Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Social Structure and Social Interaction

Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach 7/e James M. Henslin Chapter Four: Social Structure and Social Interaction

This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images; any rental, lease, or lending of the program.

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2005

1

Chapter 4: Social Structure and Social Interaction

Levels of Sociological Analysis 

Macrosociology 



Large-Scale Features of Social Life

Microsociology 

Focus on Social Interaction

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2005

2

Chapter 4: Social Structure and Social Interaction

The Macrosociological Perspective 

Sociological Significance of Social Structure 

Guides Our Behavior



Behavior Decided by Location in Social Structure

 Culture

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2005

3

Chapter 4: Social Structure and Social Interaction

The Macrosociological Perspective 

Social Class Divides People by… 

Income



Education



Occupation



Status Symbols



Master Statuses Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2005

4

Chapter 4: Social Structure and Social Interaction

The Macrosociological Perspective 

Social Status 

Ascribed



Achieved



Status Symbols



Master Statuses

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2005

5

Chapter 4: Social Structure and Social Interaction

The Macrosociological Perspective 

Roles



Groups

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2005

6

Chapter 4: Social Structure and Social Interaction

Social Institutions 

Sociological Significance of

Social Institutions 

Ten Social Institutions in Industrialized Societies

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2005

7

Chapter 4: Social Structure and Social Interaction

Ten Social Institutions in Industrialized Societies 

Family



Religion



Education



Economics



Medicine Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2005

8

Chapter 4: Social Structure and Social Interaction

Ten Social Institutions in Industrialized Societies 

Politics



Law



Science



Military



Mass Media Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2005

9

Chapter 4: Social Structure and Social Interaction

Social Institutions



Mass Media as Social Institution



Functionalist and Conflict Perspectives

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2005

10

Chapter 4: Social Structure and Social Interaction

Functionalist Perspective 

Replacing Members



Socializing New Members



Producing and Distributing Goods and Services



Preserving Order



Providing a Sense of Purpose Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2005

11

Chapter 4: Social Structure and Social Interaction

Conflict Perspective 

Powerful Groups Control Institutions



Small Groups Garner Lion’s Share of Wealth



Social Institutions Affect Gender Relations



Main Purpose is to Preserve Social Order

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2005

12

Chapter 4: Social Structure and Social Interaction

Changes in Social Order 



What Holds Society Together? 

Mechanical and Organic Solidarity



Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft

How Relevant Today?

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2005

13

Chapter 4: Social Structure and Social Interaction

Microsociological Perspective: Social Interaction in Everyday Life  Stereotypes 

Assumptions About What People Are Like



Classify Others By Visible Characteristics



Ideas About Characteristics Guide Our Behavior Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2005

14

Chapter 4: Social Structure and Social Interaction

Microsociological Perspective: Social Interaction in Everyday Life 



Personal Space 

Intimate Distance



Personal Distance



Social Distance



Public Distance

Eye Contact Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2005

15

Chapter 4: Social Structure and Social Interaction

Dramaturgy: The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life 

Erving Goffman 

Dramaturgy—The Stage



Impression Management



Role Performance



Role Strain Between and Within Roles Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2005

16

Chapter 4: Social Structure and Social Interaction

Ethnomethodology: Uncovering Background Assumptions 

The Study of How People Do Things



Harold Garfinkle’s Experiments

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2005

17

Chapter 4: Social Structure and Social Interaction

Social Construction of Reality 

Definition of the Situation— Thomas Theorem



Objective Reality vs. Subjective Interpretation



Gynecological Examinations

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2005

18

Chapter 4: Social Structure and Social Interaction

Need for Macrosociology and Microsociology 

Understanding Incomplete Without Both



Consider the Example of Groups Studied by William Chambliss

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2005

19