soc wks 5-6

social structure

durable social relationships and organized patterns of activity / behavior

basic elements of social structures

states and roles

types of statuses

achieved and ascribed status

achieved status

status we choose or earn

examples of achieved status

college student, spouse, employee, parent

ascribed status

statuses over which we have little or no control

examples of ascribed status

sibling, son/daughter, race, sex

roles

behavioral expectations attached to a social status

types of social structures

micro, meso, and macro level

micro level social structure

smaller “primary” groups. families, friends, cliques, teams, etc.

meso level social structure

medium sized “secondary” groups. social networks organizations. task/goal oriented, less personal

macro level social structure

large scale social systems and institutions. economy, education, government, military, law, etc. very abstract, we don’t personally identify with macro structures

functionalist theorist perspective on social structure

Social structures organize social life into predictable patterns. Integrated social structures enhance order and cohesion. Serves society’s most important needs and tasks. More optimistic; looks at everything that is normal

conflict theorist perspective on social structure

Most social structures are also inequality structures. Establish durable hierarchies and organized patterns of domination and subordination. Structural hierarchies typically lead to oppression/inequality. More cynical; they want to take things from others and have more dominance and power

symbolic interaction perspective

social reality is determined by the meanings we attach to it. there is no objective social reality, it is socially constructed

social interaction theory

Social reality is determined by the meanings we attach to it. In turn, society/social structures are created and reproduced through social interaction

who coined Dramaturgy

Goffman

“Dramaturgy”

the social life is a series of stage performances that vary by social context

Goffman’s Dramaturgy says there is always a “front” ___ and a “back” ____. Different ____ (social contexts) activate different social identities and thus different interaction patterns

stage

who coined Ethnomethodology

Garfinkle

Ethnomethodology

Studies the common sense cultural knowledge through with people make sense of everyday situations and interactions. Most of this common sense knowledge is taken for granted, we only notice it when someone defies it

example of ethnomethodology

Norm-breaking experiments - talking too close to someone, facing the wrong way on the elevator, using a yernal directly next to somebody

who coined the interaction order

Goffman

The interaction order

the nonstop process of impression management (or “self presentation”) during social encounters

example of the interaction order

using exclamation points to have a brighter tone.

impression management

the conscious or unconscious process through which people try to control the impressions other people form of them

When we are successful at self presentation, we have achieved or saved “____”

face

saving face

successfully protected the impression

deviance

the violation of cultural norms

crime

acts of deviance that violate laws and are enforced by state officials

most acts of deviance are/are not crimes

are not

sanctions

punishments for deviant or criminal acts

applying sanctions to deviant behavior is one fundamental way society exercised ____ over individuals

social control

functionalist perspectives

social cohesion theory, social disorganization “broken windows” theory, structural “strain” theory

social cohesion theory

deviance plays an essential role for social order and stability. Deviance promotes social solidarity and cohesion by clarifying and affirming society’s moral and normative boundaries

Social Disorganization (”Broken Windows”) Theory

Deviance / crime are more likely in social environments lacking strong social ties and social control. Lack of integration among parents, schools, neighborhoods, churches, community groups, etc.

Structural “Strain” Theory

Deviance / crime occurs when there is a “mismatch” between socially valued goals and one’s means to achieve them. Theft, lying, cheating, etc. are therefore deviant responses to this mismatch

Two symbolic interaction (“sub-theories) of deviance

differential association theory, labelling theory

differential association theory

Deviance / crime is learned within subcultural settings through group interaction. don’t have to be genetically predisposed to bad behavior, not inherent. deviance is socialized, it is learned within deviant subcultures

labelling theory

Deviant / criminal behavior is a product of society imposing a deviant identity or “label” on an individual. Deviance begins with an initial act of primary deviance, Society then attaches a stigmatizing label to the individual

stigma

a powerful negative label that encompasses a person’s identity

Deviance thus becomes a ______

self-fulfilling prophecy

social class

The economically disadvantaged are disproportionately targeted for deviant / criminal behavior

“Blue collar” offenses are ___ harshly (and frequently) punished than “white collar” offenses

more

blue collar crime

street crime, stealing, breaking into houses, stealing cars, etc.

__ collar crime is often far more costly to society however

white