Building Blocks of Social Structure

1. Building Blocks of Social Structure 4.1

2. Social Structure • Social structure gives a society its enduring characteristics and makes patterns of human interaction predictable • Sociologist view society as a system of interrelated parts, as structure since Comte • Social structure: network of interrelated statuses and roles that guide human interaction • Status: socially defined position in a group or in a society • Roles: the behavior- the rights and obligations expected of someone occupying a particular status

3. Ascribed Status • Each individual in society occupies several statuses • Father, husband, teacher, coach, spiritual leader of family • Define where individuals fit in society and how they relate to others in society • What is your status……..? • Ascribed status: assigned according to qualities beyond a person’s control • Inherited traits: race, nationality etc • Reach a certain age: teenager, young adult, adult • Did nothing to earn it • Cannot change it • Other ascribed statuses……?

4. Achieved Status • Achieved status: acquired through the individuals own direct efforts • Have control over achieved status • All occupations can be achieved status in U.S • Special skills and knowledge • Special abilities • Becoming a sports star • Becoming a lawyer • Husband • Wife

5. Master Status • Master Status: all individuals hold many statuses; one status may rank above all others….master status • Can be achieved or ascribed • U.S. adult’s master status is usually achieved • Occupation, wealth, marital status, or parenthood • Changes over course of life • Teenage years-student or athlete • Adulthood- based on occupation • Late adulthood- being a grandparent or past accomplishments

6. Roles • Roles: component of social structure that bring statuses to life • Occupy a status, play a role • Play many different roles during the day • What roles do you play…… at school/at home/friends? • Reciprocal roles: corresponding roles that define the patterns of interaction between related statuses • Can not be a husband without a wife • Can not be a parent with out a child • Doctor patient

7. Role Expectations • Role expectations: socially determined behavior expected of a person performing a role • People interact with one another their behavior corresponds to the particular roles they are playing • Parents provide love and nurturing for their children • Police uphold the law • Children respect parents and adults

8. Role Performance • Role performance: actual role behavior- does not match the behavior expected by society • Problems arise because role behaviors considered appropriate by a certain segment of society are seen as inappropriate by society as a whole • May try to fulfill the role but may fall short of expectations • Problem occurs because each of us is asked to perform many roles, some of which are contradictory • Parents mistreat their children • Doctors do not provide the best care for their patients

9. Role Set/Conflict • Single status, still many interrelated roles to perform • Role set: different roles attached to a single status • Wear many “hats”!!! • Role conflict: fulfilling the role expectations of one status makes it difficult to fulfill the role expectations of another role • Be good employee, got to go to work, but to be a good parent one needs to be home and take care of a sick child • Role strain: occurs when a person has difficulty meeting the role expectations of a single status • Maintain morale by a boss when having the employees work long hours

10. Social Institutions: statuses and roles organized to satisfy one or more of the basic needs of society • Basic Needs of Society • Physical and emotional support • Transmitting knowledge • Producing goods and services • Maintaining social control • Social Institutions: • Media • Medicine • Science • Family • Religion • Education • politics