1. Social Structure and Group Behavior
Sociology, Chapter 3

2. Social Structure
Social Structure- the way in which a society is organized into predictable relationships.
Status- individual’s position within a large group or society
Ascribed- assigned to a person by society
Achieved- earned through traits, talents, efforts, activities, etc.

3. Roles Roles- expected behavior patterns within a status
Role Strain- occurs when conflicting demands are built into a role
Role Conflict- occurs when conflicting demands occur between multiple status a person holds
Roles are reciprocal, meaning that roles are part of our interaction with other people’s roles

4. Social Institutions
Social Institutions- established patterns of beliefs and behaviors
We exercise our roles within these institutions
Examples of Social Institutions
Families
Education System
Governments

5. What is a group?
Group- at least two people who have one or more goals in common and share common ways of thinking and behaving
What is not a group?
Social category- people who share a social characteristic
Social aggregate- people in the same place at the same time

6. Three Characteristics of Groups
Structured Interaction
Common Goals and Norms
Common Identity
Relationships within groups can be:
Instrumental- focus on accomplishing goals
Expressive- valued for the relationship itself

7. How do groups work? Decision Making Leadership
Decisions are made by nearly all group members participating as equals
Laissez-faire- “hands off”; let the group decide OR
Decisions are made by one or two leaders
Leadership
Authoritarian-give orders
Democratic- “give and take” interactions

8. Types of Groups
Primary group- people who are emotionally close, know one another well, and seek one another’s company
Secondary Groups- people who share only part of their lives while focusing on a goal or task

9. Types of Groups (continued)
In-Group- exclusive group demanding intense loyalty
Out-Group- group targeted by an in-group for opposition, antagonism, or competition
In-Groups must have ways to distinguish themselves from the out-groups (ex: style of dress, language used, etc.)

10. Types of Groups (continued)
Reference Groups- groups used for self-evaluation and the formation of norms and beliefs
Reference groups can be positive or negative
Example- I may look at a gang and learn how not to behave

11. Formal Organizations
Formal Organization- a secondary group that is large and complex
Voluntary associations- informal groups based on voluntary membership
Bureaucracies- large, hierarchical organizations

12. Weber’s Model of Bureaucracy
Chain of command
Division of Labor
Well-established, written rules
Defined set of goals
Merit-based hiring and promotion
Job performance is judged by productivity

13. Pros and Cons of Bureaucracies
Fast
Efficient
Organized
Provide social stability
Cons
Can lose sight of the purpose
Creativity is not encouraged
“Red Tape”– sometimes the system impedes on the goal
Office Space

14. Rules of Bureaucracies
The Peter Principle- “in a hierarchy, every employee tends to rise to his or her level of incompetence”
Iron Law of Oligarchy- power is concentrated in the hands of a few. Orders flow from the “top.”
Parkinson’s Law- bureaucracies waste time doing work that doesn’t need done.

15. Social Interaction
Social Interaction- the way in which people respond to one another
Ways to Study Social Interaction
Dramaturgy- comparing life to a stage
Ethnomethodology- breaking rules in order to understand the structure of rules

16. Forms of Social Interaction
Exchange
Competition
Conflict
Cooperation
Accomodation

17. Social Networks
Social Network- a series of social relationships that link a person directly to others, and as a result, indirectly to still more people