1. Social Structure and Group Behavior

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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).

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.