Key Sociological Concepts

Culture•“An inherited system of

▫Symbolic forms &▫Moral demands

•That controls individual behavior”

Culture •Symbolic Forms

▫Signs Actions or gestures used to communicate an

idea▫Symbols

Signs to which we attach generalized meanings

•Language•Formal knowledge systems (intellectual

disciplines)•Informal knowledge systems

Aspects of Culture•Diversity:

▫Variations in the symbolic/moral systems underlying different human societies

▫Related to pluralism (diversity within a society)•Universals:

▫Beliefs, values, practices common to all human societies

•Relativism: ▫What people consider to be "normal" is specific

to that society/culture & historical period

Aspects of Culture•Ethnocentrism:

▫The belief that one's own culture is preferable and superior to others

•Values: ▫Broad general standards about how things

ought to be •Norms:

▫Informal rules for how things ought to be done

Social Structures•Repeated and more or less predictable

patterns of behavior▫Patterns produced by norms▫Norms are produced by values

•Norms▫Rules for how things ought to be done

Informal Invisible

Social Structures•Norms enforced by Sanctions

▫Rewards for abiding by the norm &/or▫Punishments for violating the norm

Types of Social Structure & Their Definitions•Status

▫A social position•Role

▫The behavior expected of a person because of the social position they occupy

•Ascribed Status▫A social position based upon some

inherited characteristic

Types of Social Structure & Their Definitions•Achieved Status

▫An earned social position •Status/Role Set

▫All of the social positions a person occupies•Status/Role Consistency

▫The degree to which there is congruence among social positions in a person’s status set

•(Status)-Role Strain▫Conflicting social statuses

Types of Social Structure & Their Definitions•Group

▫Two or more statuses Shared norms Oriented to a general purpose

▫Primary Groups Small, long-lasting, intimate Intrinsic reward

▫Secondary Groups Large, short-term, instrumental Extrinsic reward

Types of Social Structure & Their Definitions•Organizations

▫Two or more groups Shared norms Oriented to one or more purposes

•Institutions▫Society-wide, aggregate patterns of

behavior, designed to Solve specific problems &/or Accomplish specific tasks

Types of Social Structure & Their Definitions•Society

▫“A population of people▫In a territory▫With an identity (shared)▫That survives across at least two

generations”•Most inclusive and complex form of social

structure

Relationship Between Culture & Social Structure•Social Structure:

▫Repeated and more or less predictable patterns of behavior

•Culture:▫An inherited system of symbolic forms and

moral demands that controls individual behavior

•Relationship is Dialectical▫Social structures both produce and are

produced by culture

Culture and Social StructureDialectical Relationship

Culture Social Structure Society

Institutions

OrganizationsGroups Status-Role

Symbolic Forms Language Knowledge SystemsMoral Demands

Four Universal Institutions•Economy

▫“That institution in society that arranges for the production & distribution of the goods needed for survival” Hunter-Gatherer Agrarian Industrial (Capitalism, Socialism,

Communism)

Four Universal Institutions•Polity (Political System)

▫“That institution in society that arranges for the distribution of power” Violence Democracy Monarchy Totalitarian

Four Universal Institutions•Religion

▫“That institution in society that helps people adjust to those things which are both undesirable and inescapable.”

Four Universal Institutions•Kinship (Family)

▫“That institution in society that arranges for: Regulation of sexual relations

Who may have sex with whom? Child-rearing

Who cares for the young? Household composition

Who lives with whom?