Ch. 5: Social Structure and Social Interaction Flashcards
What is society?
A system of social interaction that includes both culture and social organization
Define social interaction.
Behavior between 2 or more people that is given meaning by them
Define macroanalysis.
Analysis of the whole of society, how it is organized and how it changes
Define microanalysis.
Analysis of the smallest, most immediately visible parts of social life, such as people interacting
What are social institutions?
An established and organized system of social behavior with a recognized purpose.
What are some functions of social institutions?
Socialization of new members, maintenance of stability/existence, provides sense of purpose
What is social structure?
Organized patterns of social relationships and social institutions that together comprise society
Describe mechanical solidarity.
When members play similar roles within the society, share the same values, and hold the same things sacred.
Describe organic solidarity.
When people have many different roles and the roles are highly differentiated
Define gemeinschaft.
When communities have a “we” feeling, strong family relationships, and simple social institutions.
Define gesellschaft.
Societies with fewer personal ties. These societies have an elaborated division of labor.
What are the 3 types of societies?
Preindustrial, industrial, and postindustrial
What are the 4 subtypes of preindustrial societies?
Foraging, pastoral, horitcultural, agricultural
Describe preindustrial societies.
A society that directly uses, modifies, and/or tills the land as a major means of survival
Describe industrial societies.
A society that uses machines and other advanced technologies to produce and distribute goods and services
Describe postindustrial societies.
A society that depends economically on the production and distribution of services, information, and knowledge.
What is a group by sociology standards?
A collection of individuals who interact and communicate with each other, share goals and norms, and have a subjective awareness of themselves as a distinct social unit
Define status.
An established position in a social structure that carries a degree of social rank or value
What are the 3 types of statuses?
Achieved, ascribed, and master
Define roles.
Expected behavior associated with a particular status.
What are role sets?
All the roles occupied by the person at a given time.
Define role conflict.
When 2 or more roles impose conflicting expectations.
What variable tends to make people attract to each other?
Amount of time in close contact with each other (proxemic determinant)
Describe the social construction of reality.
Our perception of what is real is determined by the subjective meaning that we assign to an experience
