1. Social Structure Preview
Sociology
4/15/2017
Social Structure
Preview
Section 1: Building Blocks of Social Structure
Section 2: Types of Social Interaction
Section 3: Types of Societies
Section 4: Groups Within Society
Section 5: The Structure of Formal Organizations
Chapter Wrap-Up
Chapter 4

2. Section 1: Building Blocks of Social Structure
Read to Discover
What are the two major components of social structure?
How do these two components of social structure affect human interaction?

3. Section 1: Building Blocks of Social Structure
Question
What are the two major components of social structure?

4. Section 1: Building Blocks of Social Structure
Sociology
4/15/2017
Section 1: Building Blocks of Social Structure
Status—a socially defined position in a group or in a society, which has attached to it one or more roles
Role—the behavior expected of someone occupying a particular status
Chapter 4

5. Section 1: Building Blocks of Social Structure
Status
Examples of Roles
Examples of Conflict / Strain
Put out fires, save lives, wear a uniform
Voluntarily puts self in danger, but has loved ones who need him or her
Firefighter
Provide food and shelter, nurture family, discipline children
Fatigue and long shifts make household tasks and interactions difficult
Mother
Run meetings, recruit new members, plan activities
Has trouble getting members to attend and follow through on promises
P.T.A. President

6. Section 1: Building Blocks of Social Structure
Question
How do these two components of social structure affect human interaction?

7. Section 1: Building Blocks of Social Structure
People’s particular roles and statuses affect how they relate to one another
Statuses are ways of defining where individuals fit in society and how they relate to others
Most roles have reciprocal roles that define the patterns of interaction between related statuses, such as husband and wife or teacher and student

8. Section 2: Types of Social Interaction
Read to Discover
What are the most common types of social interaction?
Which types of interactions stabilize social structure and which can disrupt it?

9. Section 2: Types of Social Interaction
Question
What are some common types of social interaction, and what are examples of each?

10. Section 2: Types of Social Interaction
Exchange—interacting in an effort to receive a reward or a return for one’s actions
Competition—two or more people or groups are in opposition to achieve a goal that only one can attain
Conflict—deliberate attempt to control a person by force, to oppose someone, or to harm another person

11. Section 2: Types of Social Interaction
Cooperation—two or more people or groups working together to achieve a goal that will benefit more than one of them
Accommodation—a state of balance between cooperation and conflict

12. Section 2: Types of Social Interaction
Competition
Exchange
Types of Social Interactions
Conflict
Cooperation
Accommodation

13. Section 2: Types of Social Interaction
Question
Which types of interactions stabilize social structure and which can disrupt it?

14. Section 2: Types of Social Interaction
Accommodation, Exchange, and Cooperation—stabilize social structure
Competition and Conflict—can disrupt social structure

15. Section 3: Types of Societies
Read to Discover
What types of societies exist in the world today?
What roles do individuals play in these models of group systems?

16. Section 3: Types of Societies
Question
What are the three main types of societies and characteristics or examples of each?

17. Section 3: Types of Societies
Preindustrial—food production is the main economic activity; can be subdivided according to the level of technology and the method of producing food
Industrial—emphasis shifts from the production of food to the production of manufactured goods, made possible by changes in production methods
Postindustrial—much of the economy is involved in providing information and services

18. Section 3: Types of Societies
Preindustrial
Industrial
Postindustrial
Types of Societies
Hunting and gathering; pastoral; horticultural; mechanical solidarity
Manufacturing; urbanization; technology
Organic solidarity
Information;
provision of services

19. Section 3: Types of Societies
Question
What roles do individuals play in these models of group systems?

20. Section 3: Types of Societies
Roles related to:
Leadership
Family
Work
Specialization
Trade

21. Section 4: Groups Within Society
Read to Discover
What are the major features of primary and secondary groups?
What purposes do groups fulfill?

22. Section 4: Groups Within Society
Question
What are the major features of primary and secondary groups?

23. Section 4: Groups Within Society
Primary Groups
Interact over a long period of time on a direct and personal basis
Entire self of the individual is taken into account
Relationships are intimate and often face-to-face
Communication is deep and intense
Structure is informal

24. Section 4: Groups Within Society
Secondary Groups
Interaction is impersonal and temporary in nature
Involve a reaction to only a part of the individual’s self
Casual
Limited in personal involvement
Individual can be replaced easily

25. Section 4: Groups Within Society
Question
What are the purposes and functions of groups?

26. Section 4: Groups Within Society
Functions of Groups
Select leaders—people that influence the attitudes and opinions of others
Define boundaries—members can tell who belongs and who does not
Set goals, assign tasks, and make decisions
Control members’ behavior—if members violate group norms, the group cannot survive long

27. Section 4: Groups Within Society Control Members’ Behavior
Define Boundaries
Select Leaders
GROUP FUNCTIONS
Assign Tasks
Set Goals
Make Decisions
Control Members’ Behavior

28. Section 5: The Structure of Formal Organizations
Read to Discover
How are bureaucracies structured?
How effective are bureaucracies?

29. Section 5: The Structure of Formal Organizations
Question
How are bureaucracies structured?

30. Section 5: The Structure of Formal Organizations
Head of the Bureaucracy
(CEO, Superintendent, president, etc.)
(subordinates)
Department Head/VP
Department Head/VP
(subordinates)

31. Section 5: The Structure of Formal Organizations
Weber’s Model
Division of labor
Ranking of authority
Employment based on formal qualifications
Rules and regulations
Specific lines of promotion and advancement

32. Section 5: The Structure of Formal Organizations
Question
How effective are bureaucracies?

33. Section 5: The Structure of Formal Organizations
Efficient at coordinating large numbers of people, defining tasks and rewards
Provide stability
Can lose sight of goals, create red tape, and result in oligarchies
In some instances, reward incompetence and expand uncontrollably

34. Chapter Wrap-Up Understanding Main Ideas
How can a person’s status differ from his or her role?
How does role conflict affect groups and individuals? How can it be resolved?
What are the five most common forms of interaction recognized by sociologists?
Identify and describe the three broad categories of societies used by sociologists.
How do the roles of group members differ between primary and secondary groups?
What, according to Max Weber’s model, are the major characteristics of a bureaucracy?
What weaknesses influence the effectiveness of bureaucracies?