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Chapter 6 social structure theories
Social structure and social interaction
Chapter 6 social structure theories
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Peanut butter and jelly, left and right shoe, ying and yang, social structure and human agency; if the counter parts could speak to each other they would echo Jerry Maguire (film 1996), “You complete me”. We are all well aware the left and right shoe complements each other very well as does ying and yang, and PB &J, but what about social structure and human agency? One might think social structure over shadows human agency because society is much larger then an individual but this is not always true. Like any relationship between two things there are three possible outcomes; social structure will over shadow human agency, visa versa, or they will complement one another because the two are forced to coexist in our very day lives. Social structure, a set of relatively stable roles, that is, patterned relationships among statuses. In other words social structure affects people because it is an organized system that can influence (negatively or …show more content…
In other words social structure influences human behaviors while simultaneously humans are capable of changing the social structure around them. Examples of this would be the black sheep in a family, the out laws in society, or even breakthrough technology. The individuals and establishment create a social structure shift by breaking the mold and becoming a stronger social status. In other words the agency is working to change the structure organization while the structure is giving the agency a place to seek as norm and work away from. Looking at a lower income family with no college graduates you will see the their social structure. One of the individuals will recognize the potential of a continued education (the agency). After earning a degree the social structure in the family can change based on the power or perceived power of a college
As individuals are the units of association and institutions so these associations and institutions are the units of social structure.
The focus on how social structures determine, and are effective in maintaining the equilibrium is functionalism or structural-functionalism, which is the theorizing of Durkheim and Parsons (Dillon, book, 179). What this means is that we need to look at the structures effectiveness of social structures and make sure that it is at a satisfying state of equilibrium. An example of this would be the human body, we have many different organs and they all work together to produce the fully functional human. What it comes down to is, everything has its own place in society and even if a conflict is introduced, there is a way of working itself out and the society will go back to functioning normally.
A social structure can be defined as stable patterns of human interactions and behaviours (Innocente 2015). Canadian tire possesses these characteristics because their employees go to work and commit to hands on labour for the common goal of earning income. I asked my brother for a job in order to have a source of income, which illustrates the manifest function or the intended effect from a social structure (Brym and Lie 2012). The reason why I and countless others are in the workforce, is for the clear and intended purpose of earning money. In addition to earning money, other unintended benefits, such as skills and knowledge are attained by simply being in the workforce. This is known as the latent function, which is the unintended effect from a social structure (Brym and Lie 2012). Although I go to work to earn money, I unconsciously increase my cultural capital, which is the set of social skills that individuals possess (Brym and Lie 2012). This makes me an efficient worker through interactions with coworkers and customers, consequently widening my social network, which is a set of individuals who are linked together by the trade of information and material (Brym and Lie 2012). A widened social network has made it possible to attain new and higher positions in
Social order was defined by Merriam Webster as “a particular set or system of linked social structures, institutions, relations,
What elements of social structure do you see in this video? How could they lead to crime or criminal behavior?
Sociology is the scientific study of social structure, social structure influences through culture and principles, together it produces each individual to the way they act, live and think. Due to social influences, many of our morals and values are influenced through media, parents and school. Social structure is important in our society because it affects all dimensions of human experience, it is a pattern of social interaction and over all makes us who we are. The sociological term for social structure describes society as a whole and the action in which determines individuals. The three main structures that have shaped up my social structure and impacted my life are, my ethnicity, income and religion. Being a Hispanic American Latina forever would have a impact in my life because our culture diversity and the advantage and disadvantages it is to come from a family who had to establish each of their lives all over again by moving to the United States has driven my priorities to become successful very high and not become part of statistics of staying in the middle class or in poverty.
Social structure and social culture are a big part of our life. We have different structure and culture based on which group we are with. I have a totally different Social life with my family then when I’m with friends. A social structure and culture I love and enjoy every time is, soccer. With what ever team I am playing with my social life is always the same. A soccer team can be built with friends and family and also can be made with total strangers. The structure of the team is always going to end up trying to be a good unified team. Most of us are looking to win the game and we know that if we play together as a team we will have more of a chance to win. So we might come from different backgrounds or cultures but we all have one object
Structure and agency are two theoretical terms used to explain the capacity at which we as people are able to be individuals, and to what extent those influences limit our individuality. Structure refers to the ways in which a society is organized. Agency refers to the behaviors and actions of the individuals within the social structure. Agency is limited by the structure due to cultural barriers and inequalities within the structure. In this essay, I will present an overview of why critical theorists are concerned with those inequalities, and I will further identify the problems within the system contributing to the unequal access to the public sphere, relating specifically to class and gender inequalities.
Throughout SOCIO 211, Professor Sanderson has repeatedly stated that the things we do every day are not natural. Instead these things are constructed by society. He has repeatedly reminded us that we don’t “see” sociology or culture and that we need to “teach ourselves how to see again.” This has been the main take home point of this class for me. I’ve never realized how much I am shaped by my friends, family, teachers, and others around me. That being said, three sociological concepts have improved my understanding of my relationship with society: socialization, gender, and family. These three concepts have been the most important to me because they all are concepts I’ve related to my everyday life, that I am influenced by, and have been molded into. These concepts have made me realize that I cannot necessarily be whoever I want to be or do whatever I want to do. Because of these three main points, I understand my roles and expectations better in life. I have noticed that I act the way I do because I have been socially constructed to do so through socialization, expectations of gender and gender roles, and by how my family has influenced my view of society.
Structural functionalism is the macro-analysis of society that supports the assumption that society is a stable and orderly system. This approach sees society as a complex structure that works together to function properly. The society shares a common set of beliefs, norms, values, and behavior patterns called a societal consensus. The society will institute social
Social structure in terms of sociology means “the distinctive, stable arrangement of institutions whereby human beings in a society interact and live together,”(Britannica School, “social structure.”) Social structure is not a behavior science, these structures are not formed by behavior differences, and this is proven by studies done by sociologist. Social structure can be thought as how people with different social entities interact with each other. Unlike social class where people are defined by the way they interact with people with different qualities, social structure is more on how it is all structured together and how those different social classes interact with one another. All the different social classes that exist are what a social structure is made up of. The term structure was first introduced to society...
social system that must be met for the system to survive and the corresponding structures that
Structural-Functional Theory is a framework for building theory that sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability (Macionis 16). In laments terms the structural functional theory is the idea that systems in society work together as a body, the idea that customs, traditions, and institutions shape society. This theory is outlined by social structure, social functions, and social dysfunction. Social structure is defined as any relatively stable pattern of social behavior. Social structure shapes and impacts our lives in the workplace, families, college, and classroom. Social functions are the consequences of a social pattern for the operation of society as a whole. Social dysfunction is described as any social pattern that may disrupt the operation of society. The main idea of the structural functional theory is its vision of society as stable and orderly.
Some sociologists believe that humans have the freedom to make their own choices and decide how they behave (agency) while others theorize that human behavior is determined and influenced by the patterns, arrangements, norms and guidelines of society (structure). The third position doesn’t choose either or but rather states that the two; structure and agency equally play a role in shaping human behaviour and attitudes; this perspective is known as structuration; developed by Giddens (as sited in Huyssteen, 2003).
Society shapes our personality. That means who we socialize with molds who you are as a person. Through the process of socialization you learn values, morals, beliefs, norms, and your role in this world. The people who we surround ourselves with are the ones that influence us the most. Agents of socialization (groups that influence you) are a big part of your social structure because it’s who we interact with the most. Our Significant Others (individuals that influence you) are also important because sometimes certain individuals have a meaningful role in your life and have a lot of guidance over you. Both agents of socialization and significant others have functions in your life and contribute to the kind of person you are today.