Social Structure Roles & statuses, interactions, types of societies, groups within society.
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Transcript of Social Structure Roles & statuses, interactions, types of societies, groups within society.
Social Structure
Roles & statuses, interactions, types of societies, groups within society
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
• 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)
• 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
• 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
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
– 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”)
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
• 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)
• 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
– 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)
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
• Formal organization• Bureaucracy• Voluntary organization• 5 characteristics of bureaucracy• Primary groups can exist within a formal
organization….
Functions of Bureaucracies Dysfunctions of Bureaucracies
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
• 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
• Accommodation – give & take (not full cooperation)– Ex: motel– 4 forms:• Compromise• Truce• Mediation• Arbitration
– Pg. 72 #3