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Social Structures
Social Structure
Social Structure is the different statuses
and roles that make up the guidelines for
human interaction.
Other words, social structure is the
unscripted reason that people act a certain
way in a variety of situations.
Status
 This is your position (where you stand) in
a society or group.
 Forms of Status:
1. Ascribed Status
2. Achieved Status
3. Master Status
Ascribed Status
Ascribed status is based on your personal
genetic traits.
Examples: Being a teenager, race, gender,
heritage
You cannot do anything about your
ascribed status
Achieved Status
Achieved status is earned through
individual accomplishments.
Examples: Working hard, good grades,
good behavior, job promotion
This form of status is totally controlled by
the individual and is dictated by their skills
and desire.
Master Status
This is the most important aspect of your
life that makes up your identity
This status will change many times
throughout your life
Generally based on hobbies or passions
and evolve into one’s occupation
Roles
Statuses are categories and roles bring
those specific categories to life
Everyday everyone plays multiple roles
and each role falls into a status category
Reciprocal Roles
These are roles that you fill that require
someone else to interact with
Example: Friend-Friend, Husband-Wife,
Student-Teacher, Athlete-Coach
Most of your daily roles are reciprocal
roles
Role Expectation
Culture dictates what behaviors and
values specific roles perform
Example: Teachers are expected to foster
learning in a safe atmosphere, Students
are expected to engage in learning while
respecting the school, classmates and
staff
Role Performance
This is the actual performance of a role by
a specific individual
Expectations and Performance do not
always match up
Not everyone in a culture believes the
same things and many people are asked
to perform multiple roles
Role Conflict
This is when it is difficult to fulfill the
expectations of one role because of
another (and vice versa)
Example: To be a good BF/GF you must
give the other attention and affection. To
be a good athlete you must dedicate time
to practice and preparation. Due to time
constraints you will be in conflict.
Role Strain
This is when someone struggles to meet
expectations of either of their roles that are
in conflict.
Due to the time constraints mentioned
before, the BF/GF does not devote
enough time to either and both suffer.
Social Institutions
 Most sociologists focus on, but not
exclusively, five major institutions:
1. Family
2. Economy
3. Politics
4. Education
5. Religion
Social Interaction
 There are five basic types of interactions
that take place in societies around the
world.
1. Exchange
2. Competition
3. Conflict
4. Cooperation
5. Accommodation
Exchange
This is the most basic form of interactions
(based on reciprocal roles)
People interact in hopes of receiving a
reward
Examples: Relationships
Competition
This occurs when two or more people are
attempting to obtain a goal designed for
one
Competition is a building block of
American society
Pro: Great means of motivation
Con: Stress, inequality and possibly
conflict
Conflict
 The primary emphasis is on defeating an
opponent
 There are really no rules that govern conflict
 Four sources:
1. Wars
2. Disagreements
3. Legal Disputes
4. Clashes over Ideas
Cooperation
This happens when two or more people
work together to obtain a goal
This interaction is based on getting things
done
Businesses, teams, Armies all work
together to reach a certain goal or task
Accommodation
 In an interaction, if you give a little and
take a little to ensure everyone’s happy
 Different forms of Accommodation are:
1. Compromise
2. Mediation
3. Arbitration
Types of Societies
 There are four types of Preindustrial
Societies:
1. Hunting and Gathering
2. Pastoral
3. Horticultural
4. Agricultural
Hunting and Gathering
Food is obtained by collecting wild plants
and hunting small animals
Nomadic tribes that moved in search of
food
The size of the society is generally around
60 people
Family is very important because most
people are related in some way
Pastoral
They rely on domesticated animals
Nomadic, they move the herd from pasture
to pasture
Larger population allows people to have
specialized jobs (blacksmiths)
Power obtained through wealth and
passed on from generation to generation
Horticultural
They rely on crops (fruits and vegetables)
Use slash and burn farming method
(human labor)
Live in semi-permanent or permanent
villages
Surplus food leads to job specialization
(craftsmen)
Agricultural
Rely on crops (fruits and vegetables)
Often use terracing method of farming
(animal labor)
Large population because of large
amounts of food
Job specialization
Beginning of a trade based society
Groups Within A Society
 Groups have four main components:
1. Must be more than 2 people
2. Must have interactions amongst the
members
3. Must have shared expectations
4. Must have some form of common identity
Types of Groups

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Here are the various types of groups:
Primary Groups
Secondary Groups
Reference Groups
In-Groups and Out-Groups
E-Communities
Primary Groups
These are long term relationships among
small groups
These friendships are strong and intimate
Generally interact face to face
Most common primary groups are family
relationships
Secondary Groups
These groups have rather casual
interactions
Many times these relationships are
temporary, able to be replaced
Importance to the group lies in the function
they perform
Example would be friends
Reference Group
This is characterized by identifying a group
and trying to be like them
Follow a shared set of values and attitudes
Teammates, coworkers, classmates
In-Group
This is any group a person belongs to and
identifies with
Out-Group
These are any groups people do not
belong to or cannot identify with
E-Communities
With the growth of internet communities
these E-communities allow people to
interact via the web
These communities are outlets for various
interactions