1. ELEMENTS OF SOCIAL STRUCTURE AND CULTURE
Social Problems
ELEMENTS OF SOCIAL STRUCTURE AND CULTURE

2. Why are Social Structure and Culture Important?
Social problems are rooted in both the structure and culture of society
In order to use “the sociological imagination” we need to understand the basic elements of both social structure and of culture
Macro-level theories (functionalism, conflict and feminist theory) focus their attention on social structure while micro-level theories tend to focus more on culture and the creation of meaning

3. Elements of Social Structure
1. Institutions
patterns of social relationships
Family, media, religion, etc.
2. Social groups
Members have common identity
Primary and secondary

4. Social Structure (cont.)
3. Statuses:
position in group
Ascribed, achieved and master status
4. Roles
Associated with status
rights, obligations, and expectations

5. Elements of Culture
Culture = the meanings and ways of life that characterize a society
1. Beliefs: what is assumed to be true
2. Values: agreements about good and bad
3. Norms: socially defined rules of behaviour
Folkways, laws, mores

6. Culture (cont.)
4. Sanctions: social consequences for conforming to, or violating norms
positive, negative, formal and informal
5. Symbols: language, gestures, and objects
meaning commonly understood by group members
Form communication.

7. Culture as Stories
According to George Gerbner’s (1986) “cultivation theory” culture is a set of stories passed through generations
Stories about:
1. What things are
2. How they work
3. What to do about them
Gerbner believes the media now tell our stories
Heavy exposure (esp. to TV) “cultivates” our beliefs, attitudes and values