Elements of Social Structure:Elements of Social Structure:

statusesstatusessocial rolessocial roles

groupsgroupssocial networkssocial networks

social institutionssocial institutions

def. “role”:def. “role”:

A social role is a pattern of A social role is a pattern of

expected behavior.expected behavior.

Role Theory is based on the following Role Theory is based on the following assumptions:assumptions:

1.1. People spend much of their lives in People spend much of their lives in groupsgroups..

2.2. Within these groups, people often take over Within these groups, people often take over distinct distinct functionsfunctions and occupy discernible and occupy discernible positionspositions..

3.3. With specific functions and specific positions With specific functions and specific positions come specific come specific expectations for behaviorexpectations for behavior; ; regular pattern of such expectations can be regular pattern of such expectations can be called called rolesroles..

4.4. People are generally conformists: we learn to People are generally conformists: we learn to conformconform to roles. to roles.

5.5. The anticipation of The anticipation of rewardsrewards and and punishmentspunishments inspire this conformity. inspire this conformity.

Our school — social rolesOur school — social roles

student

teacher

administrator

staff

parent

Our school — social rolesOur school — social roles

teacher

administrator

staff

parent

student — role differentiations:- the willing learner- the hard worker- the challenging rebel- the obedient follower

Our school — social rolesOur school — social roles

student

the role of teacher — differentiations:- experienced vs. new teacher- strict teacher, mean teacher, soft teacher

administrator

staff

parent

How do we know the roles?How do we know the roles?

How do we know what is expected How do we know what is expected

from us in specific roles?from us in specific roles?

How do we know what to expect from How do we know what to expect from

others?others?

Socialization.Socialization.

George Herbert Mead:George Herbert Mead:

- preparatory stagepreparatory stage- children start to imitate adults and other children, children start to imitate adults and other children,

which prepares them for playing roleswhich prepares them for playing roles

- play stageplay stage- child takes on someone else’s rolechild takes on someone else’s role

- game stagegame stage- child plays a role and takes into account that co-child plays a role and takes into account that co-

players are also playing rolesplayers are also playing roles

Socialization into roles:Socialization into roles:

For each role, we learn For each role, we learn

- normsnorms of expected behavior of expected behavior

- sanctionssanctions (positive and negative) that (positive and negative) that we may expect when we fill out or fail we may expect when we fill out or fail to fill out a role (i.e., conform to or to fill out a role (i.e., conform to or break a norm),break a norm),and that we dole out when someone and that we dole out when someone else does or does not do what we else does or does not do what we expect them to do in their role.expect them to do in their role.

Socialization into roles:Socialization into roles:

For many roles, we also learn toFor many roles, we also learn to- adapt our adapt our languagelanguage, and , and - associate the role with specific associate the role with specific

valuesvalues..

(e.g., while I play the role of customer on a market, (e.g., while I play the role of customer on a market, I’m driven by values that differ from those that I’m driven by values that differ from those that guide my behavior as a friend, or as a husband, guide my behavior as a friend, or as a husband, or as a father, or as a teacher.)or as a father, or as a teacher.)

Role ConflictRole Conflict

Whereas for the most part, we are Whereas for the most part, we are highly skilled at juggling different highly skilled at juggling different roles and switching from one role roles and switching from one role to the other,to the other,

we sometimes get into situations we sometimes get into situations where we are assigned two (or where we are assigned two (or more) different roles more) different roles at once at once ——

and sometimes, these roles may and sometimes, these roles may contain contain contradictorycontradictory expectations.expectations.

The Social Construction of RealityThe Social Construction of Reality

Again: where do all the scripts for all Again: where do all the scripts for all those “roles” exist?those “roles” exist?

Where do all these sets of expectations Where do all these sets of expectations reside?reside?

Where do we find all those norms?Where do we find all those norms?

The Social Construction of RealityThe Social Construction of Reality

Where do all the scripts for all those “roles” Where do all the scripts for all those “roles” exist?exist?

Where do all these sets of expectations reside?Where do all these sets of expectations reside?Where do we find all those norms?Where do we find all those norms?

In people’s In people’s mindsminds..

And they all depend on people’s And they all depend on people’s individual individual perspectivesperspectives..