Download social structure - HCC Learning Web

Social Interaction, Social
Structure, and Groups
5
Module 16: Social Interaction
and Social Structure
Sociology in Modules
Richard T. Schaefer
3rd edition
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved.
No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
Social Interaction and Social
Structure
• Social interaction and social structure are
central to sociological study
• Social Interaction and Reality: reality is
shaped by perceptions, evaluations, and
definitions- reflect norms and values
– Nature of social interaction and what
constitutes reality varies across cultures
– Ability to define social reality
reflects group’s power within a society
– Important aspect of the process of social change
involves redefining or reconstructing social reality
Slide 2
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved.
No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
Elements of Social Structure
• All social interaction takes place within a
social structure, which can be broken
down into five elements:
– Statuses
– Social roles
– Groups
– Social networks
– Social institutions
Slide 3
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved.
No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
Statuses
• Status: any of the full range of socially
defined positions within a large group or
society
– Person can hold more than one at same time
• Ascribed and Achieved Status
– Ascribed status: status one is born with
– Achieved status: status one earns
Slide 4
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved.
No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
Statuses
• Master Status
– Status that dominates other statuses and
determines a person’s general position in
society
– In U.S., ascribed statuses of race and
gender can function as master statuses
Slide 5
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved.
No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
Figure 16-1: Social Statuses
Slide 6
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved.
No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
Social Roles
• What Are Social Roles?
– Social role: set of expectations for
people who occupy a given status
• Role Conflict
– When incompatible expectations arise from two
or more social positions held by same person
• Role strain
– Difficulties that arise when same social position
imposes conflicting demands and expectations
Slide 7
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved.
No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
Social Roles
• Role Exit
– Process of disengagement from a role that is
central to one’s identity to establish a new role
– Ebaugh’s four stages:
•
•
•
•
Slide 8
Doubt
Search for alternatives
Action or departure stage
Creation of a new identity
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved.
No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
Groups
• Group: any number of people with
similar norms, values, and expectations
who interact on a regular basis
• Vital part of society’s social structure
Slide 9
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved.
No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
Social Networks
• Social network: series of social
relationships that links a person directly to
others, and through them indirectly to still
more people
– Social networks one of five basic elements of
social structure
– Research indicates that in person and online
not everyone participates equally in social
networks
Slide 10
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved.
No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
Social Institutions
• Social institution: organized pattern of
beliefs and behavior centered on basic
social needs
• Functionalist Perspective
– Five major tasks:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Slide 11
Replacing personnel
Teaching new recruits
Producing and distributing goods and services
Preserving order
Providing and maintaining a sense of purpose
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved.
No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
Social Institutions
• Conflict Perspective
– Major institutions help maintain privileges of
most powerful individuals and groups within
society
– Social institutions such as education
have inherently conservative natures
– Social institutions operate in gendered and
racist environments
Slide 12
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved.
No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
Social Institutions
• Interactionist Perspective
– Social institutions affect everyday behavior
– Social behavior conditioned by roles and
statuses we accept
Slide 13
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved.
No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
Table 16-1: Sociological Perspectives on Social Institutions
Slide 14
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved.
No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
Research Today
16-1: Disability as a Master Status
– Does your campus present barriers
to disabled students? If so, what
kinds of barriers—physical, attitudinal,
or both? Describe some of them.
– Why do you think nondisabled people
see disability as the most important
characteristic of a disabled person?
What can be done to help people see
beyond the wheelchair and the Seeing
Eye dog?
Slide 15
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved.
No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
Research Today
16-2: Social Networks and Obesity
– Have you ever tried to lose weight,
and if so, did your cluster of friends
and family help or hinder you? In
your experience, do people who are
overweight tend to cluster in separate
groups from those of normal weight?
– Besides public health campaigns,
what applications can you think of
for research on social networking?
Slide 16
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved.
No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
Taking Sociology to Work
Sarah Levy, Owner, S. Levy Foods
– Have you ever thought of starting
your own business? If so, what do
you think the key to your success
might be?
– Would business have been a more
practical major for Sarah? Why or
why not?
Slide 17
Copyright © 2016 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved.
No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.