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