Social StructureSocial Structure

Social Structure the network of interrelated statuses

and roles that guide human interaction

Status a socially defined position in a

group or in a society

Is status given to someone or are Is status given to someone or are we born into it?we born into it?

There are three types of status:

Ascribed StatusAscribed Status

status that is assigned according to qualities beyond a person’s control

not based on a individual’s abilities, efforts, or accomplishments

based on person’s inherited traits or assigned automatically when a person reaches a certain age

you don’t earn it, and you can’t change it

Ascribed StatusAscribed Status

Examples: Examples: InfantInfant ToddlerToddler TeenagerTeenager AdultAdult ManMan WomanWoman etcetc

Achieved StatusAchieved Status

status acquired through their own effort

efforts include special skills, knowledge, or abilities

people have control over their achieved status

Achieved StatusAchieved Status

ExamplesExamples Baseball players Actors Husband Wife Parent etc

Master StatusMaster Status

one status takes rank above all othersstatus that plays the greatest role in a

person’s life and determining his or her social identity

can be ascribed or achieved changes over the course of life; often

based on one’s occupation

RolesRoles

Rolethe behavior – the rights and

obligations – expected of someone occupying a particular status

Role Expectations The socially determines behaviors

expected of a person performing a role

Example: • doctors are expected to treat their patients with skill and care

Are expectations always met?Are expectations always met?

Role Performance their actual role behavior people’s performance don’t always

match their expected behavior

Does a single status have only one Does a single status have only one role? role?

Role Set different roles attached to a single

statusRole Conflict

occurs when fulfilling the role expectations of one status makes it difficult to fulfill the role expectations of another status

Role Strain occurs when a person has difficulty

meeting the role expectations of a single status