Building Blocks of Social Structure

Status Social Structure – the network of interrelated statuses & roles that guide human interaction Status – a socially defined position in a group or society Roles – the behavior – the rights & obligations – expected of someone occupying a particular status

Status Ascribed status – assigned according to qualities beyond a person’s control –Eg: age, gender, family heritage, race Achieved status – acquired through one’s own direct efforts –Eg: occupation, education Master status – plays the greatest role in shaping a person’s life & determining their social identity –Eg: occupation, wealth, marital status, parenthood

Roles Role expectations – the socially determined behaviors expected of a person performing a role Role performance – people’s actual role behavior

Roles Role set – different roles attached to a single status Role conflict – fulfilling the role expectations of one status makes it difficult to fulfill the role expectations of another status Role strain – when a person has difficulty meeting the role expectations of a single status Role exit – the process people go through to detach from a role that has been central to their self-identity

Social Institutions Social institutions – when statuses & roles are organized to satisfy one or more of the basic needs of society –The family – most universal social institution, takes responsibility for raising young & teaching them accepted norms & values –The economic institution – organizes the production, distribution, & consumption of goods & services –The political institution – the system of norms that governs the exercise & distribution of power in society –Education – ensures the transmission of values, patterns of behavior, & certain skills & knowledge –Religion – provides a shared, collective explanation of the meaning of life