Social Structure 04_01_Building Blocks of Social Structure

Social Institutions  Entities organized to satisfy one or more of the basic needs of society significant social institutions: family economy civics education religion media medicine science sports Militaryfriendship

Status  ways of defining where individuals fit in society and how they relate to others  A position within an institution

Types of Status  Ascribed status  Sex, son, teen, race  Achieved status  Student, friend, graduate  Master Status  Mother, wealthy, athlete  Status Symbol  Ring, uniform, auto

Roles  Behaviors, obligations, privileges attached to a status Reciprocal roles corresponding roles that define the patterns of interaction between related statuses

Role Expectations when people interact with one another their behavior corresponds to the particular roles they are playing. The socially determined behaviors expected of a person

Role Performance  How people really act within a role

Role Conflict  Contradictory demands of different roles performed

Role Strain  Contradictory demands of the same role Role Set Different parts of the same role