Social Problems

ELEMENTS OF SOCIAL STRUCTURE AND CULTURE

Why are Social Structure and Culture Important? Social problems are rooted in both the

structure and culture of society In order to use “the sociological imagination”

we need to understand the basic elements of both social structure and of culture

Macro-level theories (functionalism, conflict and feminist theory) focus their attention on social structure while micro-level theories tend to focus more on culture and the creation of meaning

Elements of Social Structure

1. Institutions patterns of social relationships Family, media, religion, etc.

2. Social groups Members have common identity Primary and secondary

Social Structure (cont.)

3. Statuses: position in group Ascribed, achieved and master status

4. Roles Associated with status rights, obligations, and expectations

Elements of Culture

Culture = the meanings and ways of life that characterize a society

1. Beliefs: what is assumed to be true

2. Values: agreements about good and bad

3. Norms: socially defined rules of behaviour Folkways, laws, mores

Culture (cont.)

4. Sanctions: social consequences for conforming to, or violating norms positive, negative, formal and informal

5. Symbols: language, gestures, and objects meaning commonly understood by group members Form communication.

Culture as Stories According to George Gerbner’s (1986) “cultivation

theory” culture is a set of stories passed through generations

Stories about: 1. What things are 2. How they work 3. What to do about them

Gerbner believes the media now tell our stories Heavy exposure (esp. to TV) “cultivates” our beliefs,

attitudes and values