Social Structure Unit 4 Sociology Mr. Nicholas

Unit 4: Social Structure Social Structure Status Roles Ascribed status Achieved status Types of Social Interaction – Exchange, Competition, Conflict, Cooperation, Accommodation Types of Societies – Preindustrial, Industrial, Postindustrial Groups – Types and Functions Structure of formal organizations

Truth or Fiction? An individual’s statuses and roles are limited and unchanging. False. Although you cannot affect the statuses and roles into which you were born, you will take on many new statuses and roles throughout the course of your life. Sociologists have little interest in groups and group activities. False. Sociologists study group dynamics and their functions in society. Informal interaction has little effect on the functioning of formal organizations. False. Although formal organizations are dominated by formal interactions, informal interactions have a strong influence on them as well.

Building Blocks of Social Structure Social Structure – The network of interrelated statuses and roles that guide human interaction. Status Role

Status In your own words, define “status.” – A socially determined position in a group or a society Doctor Wife Student Point Guard Commander in Chief

Status Ascribed Status – Assigned and out of ones control. Ex. Age, sex, ethnicity, race. Achieved Status – Acquired through effort. Doctor, husband, college graduate. Master Status – The status that plays the greatest role in shaping one’s life and determining social identity.

Roles Role – Behavior—the rights and obligations—expected of someone occupying a status. – All of us fill several roles, each of which have different expectations. – Role conflict occurs when we have difficulty fulfilling multiple roles at once. – Role strain occurs when one has trouble meeting the expectations of one role.

Status and Role StatusAscribed or Achieved?RolesConflict/Strain DoctorAchievedCaring for the sick with skill and care Working long hours and can’t spend time with children Wife Student Point Guard Commander in Chief

Categorizing Activity Use the organizer to identify your master status and other statuses. Master Status