Sociology 101
Chapter 4
Social Structure & Interaction
in Everyday Life
Social Structure and
Interaction
 Social structure is the framework of societal
institutions (politics, and religion) and social
practices (social roles) that make up a society
and establish limits on behavior.
 Social interaction is the process by which
people act toward or respond to other people
and is the foundation for all relationships and
groups in society.
Social Structure Framework
What Is Social Structure?
Refers to the way in which
society is organized
It contains four elements:
– a.
– b.
– c.
– d.
Statuses
Roles
Groups
Institutions
Status
A socially defined position in
a group (or society);
accompanied by certain
rights and duties
Status Set - All of the
statuses occupied by a
person at one time
Three Types of Status
Ascribed - Conferred at
birth or received
involuntarily later in life
Achieved - The result of
choice, merit or effort
Master - The most important
status a person occupies
ROLES
A set of behavioral
expectations that accompany
a status.
Role Conflict - Incompatible
demands between multiple
roles
Role Strain - Incompatible
demands within a single role
GROUPS
A number of people (more
than one) who share similar
norms, values and
expectations or regularly and
consciously interact.
A gathering of multiple people
is not necessarily a group:
– Aggregate: A group of people
who happen to be together
– Category: A collection of people
who have similar
characteristics, but may not
know one another
Primary Groups
Characteristics:
– 1.
– 2.
– 3.
– 4.
– 5.
Small
Extended interaction
Intimate/face-to-face
contact
Emotional ties
Cooperative
Secondary Groups
Characteristics:
–1. Larger
–2. Temporary
–3. Superficial
–4. More Impersonal
–5. More Formal
Social Institutions
A set of organized beliefs
and rules that establishes
how a society will attempt to
meet basic social needs:
– Family, Religion,
Education, Government,
and Economy
The Functions of Social
Institutions
1) Replace members
2) Socialize new members
3) Produce, distribute and
consume goods and services
4) Preserve social order
Social Structure and Modern
Society
Durkheim was interested
in understanding this
question:
How do societies manage
to hold together?
Mechanical Solidarity
Typical of Preindustrial
Societies:
–
–
–
–
Similar work
Emphasis on group
There are few social roles
Social interaction is based
on intimate social contact
Organic Solidarity
 Greater division of labor
 Society is less personal
 People relate based on
status and roles, not
human qualities
Interdependence is key
Social Structure From the
Macroperspective
Functionalism
– Social structure creates order and
predictability in a society
• We know what is expected of us and thus act
accordingly which creates and maintains social
order
• Thus, social structure is functional for the
maintenance of society
Social Structure From the
Macroperspective
Conflict Theory
– The way economic production is organized is
the most important structural aspect of
society
• Social structure creates boundaries that define
which persons or groups are “insiders” and
which are “outsiders”
– The Bourgeoisie vs. Proletariat
• Thus, social structure is a source of conflict in
society
Social Structure From the
Microperspective
Social structure is based
on shared understanding:
– Social Constructionism (Peter
Berger and Thomas Luckmann)
– Ethnomethodology (Harold
Garfinkle)
– Dramaturgy (Erving Goffman)
Peter Burger & Thomas Luckmann –
Social Constructionism
Social reality is a “social construction”
– Our perception of reality is largely shaped
by the subjective meaning that we give to
our experiences
• The Thomas Theorem: “If men define
situations as real, they are real in their
consequences”
– We act on reality as we see it
• Reality is what we believe it to be
– Can lead to a Self-fulfilling prophecy: A false belief
our prediction that produces behavior that makes the
originally false belief come true
Erving Goffman –
Dramaturgical Analysis
 Erving Goffman – Dramaturgical Analysis
– You are a collection of social roles (student, sister, athlete, etc.)
– Daily interactions are similar to dramatic productions.
– Members of our “audience” judge our performance and are aware that we
may reveal our true character.
– Most of us attempt to control the impressions we give to others.
– We learn how to play our roles because others teach (socialize) us
• others taught you how to be “a good student”, sorority member, etc.”
– But how do we actually perform these roles?
– Goffman argues that we assume roles much like a movie or stage actor
– “All the world is a stage”
• Frontstage
• Backstage
– Impression Management
– Team work
• Helps avoid embarrassing situations and maintains social order…
– E.g. “The Party”
 Harold Garfinkle - Ethnomethodology
– Sharing norms and rules of behavior provide:
• Meaning
• Social stability
– The social order is challenged when these norms are broken
– We see the underlying structure which holds society together when norms
are broken
• “Breaching experiments”
– Breaching Experiments
•
•
•
•
•
•
The professor
Elevator...
Store bartering...
Boarders at home...
Supermarket “borrowing”...
Handing out change…
 Each of the above examples suggests:
– That the norms governing and sustaining social
order are taken for granted until challenged
v Deference, politeness, and authority exist because they are
taken for granted
v These beliefs can be successfully challenged by people with
sufficient power or self-assurance
v That challenging the norms governing and sustaining social
order creates chaos, embarrassment, frustration, and a
breakdown in the social order