4-1: Building blocks of Social Structure

Focus Questions

4-1 How might factors such as the mass media and popular entertainment influence American Norms and values?

Essential Questions

What are the two major components of social structure?

How do these two components of social structure affect human interactions?

Social Structure

The way in which society is organized into predictable relationships

Social Interaction & Reality

Human beings interpret or define each other’s actions

The ability to define social reality reflects a group’s power within society

Defining & Reconstructing Reality

Negotiated Order

Negotiated Order is a social structure that derives its existence from the social interactions through which people define and redefine character

People reshape reality by negotiating changes in patterns of social interaction

Negotiation is the attempt to reach agreement with others concerning the same objective.

Major Components of Structure

Status A socially defined position in a

group in a society, which has attached to it one or more roles

A person holds more than one status simultaneously

Examples:

President

Daughter

Student

Neighbor

Role The behavior expected of

someone occupying a particular status.

Can have more than one role simultaneously

Social Statuses

Ascribed and Achieved Status Ascribed = status you are

born with

Achieved = status you earn

Master Status Master = status that

dominates others and determines a person’s general position in society

Social Roles

Role Conflict is the challenge of occupying two social positions simultaneously

Role strain describes the difficulties that result from the differing demands and expectations associated with the same social position

Role exit describes the process of disengagement from a role that is central to one’s identity, and the establishments of a new role.

STATUS EXAMPLES OF ROLE EXAMPLES OF CONFLICT/STRAIN

Firefighter Put out fires, save lives, wears a uniform

Voluntarily puts self in danger, but has loved ones who need him/her

Mother Provide food, shelter, nurture, discipline

Fatigue and long shifts make household tasks and interactions difficult

PTA President Run Meetings, recruit new members, plan activities

Has trouble getting members to attend and follow through on promises.

STATUS EXAMPLES OF ROLE

EXAMPLES OF CONFLICT/STRAIN

STUDENT

4-2: Types of Social Interaction

Focus Question

Essential Questions

How are culture and society related to human interaction?

How do individuals and groups use accommodation to settle disputes?

Exchange

Most basic and common form of social interaction

Dating, family life, friendship, and politics all involve exchange

Reciprocity is the basis for exchange: The idea that if you do something for someone,

that person owes you something in return

Exchange Theory

DEFINTION: a theory that holds that people are motivated by self-interests in their interactions with others. People do things primarily for rewards. Behavior that is

rewarded tends to be repeated.

Assignment: Reflect back on your answer from the FOCUS Question. Are there any examples that could be explained through this theory. If not, think of an example and be prepared to share.

How is the image above an example of S.E.T.?

Competition DEFINTION: an interaction that occurs when two or

more people/groups oppose each other to achieve a goal that only one can attain Common in Western Society Basis behind capitalism and democracy If it follows accepted rules of conduct, most

sociologists view it as a positive means of motivating people to perform the roles society asks of them .

Negatively, competition can lead to psychological stress, a lack of cooperation in social relationships, inequality, and even conflict.

Cooperation DEFINTION: interaction that occurs when two or

more persons/groups work together to achieve a goal that will benefit many people. No group can complete its task or achieve its goals

without cooperation from its members Competition may be used along with cooperation to

motivate members to work harder for the group.

Assignment: Think of groups with which you have been involved. Have they ever used competition along with cooperation? What are some examples?

Accommodation

DEFINTION: a state of balance between cooperation and conflict. accommodation helps to ensure social stability It can take a number of different forms

Compromise Truce Mediation Arbitration

4-3: Types of Society

Essential Questions

What types of societies exist in the world today?

What roles do individuals play in these models of group systems?

Focus Questions

In your opinion, what is the “division of labor”?

As time goes on, societies change and advance. Using your knowledge of history, identity and describe 3 different types of societies.

Important Definitions

Group

A set of people who interact on the basis of shared expectations and who possess some degree of commons identity

Subsistence Strategies

Ways a society uses technology to provide for the needs of its members

** There are three types of soceities**

Pre-Industrial Society Food production through the use

of human and animal labor is the main economic activity

Subdivided according to technology and method of production Hunter-Gatherer

Pastoral (free range grazing cattle or sheep)

Horticultural

Slash-and-Burn

Agricultural

Barter system

Hunter Gatherer

Constantly Moving in search of food

Do not build permanent villages

Limited artifacts

Rarely exceed 100 people

Status fairly equal

Family is the main social unit

Pastoral

Rely on domesticated herds Nomadic: moving herds from pasture to pasture Larger populations due to food reliability

Food surpluses result in division of labor Trade and inequality emerge Property is passed between generations

Horticultural

Food grown in garden plots Slash and burn techniques develop Simple tools Move to new land when land becomes barren 30-2,000 people Similar technology and social structure as Pastoral

Agricultural

Animals are used to cultivate land Increased technology allows to plant more crops Irrigation increases crop yield Large crop yield support large/permanent societies Increased specialization leads to cities Wealth becomes more concentrated Barter system emerges

The Affects of Industrialization

Preindustrial Emphasis is food production

Economic activities in the home

Produced entire product

Family is the primary socialization and education agent

Social status is fairly fixed

Industrial Emphasis is manufactured

goods

Economic activities in the factory

Division of labor

Education and socialization takes place outside of the family

Increased potential to change status

Postindustrial Society

Emphasis is on the provision of information and services

Standard of living increases for much of the population as wages increase

Strong emphasis on roles of science and education

Technological advances are viewed as the key to future prosperity

Sociology and Society

Preindustrial Societies Mechanical Solidarity: hen people share values and tasks they

become united

Gemeinshaft: most people know each other. Activities center on the family and community. Strong sense of solidarity

Industrial Societies Organic Solidarity: with increased specialization, relationships become

less personal and people are less able to provide for their own need

Gesellchaft: Relationships are impersonal, temporary, and based on need rather than emotion. Values are weak and individual goals are more important than group goals.

Assignment: Diary Entries

Write a series of six (6) creative diary entries that Illustrates how a teenager might spend his or her day for each of the six types of society Hunting and Gathering Societies

Pastoral Societies

Horticultural Societies

Agricultural Societies

Industrial Societies

Post-Industrial Societies

4-4: Groups within Society

Focus Question

Define “group”

Vocabulary & Essential Question

EQ: How are culture and society related to human interaction?

EQ: How do sociologists define the term group?

EQ: What are the major features of primary and secondary groups?

EQ: What purposes do groups fulfill?

Dyad Reference Group

Triad In-Group

Formal Group Out-Group

Informal Group Electronic Community

Primary Group Social Network

Secondary Group

What is a group?

Definition: A set of people who interact on the basis of shared expectations and who possess some degree of common identity

The Four Features of a Group

1. 2 or more people involved

2. interaction among group members

3. shared expectation

4. sense of common identity

Assignment: Identify 5 different examples of groups

Aggregates (NOT a group)

Definition: When people gather in the same place at the same time, but lack organization or lasting patterns of interaction

Examples: Passengers on an airplane or a line to buy tickets to a concert

Social Categories: a means of classifying people based on shared trait or characteristic

Examples: Students, women, teenagers, left-handed

Varying Features of a Group

Size

Time

Organization

Dyad 2 members

Each member has direct control over the group’s existence

Decision making can be difficult if they don’t agree

Triad 3 members

Group takes on life of its own

Cant be disbanded by one member

Tie breaker makes decisions easier

Formal Group

Structure, goals, and activities are clearly defined

Informal Group

There is not an official structure or established rules of conduct

Primary Group

Small group that interacts over a long period

Communication deep and intense

Intimate/face to face

Entire self shared

Secondary Group Interaction is temporary and

personal

Casual and limited in personal involvement

Personal importance based on function performed

Individual easily replaced

Partial self shared

In Group A group that a person

belongs to and identifies with

Separate themselves through use of symbols

See themselves as (+) and out groups (-)

Compete with out-groups

Out Group

A group that a person does not belong to or identify with

Reference Group Definition: Any group with

whom individuals identify and whose attitudes and values they adopt groups chosen are

important because they can have positive and negative effects

as a person grows older, reference groups can change

Assignment: using the different types of groups, label each of these pictures using as many applicable terms as possible

Electronic Communities & Social Networks

Electronic Communities demonstrate behaviors similar to primary groups – argue, engage in intellectual discussions, share intimate details, gossip, play games, and flirt

Social Networks: a web of relationships formed by the sum total of a person’s interaction with others

Unlike a group, there is not a common identity

Provide interaction and career advancement

Can provide support during stressful periods.

Group Functions

1. Must define boundaries for belonging

2. Need to set goals, assign tasks, and make decisions

3. Need to control members’ behavior – conformity

4. Must select leaders (people who influence the attitudes and opinions of others)

1. Instrumental leaders: task oriented

2. Expressive leaders: emotion-oriented

3. Groups need both to be successful