1. Building Blocks of Social Structure
Ch 4 Section 1
Building Blocks of Social Structure

2. Status: An individuals position in a group.
Statuses are ways of defining where individuals fit in a society and how they relate to others.
Labels: Status label-clues to behavior/also tells us how to behave towards others. Some are obvious…other we have to look for clues (symbols).
Ascribed Status: A status that a person is born to or that is assigned by society, beyond a persons control. (male/female, age)
Achieved Status: Social standing acquired by personal accomplishment.
(class president, basketball player, cashier) Can be +, -
Master Status: the status that plays the greatest role in shaping a person’s life and determining his or her social identity.

3. Role
A behavior pattern determined by the expectations of others and by a person’s status within a particular social group.
-You occupy a status , but you play a role.
Reciprocal Roles:
Related roles that define the patterns of interaction between related statuses.
Examples?
Role Conflict:
One role conflicts with another. (packet)

4. On a separate sheet of paper please do the following:
Write as many sentences as you can by filling in the blanks.
“In the (at the)_____________, I am a ____________. “
Ex. “In the classroom, I am a student.”
Circle the ascribed statuses and underline your achieved statuses.
2. At this point in your life, what is your MASTER status? Explain why you consider this to be your master status? Do you expect this to change over time?
3. Do you have more achieved or ascribed positions?
4. How do you expect this to change as you get older?