1. Social Structure & Interaction in Everyday Life
Sociology 101
Chapter 4
Social Structure & Interaction in Everyday Life

2. Day One

3. Social Structure and Interaction
Social structure is the framework of societal institutions (politics, and religion) and social practices (social roles) that make up a society and establish limits on behavior.
Social interaction is the process by which people act toward or respond to other people and is the foundation for all relationships and groups in society.

4. Social Structure Framework

5. What Is Social Structure?
Refers to the way in which society is organized
It contains four elements:
a. Statuses
b. Roles
c. Groups
d. Institutions

6. Status
A socially defined position in a group (or society); accompanied by certain rights and duties
Status Set - All of the statuses occupied by a person at one time

7. Three Types of Status
Ascribed - Conferred at birth or received involuntarily later in life
Achieved - The result of choice, merit or effort
Master - The most important status a person occupies

8. ROLES A set of behavioral expectations that accompany a status.
Role Conflict - Incompatible demands between multiple roles
Role Strain - Incompatible demands within a single role

9. GROUPS
A number of people (more than one) who share similar norms, values and expectations or regularly and consciously interact.

10. A gathering of multiple people is not necessarily a group:
Aggregate: A group of people who happen to be together
Category: A collection of people who have similar characteristics, but may not know one another

11. Primary Groups Characteristics: 1. Small 2. Extended interaction
3. Intimate/face-to-face contact
4. Emotional ties
5. Cooperative

12. Secondary Groups Characteristics: 1. Larger 2. Temporary
3. Superficial
4. More Impersonal
5. More Formal

13. Day Two

14. Social Institutions
A set of organized beliefs and rules that establishes how a society will attempt to meet basic social needs:
Family, Religion, Education, Government, and Economy

15. The Functions of Social Institutions
1) Replace members
2) Socialize new members
3) Produce, distribute and consume goods and services
4) Preserve social order

16. Social Structure and Modern Society
Durkheim was interested in understanding this question:
How do societies manage to hold together?

17. Mechanical Solidarity
Typical of Preindustrial Societies:
Similar work
Emphasis on group
There are few social roles
Social interaction is based on intimate social contact

18. Organic Solidarity Greater division of labor Society is less personal
People relate based on status and roles, not human qualities
Interdependence is key

19. Social Structure From the Macroperspective
Functionalism
Social structure creates order and predictability in a society
We know what is expected of us and thus act accordingly which creates and maintains social order
Thus, social structure is functional for the maintenance of society

20. Social Structure From the Macroperspective
Conflict Theory
The way economic production is organized is the most important structural aspect of society
Social structure creates boundaries that define which persons or groups are “insiders” and which are “outsiders”
The Bourgeoisie vs. Proletariat
Thus, social structure is a source of conflict in society

21. Social Structure From the Microperspective
Social structure is based on shared understanding:
Social Constructionism (Peter Berger and Thomas Luckmann)
Ethnomethodology (Harold Garfinkle)
Dramaturgy (Erving Goffman)

22. Peter Burger & Thomas Luckmann – Social Constructionism
Social reality is a “social construction”
Our perception of reality is largely shaped by the subjective meaning that we give to our experiences
The Thomas Theorem: “If men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences”
We act on reality as we see it
Reality is what we believe it to be
Can lead to a Self-fulfilling prophecy: A false belief our prediction that produces behavior that makes the originally false belief come true

23. Erving Goffman – Dramaturgical Analysis
You are a collection of social roles (student, sister, athlete, etc.)
Daily interactions are similar to dramatic productions.
Members of our “audience” judge our performance and are aware that we may reveal our true character.
Most of us attempt to control the impressions we give to others.
We learn how to play our roles because others teach (socialize) us
others taught you how to be “a good student”, sorority member, etc.”
But how do we actually perform these roles?
Goffman argues that we assume roles much like a movie or stage actor
“All the world is a stage”
Frontstage
Backstage
Impression Management
Team work
Helps avoid embarrassing situations and maintains social order…
E.g. “The Party”

24. Harold Garfinkle - Ethnomethodology
Sharing norms and rules of behavior provide:
Meaning
Social stability
The social order is challenged when these norms are broken
We see the underlying structure which holds society together when norms are broken
“Breaching experiments”

25. Each of the above examples suggests:
Breaching Experiments
The professor
Elevator...
Store bartering...
Boarders at home...
Supermarket “borrowing”...
Handing out change…
Each of the above examples suggests:
That the norms governing and sustaining social order are taken for granted until challenged
Deference, politeness, and authority exist because they are taken for granted
These beliefs can be successfully challenged by people with sufficient power or self-assurance
That challenging the norms governing and sustaining social order creates chaos, embarrassment, frustration, and a breakdown in the social order