slides

1. Levels of Sociological Analysis (1 of 2)
4.1 Distinguish between macrosociology and microsociology.
• Macrosociology
• Broad features of society
• Microsociology
• Social interactions

2. Levels of Sociological Analysis (2 of 2)
Sociologists use both macro and
micro levels of analysis to study
social life. Those who use
macrosociology to analyze the
homeless (or any human behavior)
focus on broad aspects of society,
such as the economy and social
classes. Sociologists who use the
microsociological approach analyze
how people interact with one
another. This photo illustrates both
the macro level of social structure
(the amply evident disparities
between power and powerlessness).
It also illustrates the micro level
(the isolation of this man).

3. The Sociological Significance of Social Structure
4.2 Explain the significance of social structure.
• Social Structure
• Surrounds us
• Guides our behavior

4. Components of Social Structure
4.3 Be able to identify the major components of social structure: culture, social class, social status,
roles, groups, and social institutions.
• Culture
• Social Class
• Social Status
• Roles
• Groups

5. Culture
• Our shared culture
• Makes us similar to one another
• Makes other people seem “different”

6. Social Class (1 of 2)
• Based on income, education, and occupational prestige
• Those of the same social class share similar interests

7. Social Class (2 of 2)
Social class and social
status are significant
factors in social life.
Fundamental to what
we become, they
affect our
orientations to life.
Can you see how this
photo from Siem
Reap, Cambodia,
illustrates this point?

8. Social Status (1 of 2)
• Status: Position one occupies
• Provides guidelines for how to act and feel
• Status sets
• Ascribed and achieved statuses
• Status symbols
• Status inconsistency

9. Figure 4.1 Team Positions (Statuses) in
Football
Diagram of football offense versus defense.
Source: By the author.

10. Social Status (2 of 2)
Master statuses are those that
overshadow our other statuses.
Shown here is Stephen Hawking,
who is severely disabled by Lou
Gehrig’s disease. For some, his
master status is that of a person
with disabilities. Because
Hawking is one of the greatest
physicists who has ever lived,
however, his outstanding
achievements have given him
another master status, that of a
world-class physicist in the
ranking of Einstein.

11. Roles & Groups
• Roles
• Behaviors, obligations, and privileges attached to a
status
• Groups
• People who interact and share values and interests

12. Social Institutions
4.4 Explain the significance of social institutions, and compare the functionalist and conflict
perspectives on social institutions.
• Organized, Usual, and Standard Ways
• How society meets its basic needs

13. Figure 4.2 Social Institutions in Industrial and
Post-Industrial Societies (1 of 3)
Social
Institution Basic Needs
Some Groups or
Organizations Some Statuses Some Values Some Norms
Family Regulate
reproduction,
socialize and
protect children
Relatives, kinship
groups
Daughter, son,
father, mother,
brother, sister,
aunt, uncle,
grandparent
Sexual fidelity,
providing for
your family,
keeping a clean
house, respect
for parents
Have only as
many children as
you can afford,
be faithful to
your spouse
Religion Concerns about life
after death, the
meaning of
suffering and loss;
desire to connect
with the Creator
Congregation,
synagogue, mosque,
denomination,
charity, clergy
associations
Priest, minister,
rabbi, imam,
worshipper,
teacher, disciple,
missionary,
prophet, convert
Honoring God
and the holy
texts such as the
Torah, the Bible,
and the Qur’an
Attend worship
services,
contribute
money, follow
the teachings
Education Transmit
knowledge and
skills across
generations
School, college,
student senate,
sports team, PTA,
teachers’ union
Teacher, student,
dean, principal,
football player,
cheerleader
Academic
honesty, good
grades, being
“cool”
Do homework,
prepare lectures,
don't snitch on
classmates
Economy Produce and
distribute goods
and services
Credit unions,
banks, credit card
companies, buying
clubs
Worker, boss,
buyer, seller,
creditor, debtor,
advertiser
Making money,
paying bills on
time, producing
efficiently
Maximize profits,
“the customer is
always right,”
work hard

14. Figure 4.2 Social Institutions in Industrial and
Post-Industrial Societies (2 of 3)
Social
Institution Basic Needs
Some Groups or
Organizations Some Statuses Some Values Some Norms
Medicine Heal the sick and
injured, care for
the dying
AMA, hospitals,
pharmacies, HMOs,
insurance
companies
Doctor, nurse,
patient,
pharmacist,
medical insurer
Hippocratic
oath, staying in
good health,
following
doctor’s orders
Don't exploit
patients, give
best medical
care available
Politics Allocate power,
determine
authority, prevent
chaos
Political party,
congress,
parliament,
monarchy
President,
senator, lobbyist,
voter, candidate,
spin doctor
Majority rule,
the right to vote,
loyalty to the
constitution
Be informed
about
candidates, one
vote per person
Law Maintain social
order, enforce
norms
Police, courts,
prisons
Judge, police
officer, lawyer,
defendant,
prison guard
Trial by one’s
peers, innocence
until proven
guilty
Give true
testimony, follow
the rules of
evidence
Science Master the
environment
Local, state,
regional, national,
and international
associations
Scientist,
researcher,
technician,
administrator,
journal editor
Unbiased
research, open
dissemination of
research
findings,
originality
Follow scientific
method, be
objective,
disclose findings,
don't plagiarize

15. Figure 4.2 Social Institutions in Industrial and
Post-Industrial Societies (3 of 3)
Social
Institution Basic Needs
Some Groups or
Organizations Some Statuses Some Values Some Norms
Military Provide protection
from enemies,
enforce national
interests
Army, navy, air
force, marines,
coast guard,
national guard
Soldier, recruit,
enlisted person,
officer, veteran,
prisoner, spy
Willingness to
die for one’s
country,
obedience unto
death
Follow orders,
be ready to go to
war, sacrifice for
your buddies
Mass Media Disseminate
information, report
events, mold public
opinion
TV networks,
radio stations,
publishers,
association of
bloggers
Journalist,
newscaster,
author, editor,
blogger
Timeliness,
accuracy,
freedom of the
press
Be accurate, fair,
timely, and
profitable
Source: By the author.

16. Comparing Functionalist and Conflict
Perspectives (1 of 3)
• Functionalist theorists:
• Society must
▪ Replace members
▪ Socialize new members
▪ Produce and distribute goods and services
▪ Preserve order
▪ Provide a sense of purpose

17. Comparing Functionalist and Conflict
Perspectives (2 of 3)
Functionalist theorists have
identified functional requisites
for the survival of society. One,
providing a sense of purpose, is
often met through religious
groups. To most people, snake
handling, as in this church
service in Scottsboro, Alabama,
is nonsensical. From a
functionalist perspective,
however, it makes a great deal
of sense. Can you identify its
sociological meanings?

18. Comparing Functionalist and Conflict
Perspectives (3 of 3)
• Conflict theorists:
• Society has a small, elite group in power that
▪ Holds the majority of society’s wealth
▪ Wants to preserve the status quo

19. Changes in Social Structure
4.5 Explain what holds society together.
• What Holds Society Together?
• As societies grow and modernize, a fundamental
shift in relationships occurs

20. What Holds Society Together? (1 of 4)
• Durkheim: Mechanical and Organic Solidarity
• Tönnies: Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft

21. What Holds Society Together? (2 of 4)
The warm, more
intimate
relationships of
Gemeinschaft
society are apparent
in the photo taken in
Ecuador.

22. What Holds Society Together? (3 of 4)
The more impersonal
relationships of
Gesellschaft society
are evident in this
Internet cafe in the
United States, where
customers are
ignoring one
another.

23. What Holds Society Together? (4 of 4)
Gemeinschaft or
Gesellschaft?
Photo taken in
Shipshewana,
Indiana

24. The Symbolic Interactionist Perspective
4.6 Discuss what symbolic interactionists study.
• Stereotypes in Everyday Life
• Personal Space
• Eye Contact
• Smiling
• Body Language

25. Figure 4.3 How Self-Fulfilling Stereotypes
Work
Flow chart demonstrating the
stages that can lead to a self-
fulfilling prophecy.
Source: By the author.

26. Stereotypes in Everyday Life
Based on the experiments
summarized here, how do
you think women would
modify their interactions if
they were to meet these
two men? And if men were
to meet these two men,
would they modify their
interactions in the same
way?

27. Personal Space & Eye Contact
• Personal space
• We protect our “personal bubble”
▪ Culturally specific
• Eye contact
• We use this to be intimate
▪ Can be misinterpreted otherwise

28. Smiling & Body Language
• Smiling
• Misinterpretation likely: Not necessarily useful for
businesses outside the U.S.
• Body language
• Interpretation: Useful for businesses and
governments especially

29. Body Language
With the training of
Homeland Security
agents, body
language has
changed from being
purely descriptive
and theoretical to
applied.

30. Dramaturgy (1 of 4)
4.7 Explain why life is like a stage according to dramaturgy; be ready to explain role performance, sign-
vehicles, teamwork, and becoming the roles we play.
• The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life
• Stages
• Role performance
• Role conflict
• Role strain
• Sign-vehicles
• Teamwork
• Becoming the roles we play

31. Dramaturgy (2 of 4)
In dramaturgy, a
specialty within sociology,
social life is viewed as
similar to the theater. In
our everyday lives, we all
are actors. Like those in
the cast of Orange Is the
New Black, we, too,
perform roles, use props,
and deliver lines to fellow
actors—who, in turn, do
the same.

32. Figure 4.4 Role Strain and Role Conflict
Graphics providing examples of – and showing the differences between – role
conflict and role strain.
Source: By the author.

33. Dramaturgy (3 of 4)
All of us contrast the reality
we see when we look in the
mirror with our culture’s
ideal body types. The
thinness craze encourages
some people to extremes, as
with model Karlie Kloss. It
also makes it difficult for
larger people to have
positive self-images.

34. Dramaturgy (4 of 4)
Overcoming this
difficulty, Melissa
McCarthy is in the
forefront of
promoting an
alternative image.

35. Ethnomethodology (1 of 2)
4.8 Explain what background assumptions are and how they are an essential part of social life.
• Uncovering Background Assumptions
• Getting at the taken-for-granted ideas about the
world that underlie our behavior

36. Ethnomethodology (2 of 2)
All of us have background
assumptions, deeply
ingrained assumptions of
how the world operates.
What different
background assumptions
do you think are
operating here? If the
annual “No Pants! Subway
Ride” gains popularity,
will background
assumptions for this day
change?

37. Social Construction of Reality
4.9 Be able to apply the social construction of reality to your own life.
• The Thomas Theorem
• “If people define situations as real, they are real in
their consequences”
• The Social Construction of Reality
• The use of background assumptions and life
experiences to define what is real

38. The Need for Both Levels of Macrosociology and
Microsociology
4.10 Explain why we need both macrosociology and microsociology to understand social life.
• Two Levels of Analysis
• In order to have full view of social life, we must use
both