Danny Gonzalez

Karla Madrigal
Marco Simental
Maria Mendoza
1. How do ascribed and achieve statuses serve to identify who a person is in a
culture? What are reference groups? How are reference groups experienced in society?
Ascribed status serve to identify a person who was born with this status, it is not chosen but
assigned depending on their families social status, age, ethnicity, and sex. An achieved status is
chosen by the person, this depends on their job, their motivation and willingness to succeed.
Achieved status is usually earned by a persons skills and efforts, however achieved status can be
both negative and positive depending on a persons actions. A reference group is an individual
who is influenced by the people around them, this causes a person to change the way they think
and change their beliefs. There are all kind of reference groups that surround us, we are all
victims of these experiences at some point of our lives. For example a person who may be shy
can be approached by a leader who is used to converstating with people, this person may
introduce the shy person to more of their friends, this may cause the timid person to become
more social to the point where they then too become a leader. (Maria Mendoza)
2. What is a social role (give examples)? How does one violate his or her role? What is
meant by role exit? And how does role exit relate to the socialization process? Distinguish
between primary and secondary groups (give examples).
A social role is a group of certain behaviors that are expected by a social status that has been
given to us. For example expecting a doctor to know what is wrong with us and helping us get
better or that a firefighter will know how to put out something that is in flames. One can violate
the role they are given by dealing with role conflict. When this occurs the person has two
statuses, but the expected roles for each do not go well together and it leaves the person in a very
indecisive situation. It can also be violated by doing the opposite of what the expected role is.
For example being a woman and having the occupation of a police officer. Role exit is when
someone lets go of one role they have been and transitioning to a new role. Role exit can relate to
the socialization process because they both undergo a process of trying to find out what their
values are, the customs, and the skills they need to live up to the expectations of society. The
difference between primary and secondary groups is their closeness. Primary groups are more
close together than secondary groups. An example of a primary group can be your family, friends
at church, and co-workers. An example of a secondary group can be classes in college. (Karla
Madrigal)
3. What is meant by in-group and out-group? How is in-group connected to primary
group? How is out group connected to secondary group?

In-group includes a grouping of individuals who share a common identity and sense of
belonging. The members from the group can distinguish themselves from everyone else. An
example of in-group can be simply a group of youths. In-groups are related to primary groups
because both groups include members who share common interest and are almost inseparable
and are there for each other in most circumstances because they all basically have the same
beliefs, all have an intimate connection with one another. Out-group is explained, respective to
the in-group as a category of people in which they do not belong or fit in. For example if theres
an in-group of popular boys in the football team in a high school a nerd whos in the school band
would be identified as the outgroup. Usually in-group members think theyre better than the
people of the out-group. The out-group is connected to the secondary group because the people
of these groups have no type of connections with one another and they all have different beliefs
and understand things differently rather than all being on the same page with each other, no type
of intimacy. (Marco Simental)
4. What are the five functional prerequisites that a society must satisfy if it is to survive?
Describe the differences between organic and mechanical solidarity.
The five functional prerequisites that a society must satisfy to survive are families, education,
religion, government, and economy. Families provide care, protection, and biological/social
reproduction. Education provides the necessary needs to learn and interact with others outside
our families. Religion provides shared beliefs and answers for the meaning of life. Government
provides with order through laws, and policing. Economy provides services and goods through
production, distribution, and consumption.
The difference between Durkheim's organic and mechanical solidarity is that one operates like a
machine while the other work like the organs of a human body. Mechanical solidarity is the same
process of operating the same way with very little change over time. It is also because of the
family business that keeps the same shared perspectives, as well as common values. Organic
Solidarity is based on mutual interdependence. Eventually societies will recognize the need for
others in order to function and perform to maintain a society. (Danny Gonzalez)