The Importance Of Social Structure And Human Agency

719 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: chapter 6 social structure theories

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

Show More
Related

  • Theoretical Perspective Essay

    1082 Words  | 3 Pages

    The first theoretical perspective is structural functionalism. Structural functionalism is a macro-level theory that “views a society as a complete unit” ( Larkin, Ch.2 ). Society is seen as a system of interaction, where everyone has their own role (Harpercollins). Therefore, society is seen as a system with different parts and how these parts operate together. Structural functionalism also focuses on social stability which is seen as a societal

    Read More

  • Sociological Concepts In Sociology: Socialization, Gender, And Family

    1139 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Individual Autonomy and Social Structure

    734 Words  | 2 Pages

    Individual Autonomy and Social Structure: Dorothy Lee. Throughout the years, anthropologist Dorothy Lee has longed to understand the diversity of other cultures in a way to conquer the conflicts that have risen in western society. She addresses the key social problem as one which attempts to pacify social structure and personal autonomy. Dorothy Lee gives an insight on child rearing within the Navaho Indian culture which encourages respect for the sheer personal being; a solution to what she views as crucial involving the disagreements between structure and freedom.

    Read More

  • C Wright Mills The Promise Analysis

    618 Words  | 2 Pages

    In “The Promise,” by C Wright Mills, he believed that sociological imagination was the ability to look at an individual’s experience and role of the individual in society. He was of the opinion that ordinary human beings felt caught up by life circumstances because they did not view their lives in terms of culture, history, education, religion etc. It is necessary to consider these social structures while evaluating one’s life because they influence individuals in more ways than one can imagine. Social structures have evolved greatly over time and continue to do so today. In order to fully understand our society and our roles as human beings within society, it is important to evaluate our lives in terms of social structures.

    Read More

  • Class Consciousness and Self-Sufficiency in Society

    798 Words  | 2 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Social Structure Essay

    759 Words  | 2 Pages

    What elements of social structure do you see in this video? How could they lead to crime or criminal behavior?

    Read More

  • Structure And Culture: Social Structure, And Social Culture

    1854 Words  | 4 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Social Structure and Its Effect On Our Lives

    1991 Words  | 4 Pages

    Social structures are constraints that affect the lives of both the affluent and the indigent members of society.  Each society has its own set of social arrangements for example; class, gender and ethnicity are all constraints that each society has to deal with in one way or another.  One of the most fundamental of the social structures would be class.  Class structure is found in all societies and is the key source of economical inequality.  Members of different class groups start their lives with unequal opportunities.  This means that when someone is born into a poor household   they will undoubtedly remain in the same economical situation they began in.  Gender is another important issue when regarding structures.  For years women have struggled to be accepted into the workforce and although there have been many improvements on the treatment of female employees there is still a long way to go to reach equal opportunities.  Ethnicity has a strong bearing on what we can achieve in life by greatly affecting our place in the labour market.  Although Australia is a multicultural society life chances for Australia's own migrants are still less than adequate when it comes to being treated fairly in the workforce.

    Read More

  • Social Construction of Gender

    1142 Words  | 3 Pages

    Society is a social factors that has many ways in which its mold a individual and

    Read More

  • Human Values and Social Structures

    1876 Words  | 4 Pages

    Human Values and Social Structures It can be said that Golding describes the moral of the book in relation to the scientific mechanics of society. This is found as a major theme in the book, which is actually fear. The boys on the island view this ideal in the form of the "beastie". The "beastie" is an unseen figure on the island, which is symbolized by the dead parachutist. This fear, however, represents the potential evil found in humans.

    Read More

  • Human Nature and the Social Order

    849 Words  | 2 Pages

    Human nature is not simply a measure of our human tendencies. It is both individual and collective. It does not explain why events happen. Instead, it explains the subconscious of each individual in the instant that events happen. The social order that best fits human nature is one where the informed opinions of everyone creates decisions and causes action. Madison’s argument for and against factions, Aristotle’s idea of ultimate happiness, and Locke’s concept of popular government and human rights all offer a significant component to the larger concept that is human nature. While some may argue that we will only fully understand human nature when we are met with death, still we can begin to capture a slight understanding to what governs human nature and the political order that helps it grow.

    Read More

  • Structure and Agency

    1549 Words  | 4 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • The Three Major Theoretical Perspectives in Sociology

    1966 Words  | 4 Pages

    The structural-functionalist perspective looks at society as a complex system composed of various parts much like a living organism. Each aspect of society contributes to society's functioning as a whole. Social institutions play a key role in keeping a society stable. All societies need certain things to survive (Newman 2010).

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Social Influence On Human Development

    702 Words  | 2 Pages

    Human beings undergo different stages of development. During the development, people experience various constraints and detriments depending on their gender, race, social status, among other factors. The society plays an incredible role in human development. Everyone deals with eth society in different ways; through education, work, communication, or socializing. Therefore, social influence is inevitable. Scholars go as far as singling out social status being a lifelong limiting factor of human development (Bartholomae, & Petrosky, 2003).

    Read More

  • Police Officers: Their Work and Actions: Structure Agency Debate

    980 Words  | 2 Pages

    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).

    Read More

More about The Importance Of Social Structure And Human Agency

Open Document