Social Structure and Social Interaction: Study Notes

Chapter 5: Social Structure and Social Interaction

Section 5.1: Social Structure – The Building Blocks of Social Life

Social structure refers to the organized patterns of relationships and institutions that together compose society. Understanding social structure is fundamental to analyzing how societies function and how individuals interact within them.

• Social structure: The social patterns through which a society is organized; can be horizontal (social relationships and community characteristics) or vertical (hierarchies and inequality).

• Social inequality: The ways in which a society or group ranks people in a hierarchy, often referred to as vertical social structure.

Statuses

A status is a recognized social position that an individual occupies, which defines their relationship to others in society.

• Status: The position someone occupies in society.

• Status set: All the positions an individual occupies.

• Types of statuses:

  • Ascribed status: A status assigned at birth or involuntarily later in life (e.g., race, gender).

  • Achieved status: A status acquired through personal effort or choice (e.g., occupation, education).

  • Master status: A status that has special importance for social identity, often shaping a person's entire life.

• Status symbol: An object that signifies a particular status (e.g., wedding ring, uniform).

Roles

Roles are the expected behaviors associated with a particular status. They help maintain social order by providing guidelines for how individuals should act in specific situations.

• Role: The behavior expected of someone with a certain status.

• Example: In a supermarket, a shopper's role involves selecting items, paying for them, and following store etiquette.

Social Networks

Social networks are the web of relationships that connect individuals to others and to groups, facilitating the flow of information and resources.

• Social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) illustrate the vastness and complexity of modern social networks.

• Networks can be so extensive that individuals may not know all members personally.

Groups and Organizations

Groups and organizations are fundamental units of social structure, shaping individual behavior and societal outcomes.

• Social group: Two or more people who interact regularly and share a common identity.

• Formal organization: A large group with explicit rules and procedures to achieve specific goals (e.g., banks, hospitals, schools).

Social Institutions

Social institutions are established patterns of beliefs and behaviors that help a society meet its basic needs.

• Examples: Family, economy, government, education, religion, medicine.

• Institutions have a profound impact on both individuals and society as a whole.

Societies

Societies are groups of people who share a defined territory and culture. Sociologists distinguish between types of societies based on their social ties and organization.

• Gemeinschaft: Small, close-knit communities with strong group ties.

• Gesellschaft: Large societies characterized by weak and impersonal social ties.

Section 5.2: Types of Societies and Societal Development

Societies can be classified by their economic base and technological development, which influence social structure and inequality.

Type of Society	Key Characteristics
Hunting-and-gathering	Small, simple societies; people hunt and gather food; low inequality; egalitarian.
Horticultural and pastoral	Grow crops with simple tools or raise livestock; larger than hunting-and-gathering; more inequality and conflict.
Agricultural	Grow crops with plows and devices; wealthier; higher inequality and conflict.
Industrial	Factories and machines; greater individualism; lower but still significant inequality.
Postindustrial	Information technology and service jobs; higher education important; potential for increased inequality.

Section 5.3: Social Interaction in Everyday Life

Social interaction is the process by which people act and react in relation to others. It is shaped by shared assumptions and the construction of reality.

• Social interaction: The ways people act with and react to others.

• Background assumptions: Shared understandings of expected roles in encounters.

• Social construction of reality: The process by which individuals create reality through interaction.

Roles and Personalities

Roles not only guide behavior but also influence personality and self-concept.

• Assuming new roles can change how we interact and how we see ourselves.

• Roles can alter our personalities over time.

Role Problems

• Role conflict: Occurs when a person faces competing demands from different roles.

• Role strain: Occurs when competing demands are attached to a single role.

• Role problems may arise when a role's demands conflict with one's personality.

Dramaturgy and Impression Management

Erving Goffman's dramaturgical approach likens social interaction to a theatrical performance, where individuals manage the impressions they give to others.

• Dramaturgical approach: Social interaction as a performance.

• Impression management: Efforts to convey a favorable image to others.

• Effective impression management is crucial in situations like job interviews and first dates.

• Interviewing tips:

  • Dress professionally and show up early.

  • Shake hands firmly, maintain eye contact, and sit with good posture.

  • Thank the interviewer at the end.

Emotions and Social Interaction

Emotions are shaped by social expectations and can be influenced by social roles, gender, and class.

• Displays of emotion can be sincere or used strategically.

• Gender and class affect how emotions are felt and expressed.

Nonverbal Social Interaction

Nonverbal communication includes all forms of communication without words, such as gestures, facial expressions, and body posture.

• Women are generally more expressive nonverbally than men.

• Nonverbal cues play a significant role in conveying attitudes and emotions.

Key Terms

• Social structure, Social inequality, Status, Status set, Ascribed status, Achieved status, Master status, Status symbols

• Role, Social network, Social group, Formal organization, Social institution, Society, Gemeinschaft, Gesellschaft

• Hunting-and-gathering societies, Horticultural societies, Pastoral societies, Agricultural societies, Industrial societies, Postindustrial societies

• Social interaction, Background assumptions, Social construction of reality, Role conflict, Role strain, Dramaturgical approach, Impression management, Emotions, Nonverbal communication