Building Blocks of Society (Section 1)

Society

A community of individuals living together and interacting in a shared culture, often defined by social relationships, norms, and institutions.

Culture

The shared beliefs, values, customs, and practices of a group or society, influencing their way of life and social structures.

Social structure

The network of interrelated statuses and roles that guide human interaction.

Status

Socially defined positions in a group or society

Role

The behavior, the rights, and the obligations or someone occupying a particular status

Ascribed Status

A social position assigned at birth or involuntarily acquired later in life that is not based on personal choice or achievement.

Achieved Status

A social position acquired through personal choices, actions, and achievements, reflecting individual skills and efforts.

Master Status

A social position that holds special significance and dominates others in shaping a person's identity and social interactions.

Reciprocal Status

A social position characterized by mutual roles and responsibilities between individuals, where each person's status is defined in relation to others, often seen in relationships such as parent and child.

Role expectation

The societal norms and behaviors expected from an individual in a particular status or role, often influencing how they interact with others.

Role performance

The actual behavior and actions exhibited by an individual in their social role, reflecting how well they meet role expectations.

Role set

A collection of roles associated with a single status that an individual holds, highlighting the various expectations and interactions they navigate in different contexts.

Role conflict

A situation where an individual faces competing demands from different roles they occupy, leading to stress or difficulty in fulfilling those roles effectively.

Role strain

A situation in which an individual experiences difficulty in meeting the expectations of a single role due to conflicting demands or pressures.

Social Institution