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Exploring Social Structures and Interactions: Macro and Micro Sociology

Discover the intricate patterns and relationships within social structures, guiding behaviors and shaping interactions. Uncover the impact of culture, social classes, and statuses, touching upon roles, groups, and institutions. Explore the perspectives of functionalism and conflict theory, delving into mechanisms that uphold societal cohesion or foster tensions. Immerse yourself in the dynamics of social interactions, from stereotypes to dramaturgy, and understand the construction of reality through symbolic interactionism. Engage with the complexities of macro and micro sociology through real-life examples and theoretical frameworks.

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Exploring Social Structures and Interactions: Macro and Micro Sociology

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  1. Ch. 4: Social Structure and Social Interaction • 2 ways to view world- macro/micro sociology • Social structure- the typical patterns in a group, consisting of the relationships of people and groups to one another • Guides our behavior • Overrides personal feelings/desires

  2. Major components of social structure • Culture- determines what kind of people we become • Social class- based on income, education, and occupational prestige • Social status- position an individual occupies in society or in a social group • Several positions at same time • Status set

  3. Ascribed status- involuntary • Achieved status- voluntary, earned • Positive or negative • Found in all human groups • Status symbols- signs to identify status • Master statuses- cuts across other statuses an individual occupies • Status inconsistency- contradiction or mismatch between statuses

  4. Social statuses come w/ built in norms/expectations that guide our behavior • Roles- behaviors, obligations, and privileges attached to a status • Occupy a status, play a role • Roles lay out what is expected of people

  5. Groups- consist of people who regularly and consistently interact w/ one another • Share similar values, norms, & expectations • Organization varies- status: well-poorly defined; informal-formal; differing degrees of connection w/ other groups • Involuntary memberships- assigned membership • Voluntary memberships- choose to join

  6. Social institutions • The organized means that each society develops to meet its basic needs • Family, religion, law, politics, economics, education, science, medicine, military • Differentiation- dominant feature of human societies is continual creation of new social institutions (Parsons) • Mass media as emerging social institution

  7. Nature of social institutions • Functionalist perspective • Perform vital functions for society • Five functional requisites • Replace members • Socialize new members • Produce/distribute goods and services • Preserve order • Provide sense of purpose

  8. Conflict perspective • Social institutions do not work harmoniously for the common good • Power elite

  9. What holds society together? • Social cohesion • Mechanical solidarity • Division of labor • Organic solidarity • Gemeinschaft (intimate community) • Gesselschaft (impersonal association) • As societies change so do people’s orientations to life

  10. Social interaction and symbolic interactionism • Stereotypes in everyday life • Personal space- varies by culture • 4 distance zones • Intimate distance • Personal distance • Social distance • Public distance • Touching and eye contact

  11. Dramaturgy • Social life like a drama or stage play • Front stage vs. back stage (Goffman) • Role conflict • Role strain • We tend to become the roles we play • Impression management • Use social setting • Appearance • Manner • Face-saving behavior

  12. The social construction of reality • Symbolic interaction • The definition of the situation (Thomas theorem)- if people define situations as real, they are real in their consequences • Subjective interpretation • Need macro and micro sociology • The Saints and the Roughnecks

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