Social Structure Roles & statuses, interactions, types of societies, groups within society.

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Social Structure Roles & statuses, interactions, types of societies, groups within society

Transcript of Social Structure Roles & statuses, interactions, types of societies, groups within society.

Page 1: Social Structure Roles & statuses, interactions, types of societies, groups within society.

Social Structure

Roles & statuses, interactions, types of societies, groups within society

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Types of Societies

• What is the feature sociologists use to classify societies?

• What are the 3 broad categories?• Terms to know: subsistence strategies,

preindustrial society, hunting & gathering society, pastoral society, division of labor, horticultural society, agricultural society, industrial society, urbanization, postindustrial society, Gemeinschaft, Gesellschaft

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• Preindustrial– *Food production = main economic activity– 4 subdivisions• Hunting & gathering – *move around in search of food

(fewer permanent artifacts, small group size)• Pastoral – *domesticate animals to meet food needs

(larger populations, more complex division of labor: other jobs, more than just meeting food needs)• Horticultural – *keeping gardens/fields instead of

gathering wild plants for food. (similar to pastoral – some migrating, but more stable than pastoral, more complex division of labor)• Agricultural – *develop more advanced technology to

cultivate crops. (higher surplus, larger society; specialization – even more than pastoral & horticultural)

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• Industrial– *Production of manufactured goods– Use of machines vastly increases amount

produced & speed!– Can support much larger population size– People move to cities for work instead of doing it

at home (urbanization)• Postindustrial– *Production of information & services– Standard of living goes up; strong emphasis on

science & technology

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• Durkheim said we have generally shifted from Gemeinschaft to Gesellschaft– Gemeinschaft = “community”; most people know

each other, close relationships, group solidarity– Gesellschaft = “society”; relationships based on

need, not emotion; impersonal; individualistic

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Social Structure• Status – defined position in a group or society– Each person has several statuses, each with roles– Ascribed status – assigned to you (ex: teenager, boy)– Achieved status – acquired through your efforts &

abilities (ex: basketball champion)– Master status – the one that does the most to

define who you are; above all the others• Can change over the course of your life (student spouse parent career title grandparent)

• Role – the behavior expected of someone in a particular status

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– Role strain – difficulty meeting the expectations of a particular status (ex: you struggle with the all the homework you need to do for your status as “student”)

– Role conflict – fulfilling the role of one status interferes with fulfilling the role of another (ex: you need to be at work from 4-10 to fulfill your role as “employee” BUT this makes it difficult to do all the homework you need to do for your status as “student”)

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Groups Within SocietyWhat makes a group?1. Consists of 2 or more

people2. Interaction among

members3. Shared expectations4. Sense of common

identityIf you don’t have all 4, you’re not a group! (ex: aggregate, social category)

Can vary greatly in size, organization, type & functions

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• Size– Dyad – a group with 2 members

• Each member controls the group’s existence (if one leaves, no more group)

– Triad – a group with 3 members– Small group – a group of 4 – 15 people

• Need to be able to interact face-to-face to be a “small group”

• Any more than 15, people tend to start making subgroups

• Organization– Formal (set structure, goals & protocol) vs. informal

(loose structure, rules are folkways, not laws)

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• Type– Primary group – direct, personal interactions over

longer period of time (ex: family)– Secondary group – impersonal, temporary

interactions; more casual; less concerned with the “whole” person (ex: boss & employee)• Your best friend cares about your problems with your

boyfriend – your boss probably doesn’t • CAN exist together (i.e. a co-worker who becomes a friend)

– Reference group – people with whom a person identifies & shares values• these are people you look to for attitudes, roles & norms• Don’t necessarily need to belong to that group to use it as

a reference

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– E-community – people who interact regularly on the internet• New type of group; similar interactions to face-to-face

groups – discuss issues, share stories, give advice, play games, etc.

• Functions– Define boundaries– Select leaders (instrumental – get things done; and

expressive – keep group together & boost morale)– Set goals– Make decisions– Control group members’ behavior (nonconformity)

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Formal Organizations

• Read Ch. 4 Section 5 (pg. 83, 86-87)1. Define: formal organization, bureaucracy,

voluntary association2. What are Weber’s 5 characteristics of bureaucracy?3. How might primary group relationships still exist

within a formal organization? (use the electric company example to explain!)

4. Give 2 benefits of bureaucracies (according to Weber); give 3 possible weaknesses

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• Formal organization• Bureaucracy• Voluntary organization• 5 characteristics of bureaucracy• Primary groups can exist within a formal

organization….

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Functions of Bureaucracies Dysfunctions of Bureaucracies

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Social Interaction

• Exchange – interaction done to get something in return– Based on idea of reciprocity – if you do something for

someone, they owe you– Exchange theory – people are generally motivated by

reward (weigh cost/benefit ). Sound familiar? • Competition – people or groups oppose each other to

try to achieve the same goal– Emphasis on reaching the goal – Common method in schools, businesses– Can be motivating, can lead to conflict

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• Conflict – deliberate attempt to control, harm, or oppose– Emphasis on defeating the opponent– Simmel said there are 4 major sources:• War, legal disputes, disagreements within groups, &

ideological disputes

– Again, can be damaging; but can strengthen in-group relations by focusing on an out-group

• Cooperation – people or groups work together to accomplish a common goal

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• Accommodation – give & take (not full cooperation)– Ex: motel– 4 forms:• Compromise• Truce• Mediation• Arbitration

– Pg. 72 #3