangers
Picking your nose while driving
Speaking the same language as others
Saying please & thank-you

9. Failure to stick to the rules can result in severe punishments, or taboos, the most feared of which is exclusion from the group
Norms are often transmitted by non-verbal behaviour,
They may also be transmitted through stories, rituals and role-model behaviour.

10. What is a value?
“Values are ideas about what is important or what is ‘good’ and ‘bad’ in a society.”
Paul Taylor (1997: 27)
Values 10

11. Values
Values are related to the norms of a culture, but they are more general and abstract than norms.
They are the general principles or beliefs which underlie the norms which form our social rules
Values often relate to what a society or culture regards as good or bad and what it regards as important
Societies can prioritise many different values

12. Norm or Value? Being independent Keeping quiet in the library
Respecting the sanctity of human life
Not driving while drunk
Sharing
Acquiring wealth
Conforming
Not beating children

13. Roles
What is a role?
“Roles provide the means whereby values… are translated into action”
Haralambos & Holborn (2008:859)
“norms are associated with particular roles… roles are formal and informal social positions which carry expectations of certain types of behaviour”
Haralambos & Holborn (2008:8) 13

14. Roles
A pattern of behaviour, routines or responses we carry out in everyday life
People can adopt different roles at different points in their life
They may also have multiple roles
Roles tend to be associated with particular expectations about behaviour and influenced by both values and norms

15. Roles & Social Structures
“Roles form part of larger structures or institutions. For example, teachers and students are part of a larger institution such as a school or college. Within this structure there are many other roles…”
Paul Taylor (1997:45)

16. Role Conflict Sometimes our roles conflict with each other
A common example is the role conflict that many women experience
In modern society women have to manage conflicting role of ‘traditional mother’ who stays at home and ‘working woman’ who maintains a career after becoming a mother

17. What is status? Status recognizes difference between people
Status can change
2 types of status: ascribed and achieved
Statuses 17

18. Status Status — a socially defined position in a
group or in a society, which has attached
to it one or more roles
– What is your status?
Role — the behavior expected of someone
occupying a particular status

19. What is an ascribed status?
– Ascribed status is neither earned nor chosen; it is assigned to us.
What is an achieved status?
– Achieved status is possible where people have some degree of control and choice.

20. Everyone has a status! Social statuses do not exist in isolation.
All statuses are interrelated with other statuses.

21. Ascribed & Achieved Status: What’s the difference?
Prince William
Troy Polamalu

22. Master Status Some individuals hold many statuses
The role that plays the largest part in a person’s life and identify
Master Status may change throughout life

23. Reciprocal Roles
To be the role of “husband” you must have a role of “wife”
Corresponding roles that define the patterns of interaction between related statuses

24. Role Expectations
Teachers are expected to behave in an appropriate manner, educate their students, care for their students
Socially determined behaviors expected of a person performing a role

25. What is an ascribed status?
– Ascribed status is neither earned nor chosen; it is assigned to us.
What is an achieved status?
– Achieved status is possible where people have some degree of control and choice.

26. Role Performance In reality, it doesn’t always match role expectations
Doctors are suppose to treat and cure their patients
Does this always happen??

27. Role Conflict
When one status makes it difficult to fulfill another status
Student-Athletes
Hard to maintain GPAs when sports are dominate