BUILDING BLOCKS OF SOCIAL
STRUCTURE
Chapter 4 Section 1
WHAT ARE THE TWO MAJOR COMPONENTS OF
SOCIAL STRUCTURE?
Social structure: the network of interrelated statuses and
roles that guide human interaction
Status: socially defined position in a group or society
Role: the behavior expected of a person in a certain
status
STATUS
Each individual has different statuses
Occupation, family membership, race or ethnic group, religion
and role in religion (ex: priest, worshiper, youth group member)
Status defines your place in society
ASCRIBED STATUS
Status determined by qualities or characteristics out of
one’s control
Inherited traits
Age
Examples: race or ethnicity, gender
ACHIEVED STATUS
Status achieved through one’s efforts
Earned
Skills, knowledge, or abilities
More control over achieved status
Examples: occupation, athletics
MASTER STATUS
When one status ranks over all other statuses an individual
has
Greatest influence on shaping an individual
Can be achieved or ascribed, depending on the individual
Changes over time
ROLES
Expected behavior for certain status
You “play” or perform the roles for your status
RECIPROCAL ROLE
Define the patterns of interaction between related
statuses
Example: husband and wife roles, doctor-patient roles
ROLE EXPECTATIONS V. ROLE PERFORMANCES
Expectations: Socially determined behaviors expected of
a person performing a role
Performances: the actual role behavior that occurs – does
not always match expected behavior
ROLE SET
Different roles attached to a single status
The interrelated roles all coming together to influence
behavior of an individual
ROLE CONFLICT
Role expectations for one status interfere with another
status
Example: being a good employee and being a good
parent
ROLE STRAIN
When an individual has difficulty meeting role
expectations for one status
SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Status and roles determine group structure in society
Satisfy one or more of the basic needs of society
Physical and emotional support, knowledge, producing goods and
services, social control
Examples: family units, politics, education, religion
Occupy a status, but you play a role
 Ralph Linton