Concept, characteristics

and components of
social structure
• Social structure is a framework consisting of social
institutions (political, educational and religion),
social practices (roles and statues) and social groups
(primary and secondary).
• Social interaction is the process by which people act
toward or respond to other people and is the
foundation for all relationships and groups in society.
• The concept of social structure has been defined in
different ways by different thinkers and sociologists.
• According to Moris Ginsberg:Social structure thus
refers to the pattern and arrangement of institutional
agencies and organizations.
• Herbert Spencer was the first thinker who wrote
about structure of a society. He came up with
biological analogies (organic structure and
evolution) to define the social structure.
• According to Radcliff-Brown social structure is a
part of all social relations of person to person. In the
study of social structure the concrete reality with
which we are concerned is the set of actually
existing relations at a given moment of time that
link together certain human beings.
Characteristics
of social
structures
 Social Institutions
• Social institution is a set of organized belief and rules
that establishes how a society will attempt to meet its
basic social needs. A institution is an established and
enduring pattern of social relationship. The five
traditional institutions are:
• Formal organizations- a highly structured group
formed for the purpose of completing certain
takes or achieving specific goals. For examples:
 StateBank of Pakistan
 PTV
 Finance ministry
It is groups of people in which they interactions
and relationships. Or, it may be defined as two or
more people who interact with one another, share
similar characteristics and collectively have a sense
of unity.
• Primary groups are characterized by intimate
and informal interaction. It is the most
fundamental unit of human society. A long-
lasting group, characterized by strong ties of
love and
affection. Do’s and don’ts of behavior learned
here.
 Examples: Families, Gangs, Play Groups,
Friendship Groups
• Secondary groups are task oriented and
characterized by impersonal and formal interaction.
Groups with which the individual comes in contact
later in life. characterized by impersonal, business-
like, contractual, formal and casual relationship.
usually large in size, not very enduring and limited
relationship. People needed other people for the
satisfaction of their complex needs.
 Examples: Industrial worker, business associates,
faculty staff, company employees.
 Primary group
• Generally small
• Relatively long period of
interaction
• Intimate, face-to-face
association
• Some emotional depth to
relationships
• Cooperative friendly
Secondary group
• Usually large
• Relatively short duration,
often temporary
• Little social intimacy or
mutual understanding
• Relationships generally
superficial
• More formal and
impersonal
• Social status, also called status, the relative rank
that an individual holds, with attendant rights,
duties, and lifestyle, in a social hierarchy based
upon honor or prestige.
 Ascribed status: is a social position conferred at birth
or received involuntarily later in life, based on
attributes over which the individual has little or no
control.
 Achieved status: is a social position a person assumes
voluntarily as a result of personal choice, merit, or
direct effort.
 Statuses are social categories but roles bring
statuses to life.
 You occupy a status- you play a role.
 The set of rights, obligations, and expectations
associated with a status.
 Roles guide our behavior and allow us to
predict the behavior of others.
 Reciprocal Roles: define interaction with other. Can’t
fulfilled alone. Example: you can’t perform the role
of husband without a wife.
Examples of reciprocal roles:
 Doctor-Patient Athlete-Coach
 Employee-Boss Friend-Friend

Role Expectation: a group or society’s

definition of the way a specific role ought to be
played. Example: doctors treat their patients
with skill
 Role Performance: how a person actually plays a role.
 Role conflict: conflict between statuses. Example:
working fulltime and having young children at home.
 Role strain: difficulty meeting the role of a single
status. Example: Boss trying to motivate employees
while having to lower their salaries.
• Social structure: network of
interrelated statuses and
roles.
• Status: defines where you fit
in society.
• Ascribed status: assigned
• Achieved status: role you
achieve through your
own efforts.
• Master status: one rank that
determines your social
identity.
• Role: you play-bring
statuses of life.
• Reciprocal roles: define
interaction with others.
• Role Expectation: socially
determined expected
behaviors.
• Role conflict: conflict
between statuses.
• Role strain: difficulty
meeting the role of a single
status.