Chapter 4

Social Structure

Read to Discover

What are the two major components of social structure?

How do these two components of social structure affect human interaction?

Section 1: Building Blocks of Social Structure

Question

What are the two major components of social structure?

Section 1: Building Blocks of Social Structure

Status—a socially defined position in a group or in a society, which has attached to it one or more roles

Role—the behavior expected of someone occupying a particular status

Section 1: Building Blocks of Social Structure

Status Examples of Roles

Examples of Conflict / Strain

Firefighter

Mother

P.T.A. President

Put out fires, save lives, wear a uniform

Voluntarily puts self in danger, but has loved ones who need him or her

Fatigue and long shifts make household tasks and interactions difficult

Provide food and shelter, nurture family, discipline children

Run meetings, recruit new members, plan activities

Has trouble getting members to attend and follow through on promises

Section 1: Building Blocks of Social Structure

Question

How do these two components of social structure affect

human interaction?

Section 1: Building Blocks of Social Structure

People’s particular roles and statuses affect how they relate to one another

Statuses are ways of defining where individuals fit in society and how they relate to others

Most roles have reciprocal roles that define the patterns of interaction between related statuses, such as husband and wife or teacher and student

Section 1: Building Blocks of Social Structure

Read to Discover

What are the most common types of social interaction?

Which types of interactions stabilize social structure and which can disrupt it?

Section 2: Types of Social Interaction

Question

What are some common types of social interaction, and what are

examples of each?

Section 2: Types of Social Interaction

Exchange—interacting in an effort to receive a reward or a return for one’s actions

Competition—two or more people or groups are in opposition to achieve a goal that only one can attain

Conflict—deliberate attempt to control a person by force, to oppose someone, or to harm another person

Section 2: Types of Social Interaction

Cooperation—two or more people or groups working together to achieve a goal that will benefit more than one of them

Accommodation—a state of balance between cooperation and conflict

Section 2: Types of Social Interaction

Section 2: Types of Social Interaction

Types of Social

Interactions

ExchangeCompetition

ConflictCooperation

Accommodation

Question

Which types of interactions stabilize social structure and

which can disrupt it?

Section 2: Types of Social Interaction

Accommodation, Exchange, and Cooperation—stabilize social structure

Competition and Conflict—can disrupt social structure

Section 2: Types of Social Interaction

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What types of societies exist in the world today?

What roles do individuals play in these models of group systems?

Section 3: Types of Societies

Question

What are the three main types of societies and characteristics or

examples of each?

Section 3: Types of Societies

Preindustrial—food production is the main economic activity; can be subdivided according to the level of technology and the method of producing food

Industrial—emphasis shifts from the production of food to the production of manufactured goods, made possible by changes in production methods

Postindustrial—much of the economy is involved in providing information and services

Section 3: Types of Societies

Section 3: Types of Societies

Preindustrial Industrial

Postindustrial

Types of Societies

Hunting and gathering; pastoral; horticultural; mechanical solidarity

Organic solidarity

Manufacturing; urbanization; technology

Information; provision of services

Question

What roles do individuals play in these models of group systems?

Section 3: Types of Societies

Roles related to:

Leadership

Family

Work

Specialization

Trade

Section 3: Types of Societies

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What are the major features of primary and secondary groups?

What purposes do groups fulfill?

Section 4: Groups Within Society

Question

What are the major features of primary and secondary groups?

Section 4: Groups Within Society

Primary Groups

Interact over a long period of time on a direct and personal basis

Entire self of the individual is taken into account

Relationships are intimate and often face-to-face

Communication is deep and intense

Structure is informal

Section 4: Groups Within Society

Secondary Groups

Interaction is impersonal and temporary in nature

Involve a reaction to only a part of the individual’s self

Casual

Limited in personal involvement

Individual can be replaced easily

Section 4: Groups Within Society

Question

What are the purposes and functions of groups?

Section 4: Groups Within Society

Select leaders—people that influence the attitudes and opinions of others

Define boundaries—members can tell who belongs and who does not

Set goals, assign tasks, and make decisions

Control members’ behavior—if members violate group norms, the group cannot survive long

Section 4: Groups Within Society

Functions of Groups

GROUP FUNCTIONS

Section 4: Groups Within Society

Define Boundaries

Control Members’ Behavior

Set Goals Assign Tasks

Select Leaders

Make Decisions

Read to Discover

How are bureaucracies structured?

How effective are bureaucracies?

Section 5: The Structure of Formal Organizations

Question

How are bureaucracies structured?

Section 5: The Structure of Formal Organizations

(CEO, Superintendent, president, etc.)

Section 5: The Structure of Formal Organizations

Department Head/VP Department Head/VP

(subordinates)

Division of labor

Ranking of authority

Employment based on formal qualifications

Rules and regulations

Specific lines of promotion and advancement

Section 5: The Structure of Formal Organizations

Weber’s Model

Question

How effective are bureaucracies?

Section 5: The Structure of Formal Organizations

Efficient at coordinating large numbers of people, defining tasks and rewards

Provide stability

Can lose sight of goals, create red tape, and result in oligarchies

In some instances, reward incompetence and expand uncontrollably

Section 5: The Structure of Formal Organizations

Chapter Wrap-Up Understanding Main Ideas

1. How can a person’s status differ from his or her role?

2. How does role conflict affect groups and individuals? How can it be resolved?

3. What are the five most common forms of interaction recognized by sociologists?

4. Identify and describe the three broad categories of societies used by sociologists.

5. How do the roles of group members differ between primary and secondary groups?

6. What, according to Max Weber’s model, are the major characteristics of a bureaucracy?

7. What weaknesses influence the effectiveness of bureaucracies?