lec 10 social structure [compatibility mode]

8/17/2019 Lec 10 Social Structure [Compatibility Mode]

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Social & Legal Issues

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Social & Legal Issues 2

Building Blocks of Social Structure

• Social structure is the network of interrelated

statuses and roles that uides human

interaction.

society, while a role is the behavior, or the

, .

• A social institution is a system of statuses androles organized to satisfy one or more of

society’s basic needs


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• Main Idea

• oc a s ruc ure s e ne wor o n erre a e

statuses and roles that uides human

interaction. A status is a socially defined

pos t on n soc ety, w e a ro e s t e e av or

attached to a status


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• A social structure is a network of

human behavior. A status is a sociallye ne pos t on, w e a ro e s t e e av or

associated with a status

• Ascribed status is assigned

accordin to ualities be ond a

• Most people have many

statuses, but a masterperson’s control, such as age.

• Achieved status is acquired

’

status is the one that plays

the greatest role in a

erson’s life. ,

such as education.

• It can be either ascribed orachieved.


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o es

• Role Expectations and Role Performance

• Role expectations are the socially determined behaviorsexpected of a person with a particular status.

• Role performance is the actual behaviors of a person with a

part cu ar status. T ey may or may not e t e expecte behaviors.


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o e on ct, o e tra n, an o e x t

• A role set is the different roles associated with a articular

status.

• Role conflict occurs when fulfillin the role ex ectations of

one status interferes with a second status.

• Role strain occurs when a erson has difficult fulfillin the

role of one status.

• Role exit is the rocess eo le o throu h to detach from a role

that was previously central to their social identity.


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oc a nst tut ons

• A social institution is a group of statuses and roles that are

organized to satisfy one or more of the basic needs of society. – e am y, t e most un versa soc a nst tut on, ta es respons ty or

raising the young and teaching them accepted norms and values.

– The economic institution organizes the production, distribution, and

consumption of goods and services. – The political institution is the system of norms that governs the exercise and

.

– Education ensures the transmission of values, patterns of behavior, and

certain skills and knowledge. – Religion provides a shared, collective explanation of the meaning of life.


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T es of Social Interaction

• There are five common forms of social interaction—exchange,

competition, conflict, cooperation, and accommodation.• Exchange, cooperation, and accommodation tend to stabilize

the social structure, while competition and conflict tend to

.

• oc o og sts ent y ve common orms o soc a nteract on:

exchange, competition, conflict, cooperation, and

.


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• Exchange occurs when people interact in an effort to receive a reward or a

return for their actions.

• Reciprocity is the idea that if you do something for someone, that person

owes you something in return.

• Basis of exchange interactions

• Exchan e theor is the idea that eo le are motivated b self-interest in

their interactions with other people.

• Rewarded behavior is repeated


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ompet t on an on ct

• Competition

• Competition occurs when two or more people or groups oppose each other.

– Common in Western societies

– Sometimes considered basis of ca italism and democrac

– Can lead to psychological stress, a lack of cooperation, and conflict

• Conflict

• Conflict is the deliberate attempt to control a person by force, to oppose

someone, or to harm another person.

– Has ew ru es o accepte con uct

– Can reinforce group boundaries and loyalty


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omponen s o oc a ruc ure: roups

• Functional theorists emphasize the social

institutions exist because they perform fiveessential tasks

– replacing members

– teaching new members – producing, distributing, and consuming goods and

services

– preserving order – providing in maintaining a sense of purpose


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• Conflict theorists agree that social institutions

are organized to meet basic social needs

•

institutions work for the common good ofever one in societ


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The Structure of Formal Organizations

• Formal or anizations are com lex secondar rou s

created to achieve specific goals. Most are structured as

bureaucracies.• Max Weber noted that all bureaucracies, regardless of

their goals or purposes, have common characteristics.

• Formal and informal structures can affect the efficiency ofbureaucracies.

Main IdeaFormal organizations are complex secondary groups created to

achieve specific goals. Most are structured as bureaucracies. Formal

and informal structures can affect the efficiency of bureaucracies.


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’

• Division of labor

– Work is divided among specialists.

• Ranking of authority

– There are clear-cut lines of responsibility.

• Employment based on formal qualifications – Individuals are hired on the basis of tests, education, or

experience.

– Workers are replaceable.


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’ ’ .

• Written rules and regulations

– There are objective rules that identify each person’sresponsibilities.

• Specific lines of promotion and advancement

– Lines of promotion reward loyalty with job security and seniority.• Organizations fit this ideal type to varying degrees

– Some, like voluntary associations, may vary with the abilities of

volunteers.


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Weber’s Bureaucracy

• Views bureaucracy in a positive light

– Best way to organize large numbers of people to attain a large goal

–

– Provide stability

aws o ureaucracy• Several significant weaknesses

– o onger u or g na goa s

– New goal might be self-continuation

– Encoura e bureaucratic ersonalit

– Create alienation among employees

– Result in oligarchy—a tendency labeled the iron law of oligarchy


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The McDonaldization of Societ

Max Weber suggested that as society progressed it would become increasingly

guided by rules, regulations, and formal structures. George Ritzer called thisen ency .

• Four as ects to McDonaldization: • Pros: convenient familiar

efficiency, calculability,predictability, and control

•

• Cons: removal of human aspect,no room for innovation, reduction

- -

specific guidelines that maximize

efficiency

• n orm y across pro uc on

lines results in uniform products

lec 10 social structure [compatibility mode]

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