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Edited 3/31/03
SOC 100 C5
Social Structure
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Chapter 5
Social Interaction and Social Structure
1. Social Structure and Individual Behavior
2. Basic Elements of Social structure
3. The Structure of Societies *
4. Relationships among societies *
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• For discussion questions read carefully and answer the question asked. I suggest the following guidelines :
• (1) Outline your answer before starting the discourse (Place your outline at the top].
• (2) Answer as if you were explaining to a friend, someone who is unfamiliar with the topic -not as if you were discussing with me.
• (3) Be as complete as possible.
• (4) Write so I can read your writing--print or cursive but must be legible.
• _______________________________________________________________
• A.
Thoroughly list and explain the characteristics of a sociological image of reality and a mass media image of reality .
Read the Xeroxed enclosed news article carefully. Classify the article as either a sociological image of reality or mass media image of reality and support your choice with specific references to the article. As a last paragraph identify the broad model of human behavior this article takes and support your position.
• ---Use back of this page if you need more space--

1. Social Structure and Individual Behavior
(1) Intro to Social Structure*
Example WNBA (text p 160)
(2) Structure Perspectives
Microperspective
Microperspective
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(1) I Introduction to Social Structure
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Social structure; relatively stable patterns that organize social relationships that provides framework for society
(small groups, large groups, bureaucracies, institutions
Nomalism vs. Realism
Whole= sum of parts Whole is more then sum
Summary of realism; positions (structure of relations) rules (norms), expectations of one another (roles)
Functions; limits individual freedom, coordinates, allows continuity and predictability,does not determine
4 outcome, allows flexibility, spontaneity, and individuality.

(2) Structure Perspectives
• Macroperspective
Big picture, examines populations, societies, world (e.g. trend toward world economic relations)
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• Microperspective
Close-up picture, examines details of individual interaction (e.g. specifically defined roles by members of a team)

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2. Basic Elements of Social structure
(1) Status and Role *
(2) Social Relationships
(3) Groups
(4) Formal Organizations

(1) Status and Role "The Social Script"
Status ; the position one occupies in a society (social address) includes prestige, power...
achieved; attained through effort (bank manager) ascribed; assigned at birth or stage in life cycle
(female) master status; overriding position (female, registered sex offender)
Role; collection of culturally defined rights and obligations for a status in a social system (child obeys parents, attends school etc, sick role gets help and decreased work expectations, father, mother...
* role strain; contradictory single role e.g. Senator represents constituency but also defends constitution
(impeachment process)
7 role conflict; working women and also a mother role set, cluster of social relationships (page 169 text)

(2) Social Relationships
Social relationships are building blocks of social structure
Some are single faced (coworkers)
Some are multifaceted (neighbors)
Some are informal (friends, family)
Some are formal (professor-student, bank tellercustomer)
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Some relationships or warm enduring, some voluntary, some intimate, direct and of course in each case the opposite is possible

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(3) Groups
• Common purpose
• Common goals
• shared sense of identity
• interactions structured by positions in group
• variety of shapes and sizes of groups
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(4) Formal Organizations
(a) Organizational development
(b) Organization Structure
(c) Bureaucracy and Weber’s model
(d) Formal vs Informal Structure
(e) Dysfunction's of Bureaucracy

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(a) Organizational development
“rationalization”
Concept developed by Weber. Basic idea is organizations “naturally move in the direction of becoming structured with formal rules, hierarchy, etc.” formal to informal
• small to large
•
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“professionalization” (and “commercialization?)

(b) Organization Structure
Shared characteristics of organizations
• Formal structure*
• Participants have limited commitment
• Goals are clearly defined adjustable goals
• Technology, means (procedures, equipment, etc) to achieve goals
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• Environment dependency for resources.
Organizations affect and are affected by environment

(c) Bureaucracy and Weber’s model a hierarchical organization, governed by formal formal rules and regulations
Ideal Type* characteristics of Bureaucracy--Weber division of labor specialization, expertise hierarchy chain of command, responsibility formal written rules and regulations informal* & formal exist
Is a Bureaucracy impersonal impartial. impersonal all bad? Consider status based on qualifications the alternative for not family or personality modern society.
clear delineation public and private separate home-work based on rational-legal authority not traditional -Queen or charismatic -Jesus
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*Ideal type; an attempt to capture the essential elements not specific description of particulars, developed by Max Weber
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(d1) Formal Structure
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Formal; Group designed and created to pursue specific goals and held together by explicit (formal) rules
Major characteristics; scale, structure, goal completion emphasis, large, enduring, complexity
Meritocracy
Elements of formal organizations patterned social structure participation intensity limited goals, clear and defined technology-means to achieve goals-used environment-formal organizations are part of a larger system earliest examples; priesthood, agrarian state armies is our ideal, promotions based on performance.
Reality at top is relationships and image crucial.
See “informal”
Bureaucracy; a type of formal organization (see previous)

(d2) Informal Structure
Informal;unofficial, mgmt and workers devise to cope with
* unanticipated, protect self interest, avoid unpleasant.
May work positively or negatively for organization
-sometimes interferes, undermines goals
"work to rule", "work load norms"
-sometimes facilitates system operating
China's "Guanschi" and "backdoor", facilitates change
-meritocracy vs. reality; at top levels relationships
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Iron Law of Oligarchy; “Rule by a few”
Michel's observed
• democracy depends on all participating
• as size increases; not all can/able/interested
• responsibility delegated
• leaders have means and incentive to take control
• leader may come to see themselves as indispensable
• recent research tends to support this idea

(e) Dysfunction's of Bureaucracy
(1) Routinization leads to lack of flexibility and difficulty changing-Weber's "iron cage of rationality"
(2) Trained incapacity; tendency to blindly follow rules become ritualistic as opposed to problem solving
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(3) Depersonalization
(4) Vested interest; managers tendency to protect autonomy, security and prestige
(5) Excessive growth
(a) Parkinson's law; work expands to fill time allocated
(b) Meyer's "vicious circle" purpose to solve problem creates new problems, creates new bureaucracy (p196))
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(c) "Peter Principle" -individuals rise to incompetence level e.g good teacher->administrator

3. The Structure of Societies *
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(1) Intro Structure of Societies *
(2) Population -structuralist model (not in text)*
(3) Institutions *
(4) Global example:Japanese Corporations
(5) Stratification
(6) Society

(1) Intro Structure of Societies
Society; -an autonomous population,
-subject to the same political authority,
-common territory,
-shared ID
Not in 6th Ed.
(2 ) Two general types from Durkheim
Mechanical Solidarity; based on similarity, homogeneity
(occupation, world view). Common earlier history
Organic Solidarity; based on heterogeneity, interdependence
(differences in occupation, ethnicity, etc.) held together by need for parts-like organism
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Modern society (cross-membership limits conflicts)

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(2) Population -structuralist model Not in 6th Ed.
How population age distribution related to social factors
Not in 6th Ed.
Country A
Males Females
Age
Group
90-100
80-90
70-80
60-70
50-60
40-50
30-40
20-30
10-20
0-10
A
-Low birth / death rate
-Large work base (affluence)
-Work limited by age
-Similar size age group
-Small nuclear families
Country B
Males
B
Females
-Hi birth / death rate
-Small work base (poor)
-Work throughout life
-Different size age groups
-large extended families

(3) Institutions
Social Institutions; relative stable, beliefs, values, norms statuses, roles, etc. groups and organizations
* that provide structure for behavior in a particular area interrelated, uphold similar norms
Major Institutions Function_________
Family replenishing of population
Religion provides meaning & purpose
Education ensures cultural continuation
Government maintain order / protect
Economics production & distribution
-with industrial development more institutions e.g.
20 transportation system, health system. military defense industry..

(4) Global example:Japanese Corporations lifetime employment:
Japan US loyalty, Freq. Job change/mobility decisions for long-term Immediate goals
* emphasis on collective performance X Japanese culture
Japan: conformity, cooperativeness, belonging slow decisions but all agree
US: individuality, competition, quick decisions but not all take part holistic concern for employees
Japan: firm is seen as a community, family, vacations recreation etc. all part
US: individual replaceable e.g.. train a McDonald's worker in 2 hours make money in 1 day
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Both US & Japan are changing with the economy

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(4) Stratification
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Stratification; structured inequality, the division of society into layers (social classes) with unequal access to power, prestige, wealth
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Stratification varied historically early simple M-F, roles, feudal state extreme differences, modern less then feudal but still significant
• Example; age stratification, historically changes, differential treatment very young and old (“ageism”)
More on stratification in chapter 8

(4) Society
• Society; an autonomous population with common territory and political authority and a shared identity,
“we”.
• Mutual independence of members
• Collective actions
• Frequently has formal organizations, especially modern societies
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• Changes through time

4. Relationships among societies*
(1) Evolutionary Trends (Lenski et.el.)
The Changing Structure of Human Societies and
The Gods must be Crazy
(2) World --System Theory (Wallerstein et. el.)
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Post industrial society
-decreased diversity, "Global Village"
-?absolutes for societies?
-world system -core, peripheral, semi
-status system between countries
(core, perephial, simi-peripheral)
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(1) Evolutionary Trends (Lenski et.el.)
• Hunter-Gatherer Bands 3-4 mil years
BP
• Horticultural Villages 10,000 BP
• Agrarian States 6000 BP
• Industrial Nations 200 BP
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(pP187 text) more complete version in
“History of
Human
Societies” back of workbook
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Study questions for The Gods Must Be Crazy
1. Compare the Bushman and the South Africans in terms of beliefs, values, norms, technology
(what was the worst “sin” of a Bushman)
2. Compare the Bushman and the South Africans in terms of how the members of the group related to one another
3. Which type of society discussed in the text best fits the
Bushman, the South Africans. Explain why using examples from the movie.
4. Which society would you prefer to live in if you had a choice? Why?
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(2a) World --System Theory (Wallerstein et. el.)
“World Market System”
Text page 191
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• Global stratification industrialization reduced differences within a society increased differences between societies.
- industrial nations diversified, colonies specialized,
- 3rd world has overabundance of dependents,
- industrial nations control technology
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-status today: US. no longer most powerful, 3 competing areas: N. America, Europe, Pacific Rim

(2b) World --System Theory (Wallerstein et. el.)
Economic Alignment
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Core States: expanding economy, capitalist agriculture, trade, manufacturing, services, specialized economy to complement trading partners(US, Germany, France....)
• Peripheral areas: underdeveloped, unskilled/coerced labor, extraction or labor export and agricultural staples, initially colonies then
Gov. by native U/C and M/C (Philippines,
Mexico, El Salvador, Jamaica...)
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•
Semi-peripheral: avoided subordination by core, large or special assets, have some characteristics of core (India, PRC, Brazil, Spain, Turkey, South
Korea...
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(2c) World --System Theory (Wallerstein et. el.)
First, Second, Third World
• First World: industrialized capitalist nations led by the US (US, Japan, Germany,...)
Political
Alignment
• Second: the more developed socialist countries led by the USSR (USSR, Poland,
Romania....)
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• Third World: “nonaligned”, developing countries (n=125) also used to refer to nonindustralized countries, unskilled, low tech, specialized economies (e.g. PRC,
India, Brazil....

Possible Group Questions
(1) Define, describe and give an example not in the text of the following concepts:
Social Structure, Group, Status, Role, Role
Set, social Position, Ascribed, Achieved, formal and informal organization, institutions, stratification, Society, Bureaucracy,
Rationalization, Ideal Type, World system,
(2) What is social structure, differentiate between micro perspective and macro perspectives
(3) How has society evolved, what are the major types and what are the major variables involved
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(4) What is the current theory on structural relations at the world level? How does S. Korea, Mexico, Cuba fit this model?

Describe and give an example not in the text
Micro perspective (160)
Social Structure(160)
Status(166)
Role Set (168)
Role conflict(168)
Macro perspectives (160)
Group (662)
Role (167)
Role Strain (168)
Status (166)
Ascribed Status (166)
Master Status (166)
Formal structure (170)
Social Institutions(179)
Achieved status (166)
Informal structure (170)
Social Stratification (182)
Society (185) Society Evolution (187)
Iron Law of Oligarchy (178) Rationalization (workbook)
Ideal Type (175)
World system (191)
Bureaucracy (Weber 174))
Ageism (184)
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Quiz S01 C5 and C6 #####Answers#####
(1) You finish college and get a good job because of your education. What type of status is this called?
Achieved
Don’t Print
(2) C.S.U.B. is what type of organization according to the Weber?
Bureaucracy, Formal, secondary
(3) The status of women, minority, registered sex offender which override other status one may have is a?
Master Status
(4) A mother of 2 small children also is a professional geologist at Chevron. She has great difficulty being a
"good mother" and a "professional". What is she experiencing?
Role Conflict
(5) Two friends eating lunch in the cafeteria are called (be specific, type of group)?
Dyad, Primary group, informal group
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(6) Linda helped her child with her science project from 6 until 11 last night.
This she found a picture the child had drawn placed with her purse notes as her thanks. What would sociologist call this exchange?
Norm of
Reciprocity

Quiz C5a Soc Interaction/soc structure Answers Don’t Print
(1) You finish college and get a good job because of your education. What type of status is this called?
(2) As a student you have social many relationships
(teachers, classmates, school club members, etc.) This set of relationships is called?
(3) C.S.U.B. is what type of organization according to the
Weber?
(4) The status of women, minority, registered sex offender which override other status one may have is a?
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(5) How long did the Stanford Prison Experiment last?
(6) A mother of 2 small children also is a professional geologist at Chevron. She has great difficulty being a
"good mother" and a "professional". What os she experiencing?

Quiz C5b Soc Interaction/soc structure Answers Don’t Print
(7) Name one dysfunction of Bureaucracy.
(8) Name one of the major social institutions
(9) Which type of society has humans lived in the longest
(Lenski and Lenski)
(10) Name one of countries the "World Systems" theorists call core nations
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Quiz C5a Soc Interaction/soc structure Answers Don’t Print
(1) You finish college and get a good job because of your education. What type of status is this called?achieved
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(2) As a student you have social many relationships
(teachers, classmates, school club members, etc. This is called? Role set or status
(3) C.S.U.B. is what type of organization according to the
Weber? Bureaucracy, Formal, secondary
(4) The status of women, minority, registered sex offender which override other status one may have is a? master status
(5) How long did the Stanford Prison Experiment last? 6 days
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(6) A mother of 2 small children also is a professional geologist at Chevron. She has great difficulty being a
"good mother" and a "professional". She is experiencing role conflict

Quiz C5b Soc Interaction/soc structure Answers Don’t Print
(7) Name one dysfunction of Bureaucracy. Routinization not work all cases, trained incapacity, depersonalization, vested
* interests (Iron Law of Oligarchy) excessive growth
(8) Name one of the major social institutions Family, religion, education, economic, political/government
(9) Which type of society has humans lived in the longest
(Lenski and Lenski) Hunter gather
(10) Name one of countries the "World Systems" theorists call core nations US, Japan, Western European Nations
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Quiz Alt Soc Structure/CB
Don’t Print
(1) I am a male college professor. What two concepts do sociologist use to classify the source for these status?
__________, ___________
(2) Sociologist (demographers) who have found the pop-
-ulation shape (% population in each age group) is different for developed vs. undeveloped nations are using a ___________ -perspective
(3) What do the Lenskis as well as others see as the driving force in sociocultural evolution? ___________
(4) One of the characteristics or elements of organization
_________
(5) One of the dysfunction's of Bureaucracy is _________
(6) One of Weber's characteristics of bureaucracy
_________
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Quiz Alt Soc Structural/CB(a) Don’t Print
(1) I am a male college professor. What two concepts do sociologist use to classify the source for these status?
ascribed, achieved
(2) Sociologist (demographers) who have found the pop-
-ulation shape (% population in each age group) is different for developed vs. undeveloped nations are using a macro-perspective
(3) What do the Lenski's as well as others see as the driving force in sociocultural evolution? Technology
(4) One of the characteristics or elements of organization social structure, participants, goals, technology, environment
(5) One of the dysfunction's of Bureaucracy is _________ routinazation leads to inability to respond to different situations (e.g. OSHA req that farm with 100 workers provide toilet every 40 acres not fit Montana farm), trained incapacity/ritualism (not think about issue), depersonalization, vested interests, excessivegrowth, Parkenson's law, Peter Principle
(6) One of Weber's characteristics of bureaucracy division of labor, hierarchy, formal/written rules and regulations, impersonal, technical qualifications,
36 clear delineation between official and private,

(2) Introduction Social Interaction
Don’t Print
-Defining the situation; a collective process determines appropriate, sets limits
(e.g. Husband ,<->Wife conversations & Power 5th ed-p125)
-Presentation of Self; (Erving Goffman)
"All the worlds a stage"
Backstage / front stage
Support systems (look the part, props)
Negotiations and Face work; define->all have stake->"studied nonobservance"
-Exchange and Reciprocity; "Norm of Reciprocity" but not like economic not respond with same (e.g. not same dinner, gift..) response subtle and diffuse (e.g. child's gift to Dad)
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Don’t Print
(10) China has had approximately 10% increase in
GNP for the last 10 years. Other nations have to take China's position into account in international affairs. Wallerstein would classify China as core, perephial, or simi-peripheral