1. Social Structure
Chapter 4

2. Types of Social Interaction
Exchange
Competition
Conflict
Cooperation
Accommodation

3. Exchange
Whenever people interact to receive a reward or return for their actions an exchange has occurred.
Involves almost ALL daily actions (dating, family life, friendship, politics)

4. Exchange Theory
Believes that people are motivated by self- interest in their interactions with others and do things primarily for rewards.
Rewarded behavior is then repeated
When costs outweigh rewards a behavior or relationship is curtailed.

5. Competition
Occurs when two or more people or groups oppose each other to achieve a goal that only ONE can attain.
Emphasis is on achieving a goal
Advancement in business, school, sports
Must follow rules of accepted conduct
Motivates people to perform the roles society asks of them.
Can lead to stress, inequality or conflict

6. Conflict
The deliberate attempt to control a person by force, to oppose someone or to harm another person
Few rules of conduct
Can be minor (snubbing a classmate) or major (killing an enemy)

7. 4 Sources of Conflict (George Simmel)
Wars
Disagreements within groups
Legal disputes
Clashes over ideology (usually religion or politics)

8. Cooperation
Occurs when two or more people or groups work to achieve a goal that will benefit more than one person.
The social process that gets things done
Can be used with other forms of interaction
Cooperation/competition

9. Accommodation
Can take the form of compromise, truce, mediation or arbitration
Is a state of balance between cooperation and conflict
Ex. Staying at a hotel
Owner accommodates you by letting you stay in exchange for money
Cooperation-he would let you stay free
Conflict- he won’t let you stay under any circumstance.

10. Groups Within Society What is a Group? 4 Major Features
It MUST consist of two or more people
There MUST be interaction among the members
Members MUST have shared expectations
Members MUST possess some sense of common identity

11. Dyad Group consisting of TWO members
Each with direct control over the groups existence If one leaves the groups ends.
Decision making may be difficult especially if there is a failure to agree.

12. Triad Group consisting of THREE members
Group has a life of its own independent of members
No one person can disband the group
Decision making is easier because of tendency to majority

13. Small Group
Must have few enough members that all can interact face-to-face
Maximum is 15
Sociology has found that at greater than 15 members there is a tendency to sort into smaller groups

14. Formal Groups
Structure, goals and activities are clearly defined within a formal group
Ex. Student government

15. Informal Group
No official structure or established rules of conduct within informal groups
Ex. Your circle of friends

16. Types of Groups Primary Groups (Ex. Family) – next slide
Secondary Groups (Ex. Impersonal, temporary, a classroom)
Reference Groups (any group with whom individuals identify)
Methods of distinguishing members/non-members
In-groups (the group a person belongs to and identifies with)
Out-groups (any group that a person does not belong to or identify with)
E-communities (how would you define this type of group?)

17. Primary Groups Allow a greater level of non-conformity
People tend to show a greater level of commitment to primary group norms
High value is placed on primary group membership
Membership usually lasts longer than secondary groups

18. Group Functions
Define boundaries (Who is a member & who is not)
Must select leaders
Must set goals, assign tasks and make decisions
Must control members behavior through effective sanctions