Social structure

1. B Y C . S E T T L E Y
SOCIAL STRUCTURE
Study Unit 5

2. Learning Outcomes
 Define the concept status and differentiate between
(Ascribed status, Achieved status and Master status).
 Describe the following concepts:
 Position
 Roles
 - Role conflict
 - Role strain
 - Role set

3. Social Structure defined. Page 85
 Starts immediately
 Patterned relations between large social groups
 Development thereof is dependent upon social
relationships through social interaction
 Can be brief- like nodding when greeting
 Some more permanent like relationship with neighbors
 These patterns can develop over time
 Functional and contribute to social order
 Therefore the interwoven human interaction and social
relationships which occur repeatedly and in stable
patterns in society
 Eg a college

4. DEFINED Ascribed Status
 Position in society
 Recognised
 Received at birth
 No control
 At birth
 Eg being a
son/daughter/mexican
etc
STATUS

5. Achieved
status
Master
Status
 Earned by personal
achievements, efforts
 Eg qualified
nurse/specialist
 Dominates
 Known by members of
the community
 Eg princess of wales
STATUS

6. Position
 Indicates a particular place in social system
 Eg different posts in nursing services
 See figure 4.3 in Du Toit & Van staden, page 88 – the
position of the student nurse in the health care
system

7. Roles
- - Pattern of
behaviour expected
from a person
occupying a specific
position in a social
system
- - Rights &
Obligations
- - relationship with
one or more
individuals
 Role Conflict- more than one
status

8. Roles
continued
 Role Sets- number of roles with
one status

9. Roles
continued
 Role Strain- one status implies
many roles, own exectations,
rights and obligations