Ch. 4 Social Structure and Interaction Flashcards
(34 cards)
analysis of social life that focuses on broad features of society, such as social class and the relationship of groups to one another; usually used by functionalists and conflict theorists
Macrosociology
analysis of social life that focuses on social interaction; typically used by symbolic interactionists
Microsociology
one person’s actions influencing someone else; usually refers to what people do when they are in one another’s presence, but also includes communications at a distance
Social interaction
the framework of society that surrounds us; consists of the ways that people and groups are related to one another; this framework gives direction to and sets limits on our behavior
Social structure
a large group of people who rank close to one another in property, power, and prestige
Social class
the position that someone occupies in a social group
Status
all the statuses or positions that an individual occupies
Status set
a position an individual either inherits at birth or receives involuntarily later in life
Ascribed status
positions that are earned, accomplished, or involve at least some effort or activity on the individual’s part
Achieved status
indicators of a status; items that display prestige
Status symbols
a status that cuts across the other statuses that an individual occupies
Master status
ranking high on some dimensions of social status and low on others
Status inconsistency
the behaviors, obligations, and privileges attached to a status
Role
people who interact with one another and who believe that what they have in common is significant
Group
the organized, usual, or standard ways by which society meets its basic needs
Social institution
the degree to which members of a group or a society are united by shared values and other social bonds
Social integration
Durkheim’s term for the unity (a shared consciousness) that people feel as a result of performing the same or similar tasks
Mechanical solidarity
the splitting of a group’s or society’s tasks into specialties
Division of labor
Durkheim’s term for the interdependence that results from the division of labor; as part of the same unit, we all depend on others to fulfill their jobs
Organic solidarity
a type of society in which life is intimate
Gemeinschaft
a type of society that is dominated by impersonal relationships
Gesellschaft
Erving Goffman’s term for an approach in which social life is analyzed in terms of drama of the stage
Dramaturgy
people’s efforts to control the impressions that others receive of them
Impression management
places where people give performances
Front stages
