Chapter 5

Social Structure and Society

Chapter Outline Using the Sociological Imagination Social Structure and Status Social Structure and Roles Doing Research

Chapter Outline Sociology and the News Media: Being Gay

in America Theoretical Perspectives and Social

Structure Society Technology and Society

Social Structure The underlying pattern of social

relationships. Relationships among individuals are

patterned. Status, role, role performance, and

social interaction explain social structure.

Status A position that a person occupies within a

social structure. Individuals in interrelated statuses usually

behave in orderly and predictable ways. Statuses may be assigned or earned. A person’s master status affects most

other aspects of a person’s life.

The Interrelationships of Social Statuses

Roles, Rights and Obligations Roles are culturally defined rights

and obligations attached to social statuses.

Rights inform one person of the behavior that can be expected from another person.

Obligations inform individuals of the behavior others expect from them.

Role Performance Occurs when roles are put into

action through social interaction. Role conflict occurs when role

performance in one status clashes with role performance in another status.

Role strain occurs when the roles of a single position are inconsistent.

The Links Between Culture and Social Structure

The Stage Analogy

Stage Social Life

Parts Statuses

Script (lines) Roles

Cues Social Interaction

Actual performances Role performances

Students Expelled for Bringing Guns to School, 1998–1999

Theoretical Perspectives: Social Structure Concepts

Theoretical Perspective

Social Structure Concept

Functionalism Role

Conflict theory Ascribed master status

Symbolic Interactionism

Social interaction

Types of Society How societies solve the problem of

subsistence influences culture and social structures.

Societies become more complex as the means for solving subsistence problems improve.

Major types of societies are hunting and gathering, horticultural, pastoral, agricultural, industrial, and postindustrial.

Comparison of Major Types of Society: Hunting and Gathering

Origin First type of society to emerge

Subsistence Hunting and gathering

Technology Simple handmade tools

Culture and Social Structure

Nomadic bands based on kinship; Common property ownership; Scant division of labor based on sex and age

Comparison of Major Types of Society: Horticultural

Origin 9,000 years ago

Subsistence Domesticating plants

Technology Handmade tools (digging sticks,hoes, spades)

Culture and Social Structure

Less nomadic bands; more conflict among bands; less division of labor based on sex and age

Comparison of Major Types of Society: Pastoral

Origin About 9,000 years ago

Subsistence Domesticating animals

Technology Meat cutting tools; knowledge of grazing, land, breeding, weather, water supply

Culture and Social Structure

Live in villages; some trade; women at home while men attend herds; greater economic surplus

Comparison of Major Types of Society: Agricultural

Origin About 5,000–6,000 years ago

Subsistence Permanent land cultivation

Technology Plow and animal energy

Culture and Social Structure

Increased productivity; complex division of labor; separate political, economic, and religious institutions; social classes; emergence of trade and money

Comparison of Major Types of Society: Industrial

Origin About 250 years ago

Subsistence Application of science and technology to production

Technology Power-driven machines

Culture and Social Structure

Economy shifts to open market; women are less subordinate; institutions become more specialized; impersonal social relationships

Comparison of Major Types of Society: Post- Industrial

Origin Around 1970

Subsistence Development of service industries

Technology Intellectual

Culture and Social Structure

Greater social instability;less social and cultural consensus; reduced gender inequality; individualism increases; urban population moves out of large cities

Major Features of Postindustrial Society

1. Majority of labor force is employed in services rather than agriculture or manufacturing.

2. White-collar employment replaces blue-collar work.

3. Theoretical knowledge is the key organizing feature.

Major Features of Postindustrial Society

4. Through new means of technological forecasting, society can plan and control technological change.

5. Intellectual technology dominates human affairs.