Social Structure and Group Behavior

Social Structure Social structure refers to the way in which a society is organized into predictable relationships. A social structure consists of a network of lasting, orderly relationships among people.

Status Status- The manner in which sociologists describe an individual’s position within a large group or society and the relation of that person to others in the group. Every member of a group has a status, and everyone belongs to many different groups.

Ascribed Status- Assigned to a person by society without regard for the individual’s talents or abilities. Achieved Status- Achieved through talents, actions, efforts, activities, and accomplishments. Master Status- That status that plays a major role in shaping a person’s life. (Senior or age; Soccer Player, Good Student; for adults parenthood or marital status, or even employment).

Roles Roles- The expected behavior that a status carries with it. We learn how to perform roles by observing and interacting with others who already understand them.

Expectations and Performance Role expectations- Behaviors expected of someone in a particular role. Determined by the society and are similar within a culture. Role performance- In reality how our role expectations are carried out.

More on roles… Reciprocal roles- Roles that are part of the interaction between related statuses. (Example: You may be a student in a teacher’s class and an athlete on that coaches soccer team) Role Strain- When conflicting demands are built into a role. Role Conflict- When incompatible expectations arise from 2 or more statuses held by the same person.