Social StructureSocial StructureThe Haves and the Haves NotThe Haves and the Haves Not

StatusStatus

The position individuals hold in The position individuals hold in society based on defined society based on defined characteristics such as gender, race, characteristics such as gender, race, ethnicity and occupationethnicity and occupation

Status SetStatus Set All the statuses that an individual All the statuses that an individual

occupies, i.e. woman, mother, occupies, i.e. woman, mother, professional, daughter, etc.professional, daughter, etc.

Status InconsistencyStatus Inconsistency

A situation where there are two or A situation where there are two or more widely divergent statuses an more widely divergent statuses an individual occupies, i.e. an engineer individual occupies, i.e. an engineer driving a cabdriving a cab

Master StatusMaster Status

The position some individuals have The position some individuals have that overshadows all of their other that overshadows all of their other statuses, e.g. the Pope, who is a statuses, e.g. the Pope, who is a priest and bishop of Rome, is defined priest and bishop of Rome, is defined by his position as head of the Roman by his position as head of the Roman Catholic ChurchCatholic Church

Ascribed StatusAscribed Status

A position assigned to an individual A position assigned to an individual by society based on some arbitrary by society based on some arbitrary factor, such as family ties, race, factor, such as family ties, race, gender, etc.gender, etc.

Royalty is an ascribed status.Royalty is an ascribed status.

Achieved StatusAchieved Status

A position an individual acquires A position an individual acquires through her own efforts, such as CEO through her own efforts, such as CEO of a corporationof a corporation

RoleRole

The norms and expectations The norms and expectations attached to a particular status, e.g. a attached to a particular status, e.g. a parent’s responsibility for a childparent’s responsibility for a child

Role StrainRole Strain

The problems encountered when The problems encountered when there are conflicting demands placed there are conflicting demands placed on a specific status an individual on a specific status an individual occupies, e.g. the demands occupies, e.g. the demands impinging on a department manager impinging on a department manager from her staff and her immediate from her staff and her immediate superiorsuperior

Role ConflictRole Conflict

The difficulties encountered by The difficulties encountered by having to reconcile the demands having to reconcile the demands associated with two or more roles at associated with two or more roles at the same time, e.g. being a the same time, e.g. being a employee and a parentemployee and a parent

Social GroupingsSocial Groupings

Aggregates – people who are in the Aggregates – people who are in the same place at the same time but do same place at the same time but do not interact in any meaningful not interact in any meaningful way, .e.g. – subway commutersway, .e.g. – subway commuters

Social GroupingsSocial Groupings

Categories – individuals who share a Categories – individuals who share a similar status but otherwise do not similar status but otherwise do not interact with each other, e.g. the interact with each other, e.g. the nation’s college freshmannation’s college freshman

Primary GroupsPrimary Groups

A small number of individuals who A small number of individuals who have a close, long term relationshiphave a close, long term relationship

Non-task orientedNon-task oriented

Secondary GroupsSecondary Groups

Larger, formal groups whose Larger, formal groups whose relationships are based on a specific relationships are based on a specific functionfunction

Task oriented, e.g. office staffTask oriented, e.g. office staff

In-Groups and Out-GroupsIn-Groups and Out-Groups In-Group – the group to which ‘you’ In-Group – the group to which ‘you’

belong and show loyalty, e.g. a belong and show loyalty, e.g. a college sororitycollege sorority

Out-Group – the group to which Out-Group – the group to which ‘they’ belong and do not measure up ‘they’ belong and do not measure up to ‘your’ standards, e.g. college to ‘your’ standards, e.g. college nerdsnerds

Reference GroupsReference Groups

Groups that function as yardstick for Groups that function as yardstick for one’s behavior and aspirations, e.g. one’s behavior and aspirations, e.g. Yuppies and PreppiesYuppies and Preppies

Individuals who serve this function Individuals who serve this function are labeled role modelsare labeled role models

Group DynamicsGroup Dynamics

Dyads – 2 individuals – the most Dyads – 2 individuals – the most intimate and fragile, e.g. close intimate and fragile, e.g. close friends, married couplesfriends, married couples

Triads – 3 individuals – less intimate Triads – 3 individuals – less intimate and intimateand intimate

Groups greater than five become Groups greater than five become more formal (secondary groups)more formal (secondary groups)

Group LeadershipGroup Leadership

Instrumental (task) leader – directs group to Instrumental (task) leader – directs group to achieve goalsachieve goals

Expressive leader – maintains group moraleExpressive leader – maintains group morale Authoritarian leader – assigns tasks without Authoritarian leader – assigns tasks without

consideration of group’s concernsconsideration of group’s concerns Democratic leader – builds group consensusDemocratic leader – builds group consensus Laissez-faire leader – allows group to make its Laissez-faire leader – allows group to make its

own decisionsown decisions

ConformityConformity

Group dynamics exert pressure on its Group dynamics exert pressure on its members towards behaving and members towards behaving and thinking in a similar fashion.thinking in a similar fashion.

Groupthink – the pressure for Groupthink – the pressure for members of a group to hold the members of a group to hold the same view on important issuessame view on important issues

Larger Social StructureLarger Social Structure

Networks – a web of social ties that Networks – a web of social ties that connects an individual to other connects an individual to other individuals or groups, e.g. the ‘old individuals or groups, e.g. the ‘old school tie’school tie’

Formal organizations (bureaucracy) – Formal organizations (bureaucracy) – large secondary groups created to large secondary groups created to carry out a specific task or functioncarry out a specific task or function

Sociocultural EvolutionSociocultural Evolution

Hunter-Gatherer (250,000 yrs ago)Hunter-Gatherer (250,000 yrs ago) Horticultural (12,000 – 10,000 years Horticultural (12,000 – 10,000 years

ago)ago) Pastoral (12,000 – 10,000 years ago)Pastoral (12,000 – 10,000 years ago) Agrarian (6000 years ago)Agrarian (6000 years ago) Industrial (200 years ago)Industrial (200 years ago) Post-Industrial (currently developing)Post-Industrial (currently developing)

Hunter-GathererHunter-Gatherer

NomadicNomadic Small communitiesSmall communities Social equalitySocial equality

HorticulturalHorticultural

Semi permanent communitiesSemi permanent communities Gardening with hand toolsGardening with hand tools Emerging specializationEmerging specialization Beginnings of a social hierarchyBeginnings of a social hierarchy

PastoralPastoral

NomadicNomadic Domesticated herd animalsDomesticated herd animals Emerging specializationEmerging specialization Beginnings of a social hierarchyBeginnings of a social hierarchy

AgrarianAgrarian

Permanent settlementsPermanent settlements Animals used to perform workAnimals used to perform work Development of larger social Development of larger social

institutionsinstitutions Distinct social hierarchy with limited Distinct social hierarchy with limited

mobilitymobility

IndustrialIndustrial

Permanent communitiesPermanent communities Animal labor replaced by machineryAnimal labor replaced by machinery