1. Social Structure

2. Status Socially defined position in a group or in a society
Each person has several statuses
Status defines relationships
Status clarifies rights and obligations

3. Ascribed Status
Assigned according to standards that are beyond our control
Based on inherited traits or are assigned based on reaching a certain age
Not based on abilities, accomplishments or efforts
Examples: teenagers, black, female, Ethiopian

4. Achieved Status Acquired through effort or competition
Based on special skills, knowledge or ability
Based on standards that YOU control
Example: college graduate, parent, spouse, doctor

5. More on Status Status= social categories
Master status= plays the greatest role in your life
Determines your social identity
Can be either achieved or ascribed
Changes over time

6. Role The behavior expected of someone occupying a particular status
Roles bring status to life

7. Reciprocal Roles
Corresponding roles that define the patterns of interaction between related statuses
Examples:
Husband-wife
Athlete-coach
Friend-friend

8. Role Expectations
Socially determined behavior expected of a person performing a role
“cop’s aren’t supposed to commit crimes”- Training Day
Parents are supposed to give their children love and physical security, not abuse them- A Child Called It”

9. More On Roles Role performance- actual role behavior
A person’s actual behavior may not match what society expects their behavior to be
Sometimes behaviors that are okay in a subgroup are not okay in the larger society
Example: Americans value equality, yet some subgroups deny women this equality
Sometimes roles can be contradictory to each other

10. Even more on Roles
Role set- different roles attached to a single status
Role conflict- fulfilling the role expectations of one status make it difficult to fulfill the role expectations of another status
Example: good employee v. good parent
Role strain- difficulty meeting the role expectations of a single status
Example: A teacher trying to establish a good rapport yet having to enforce the rules of the school

11. Social Institutions
A system of statuses, roles, values and norms that is organized to satisfy one or more basic needs of society
Economics- producing goods and services
Education- transmitting knowledge
Family- providing physical and emotional support for members of the society
Law- maintaining social control
Medicine- healing the sick and injured, caring for the dying
Military- protecting us from enemies

12. More examples of Social Institutions
Politics- allocating power, determining authority, preventing chaos
Religion- dealing with ideas about life after death, the meaning of suffering and loss
Science- mastering the universe
Mass media- distributing information, molding public opinion, reporting events

13. Contrasting Societies
Mechanic solidarity
Pre industrial societies are held together by the close-knit social relationships that result when a small group of people share the same values and perform the same task
Organic solidarity
Industrial societies lead to impersonal social relationship because of increased job specialization and individuals become dependent on other for aspects of their survival
Need becomes more important that shared values

14. Contrasting Societies
Gemeinschaft (community)
Close relationships, activities centered on family and community
Strong sense of group solidarity
Gesellschaft (society)
Relationships are based on need rather than emotion
Individual goals are more important than group goals