Sociology Chapter 4
Social Structure
Preview
Section 1: Building Blocks of Social Structure
Section 2: Types of Social Interaction
Section 3: Types of Societies
Section 4: Groups Within Society
Section 5: The Structure of Formal Organizations
Chapter Wrap-Up
Sociology Chapter 4
Read to Discover
• What are the two major components of social structure?
• How do these two components of social structure affect human interaction?
Section 1: Building Blocks of Social Structure
Sociology Chapter 4
Question
What are the two major components of social structure?
Section 1: Building Blocks of Social Structure
Sociology Chapter 4
• Status—a socially defined position in a group or in a society, which has attached to it one or more roles
• Role—the behavior expected of someone occupying a particular status
Section 1: Building Blocks of Social Structure
Sociology Chapter 4
Status Examples of Roles
Examples of Conflict / Strain
Firefighter
Mother
P.T.A. President
Put out fires, save lives, wear a uniform
Voluntarily puts self in danger, but has loved ones who need him or her
Fatigue and long shifts make household tasks and interactions difficult
Provide food and shelter, nurture family, discipline children
Run meetings, recruit new members, plan activities
Has trouble getting members to attend and follow through on promises
Section 1: Building Blocks of Social Structure
Sociology Chapter 4
Question
How do these two components of social structure affect
human interaction?
Section 1: Building Blocks of Social Structure
Sociology Chapter 4
• People’s particular roles and statuses affect how they relate to one another
• Statuses are ways of defining where individuals fit in society and how they relate to others
• Most roles have reciprocal roles that define the patterns of interaction between related statuses, such as husband and wife or teacher and student
Section 1: Building Blocks of Social Structure
Sociology Chapter 4
Read to Discover
• What are the most common types of social interaction?
• Which types of interactions stabilize social structure and which can disrupt it?
Section 2: Types of Social Interaction
Sociology Chapter 4
Question
What are some common types of social interaction, and what are
examples of each?
Section 2: Types of Social Interaction
Sociology Chapter 4
• Exchange—interacting in an effort to receive a reward or a return for one’s actions
• Competition—two or more people or groups are in opposition to achieve a goal that only one can attain
• Conflict—deliberate attempt to control a person by force, to oppose someone, or to harm another person
Section 2: Types of Social Interaction
Sociology Chapter 4
• Cooperation—two or more people or groups working together to achieve a goal that will benefit more than one of them
• Accommodation—a state of balance between cooperation and conflict
Section 2: Types of Social Interaction
Sociology Chapter 4
Section 2: Types of Social Interaction
Types of Social
Interactions
ExchangeCompetition
ConflictCooperation
Accommodation
Sociology Chapter 4
Question
Which types of interactions stabilize social structure and
which can disrupt it?
Section 2: Types of Social Interaction
Sociology Chapter 4
• Accommodation, Exchange, and Cooperation—stabilize social structure
• Competition and Conflict—can disrupt social structure
Section 2: Types of Social Interaction
Sociology Chapter 4
Read to Discover
• What types of societies exist in the world today?
• What roles do individuals play in these models of group systems?
Section 3: Types of Societies
Sociology Chapter 4
Question
What are the three main types of societies and characteristics or
examples of each?
Section 3: Types of Societies
Sociology Chapter 4
• Preindustrial—food production is the main economic activity; can be subdivided according to the level of technology and the method of producing food
• Industrial—emphasis shifts from the production of food to the production of manufactured goods, made possible by changes in production methods
• Postindustrial—much of the economy is involved in providing information and services
Section 3: Types of Societies
Sociology Chapter 4
Section 3: Types of Societies
Preindustrial Industrial
Postindustrial
Types of Societies
Hunting and gathering; pastoral; horticultural; mechanical solidarity
Organic solidarity
Manufacturing; urbanization; technology
Information; provision of services
Sociology Chapter 4
Question
What roles do individuals play in these models of group systems?
Section 3: Types of Societies
Sociology Chapter 4
Roles related to:
– Leadership
– Family
– Work
– Specialization
– Trade
Section 3: Types of Societies
Sociology Chapter 4
Read to Discover
• What are the major features of primary and secondary groups?
• What purposes do groups fulfill?
Section 4: Groups Within Society
Sociology Chapter 4
Question
What are the major features of primary and secondary groups?
Section 4: Groups Within Society
Sociology Chapter 4
Primary Groups
• Interact over a long period of time on a direct and personal basis
• Entire self of the individual is taken into account
• Relationships are intimate and often face-to-face
• Communication is deep and intense
• Structure is informal
Section 4: Groups Within Society
Sociology Chapter 4
Secondary Groups
• Interaction is impersonal and temporary in nature
• Involve a reaction to only a part of the individual’s self
• Casual
• Limited in personal involvement
• Individual can be replaced easily
Section 4: Groups Within Society
Sociology Chapter 4
Question
What are the purposes and functions of groups?
Section 4: Groups Within Society
Sociology Chapter 4
• Select leaders—people that influence the attitudes and opinions of others
• Define boundaries—members can tell who belongs and who does not
• Set goals, assign tasks, and make decisions
• Control members’ behavior—if members violate group norms, the group cannot survive long
Section 4: Groups Within Society
Functions of Groups
Sociology Chapter 4
GROUP FUNCTIONS
Section 4: Groups Within Society
Define Boundaries
Control Members’ Behavior
Set Goals Assign Tasks
Select Leaders
Make Decisions
Sociology Chapter 4
Read to Discover
• How are bureaucracies structured?
• How effective are bureaucracies?
Section 5: The Structure of Formal Organizations
Sociology Chapter 4
Question
How are bureaucracies structured?
Section 5: The Structure of Formal Organizations
Sociology Chapter 4
Head of the Bureaucracy(CEO, Superintendent, president, etc.)
(subordinates)
Section 5: The Structure of Formal Organizations
Department Head/VP Department Head/VP
(subordinates)
Sociology Chapter 4
• Division of labor
• Ranking of authority
• Employment based on formal qualifications
• Rules and regulations
• Specific lines of promotion and advancement
Section 5: The Structure of Formal Organizations
Weber’s Model
Sociology Chapter 4
Question
How effective are bureaucracies?
Section 5: The Structure of Formal Organizations
Sociology Chapter 4
• Efficient at coordinating large numbers of people, defining tasks and rewards
• Provide stability
• Can lose sight of goals, create red tape, and result in oligarchies
• In some instances, reward incompetence and expand uncontrollably
Section 5: The Structure of Formal Organizations
Sociology Chapter 4
Chapter Wrap-Up Understanding Main Ideas
1. How can a person’s status differ from his or her role?
2. How does role conflict affect groups and individuals? How can it be resolved?
3. What are the five most common forms of interaction recognized by sociologists?
4. Identify and describe the three broad categories of societies used by sociologists.
5. How do the roles of group members differ between primary and secondary groups?
6. What, according to Max Weber’s model, are the major characteristics of a bureaucracy?
7. What weaknesses influence the effectiveness of bureaucracies?