1. SOCIAL STRUCTURE Building Blocks

2. Structure August Comte – society as a series of interrelated parts – a “structure” Social structure – the network of interrelated statuses and roles that guide human interaction Status – socially defined position in a group or society “social status” Role – the behavior, rights, and obligations expected of someone in a particular status

3. Status You can achieve multiple levels of status: teacher, father, husband, African-American, and church deacon all at once Ascribed Status An assigned status according to qualities beyond a person’s control. Not based on ability or accomplishments – based on inherited traits or assigned when a person reaches a certain age (examples?) Achieved Status Acquired through own direct effort (skills, knowledge, abilities) (examples? Are we limited to what achieved status we can gain?)

4. Master Status Despite the fact that we all hold multiple statuses, one status will usually tend to rank above the others This status plays a great role in shaping a person’s life and determining their identity known as the Master Status Master Status is dynamic and always changing As a teenager – being a student/athlete As young adult – husband As adult – father/work As elder – volunteer, grandparent

5. Roles Ralph Linton – “You occupy a status, but you play a role” Reciprocal Roles Corresponding roles that define the patterns of interaction between related statuses. Example: You can not have the role of being husband without having someone to perform the role of wife Doctor-patient, athlete-coach, friend-friend, leader-follower, sales-customer

6. Expectation and Performance When we interact within our roles, there is a certain expectation as to how each role is played These socially determined behaviors that are expected of us are called role expectations Doctors are EXPECTED to treat their patients with skill and care Role Performance – the actual role behavior performed Does not always match up with the role expectation Parents sometimes abuse their kids The problems occur when people are asked to perform roles that are contradictory or that are beyond their ability to perform

7. Conflict and Strain Each status can have multiple roles to play, not just one The Role Set is the different roles that are attached to a single status However, within this role set, there are contradictory expectations within and between our role sets Role Conflict This occurs when fulfilling the roles of one status makes it difficult to fulfill roles of another status Example: To be a good employee, you must go to work, causing you to leave your children at home and be unable to be a good parent full time Role Strain When a person has difficulty meeting the role expectations of a single status (not multiple ones) A boss must keep up morale of workers, but also work them overtime

8. Social Institutions Social Institution When statues and roles are organized to satisfy one or more of the basic needs of society These institutions provide: Knowledge Goods Services Social control What institutions are major social institutions? Family, economy, politics, education, religion, media, medicine, science

9. Key Vocabulary Social Structure Social Status Status Role Ascribed Status Achieved Status Master Status Reciprocal roles Role expectations Role performance Role set Role conflict Role strain Social institution