Social Structure
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Transcript of Social Structure
Social Structure(Or the social bigger picture)
Interaction, Groups, and StructureSocial interaction and realityElements of social structureGlobal social structureUnderstanding organizations
Social StructureSocial structure: the way society is
organized into predictable relationshipsConcepts of social interaction and social
structure are closely linked to groups and organizations
Nature of social interaction and what constitutes reality various across cultures
The ability to define social reality reflects a group’s power within that society
Elements of Social StructureStatuses: any range of socially defined ranked
positions within a large group or societyMaster status: the statuses that carry the most
weight within societyIndividuals can hold multiple statuses simultaneously
IntersectionalityAscribed status: is assigned by society without
regard for a person’s unique talents or qualificationsAchieved status: earned through an individual’s own
efforts Ascribed status heavily influences achieved status
Elements of Social StructureSocial role: set of expectations for people
who occupy a given statusRole 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
Elements of Social StructureGroups: people with similar norms, values,
and expectations who interact on a regular basis
Primary group: small group with intimate, face-to-face association and cooperation
Secondary group: impersonal groups with little social intimacy or mutual understanding
In-groups: any groups/categories to which people feel they belong
Out-groups: any groups or categories to which people feel they do not belong
Elements of Social StructureReference group: any group individuals use for
evaluating their own behaviorServe a normative function by setting and enforcing
standards of conduct and beliefPerform a comparison function by serving as a standard
against which people can measure themselves and othersSocial Networks: series of social relationships that
link person directly to others, and indirectly links him or her to still more peopleNetworking: involvement in social network; valuable skill
when job-huntingVirtual Worlds
Social InstitutionsSocial institution: organized patterns of
beliefs and behavior centered on basic social needsGives insight into the structure of a society
Durkheim: Division of Labor ([1893] 1933)Mechanical solidarity: collective
consciousness that emphasizes group solidarity, implying all individuals perform the same tasks
Organic solidarity: collective consciousness resting on the need a society’s members have for one another
Social InstitutionsTönnies Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft
Gemeinschaft (guh-MINE-shoft): small community in which people have similar backgrounds and life experiences
Gesellschaft (guh-ZELL-shoft): large community in which people are strangers and feel little in common with other community residents
Lenski’s Sociocultural Evolution ApproachHuman societies undergo process of change
characterized by dominant pattern known as sociocultural evolution
Lenski’s Sociocultural Evolution ApproachPreindustrial Societies
Hunting-and-gathering society: people rely on whatever foods and fibers are readily available
Horticultural society: people plant seeds and crops rather than merely subsist on available foods
Agrarian society: people primarily engaged in production of food
Industrial Society: people depend on mechanization to produce goods and services– People rely on inventions and energy sources – Individuals, villages, and regions began to exchange
goods and services and became interdependent
Lenski’s Sociocultural Evolution ApproachPostindustrial and Postmodern Societies
Postindustrial society: economic system engaged primarily in processing and controlling information
Postmodern society: technologically sophisticated society preoccupied with consumer goods and media images
Stages of Sociocultural Evolution
OrganizationsFormal organization: special-purpose
group designed and structured for maximum efficiencyStructured to facilitate management of large-
scale operationsHave bureaucratic form of organizationFulfill enormous variety of personal and
societal needsBureaucracy: component of formal
organization that uses rules and hierarchical ranking to achieve efficiency
Ideal TypesWeber’s Ideal type: construct or model
for evaluating specific casesDivision of Labor
Trained incapacityHierarchy of AuthorityWritten Rules and RegulationsImpersonalityEmployment Based on Technical
QualificationsPeter Principle
Bureaucracy and Organizational CultureClassical theory (Scientific Management
Approach): workers motivated almost entirely by economic rewards
Human relations approach: role of people,communication and participation within a
bureaucracy emphasized