Chapter 5

Social Interaction

and

Social Structure

Chapter Outline

What Is Society? Theories About Analyzing Social

Interaction Interaction in Cyberspace Forms of Nonverbal Communication

Chapter Outline Interpersonal Attraction and Formation of

Pairs Social Institutions and Social Structure What Holds Society Together? Types of Societies: A Global View

What Is Society? A system of social interaction that

includes culture and social organization. Members of a society have a common

culture though there may be great diversity within it.

Characteristics of Groups A collection of individuals who

interact and communicate with each other

share goals and norms are aware of themselves as a distinct

social unit

Statuses A status is a rank in society.

Vice president of the United States Statuses occur within institutions.

“High school teacher” is a status within the education institution.

Typically, an individual occupies many statuses simultaneously.

Roles A role is the expected behavior

associated with a particular status. Statuses are occupied; roles are acted or

“played.” A person’s role set includes all the roles

occupied by the person at a given time.

Roles in a College Student’s Role Set

Social Construction of Reality

Perception of what is real is determined by the subjective meaning we attribute to an experience.

There is no objective reality.

Ethnomethodology Disrupting social norms and observing

how individuals attempt to restore normalcy.

Human interaction takes place within a consensus and interaction is not possible without this consensus.

Impression Management

People control how others will perceive them.

People present different faces on different stages with different others.

Social Exchange

Interactions are determined by rewards or punishments.

If the reward for an interaction exceeds the punishment, a potential for social profit exists and the interaction is likely to occur.

Characteristics of Cyberspace Interaction

Nonverbal communication is eliminated.

One is free to become a different self.

Anonymity allows a new kind of relationship in society.

Polling Question How likely would you be to take an

Internet course for college credit?

A. Very likely

B. Somewhat likely

C. Unsure

D. Somewhat unlikely

E. Very unlikely

Nonverbal Communication

Touch Pitch, loudness and rhythm of the

voice. Gestures, facial expressions Use of personal space.

Paralinguistic Communication The component of communication that is

conveyed by the pitch and loudness of the speaker’s voice, its rhythm, emphasis, and frequency, and the frequency and length of hesitations.

It is not what you say, but how you say it.

Factors in Attraction

Close proximity Exposure Physical attractiveness Similarity in status, race, ethnicity,

religion, personality, attitudes and opinions.

Social Institutions Family Education Work Economy Political

Institutions

Religion Health care Mass Media Sports Military

Purpose of Social Institutions Socialization of new members. Production and distribution of goods and

services. Maintain stability and existence. Provide members with a sense of

purpose.

Social Structure The organized pattern of social

relationships and social institutions that together compose society.

The social structure of society is observable in the established patterns of social interaction and social institutions.

Durkheim: Social Solidarity

Mechanical solidarity arises when individuals feel bonded by their similarity.

Organic solidarity arises when individuals are bonded through their division of labor.

Types of Societies Foraging Pastoral Horticultural Agricultural Industrial Postindustrial

Examples of Types of Societies

Foraging Pygmies of Central Africa

PastoralBedouins of Africa and

Middle East

Horticultural Incan empire of Peru

Examples of Types of Societies

AgriculturalAmerican South, pre-

Civil War

Industrial19th and 20th century

United States and Western Europe

PostindustrialContemporary United

States

Global Urbanization

Population Density in the U.S.

Polling Question If you could live anywhere in the United

States that you wanted to, would you prefer a city, suburban area, small town, or farm?A. CityB. Suburban areaC. Small townD. Farm

Quick Quiz

1. Human society is best defined as:

a. A system of social interaction that includes norms and values.

b. A system of social organization that is characterized by a distinct social structure.

c. A system of social organization that includes ordered social interaction.

d. A system of social interaction that includes culture and social organization.

Answer: d Human society is best defined as a

system of social interaction that includes culture and social organization.

2. Which of the following is not an ascribed status?

a. pharmacist

b. female

c. Japanese

d. biracial

Answer: a A pharmacist is not an ascribed status.

3. When a single role brings conflicting expectations, sociologists call this condition:

a. status conflict

b. role conflict

c. role strain

d. status inconsistency

Answer: c When a single role brings conflicting

expectations, sociologists call this condition role strain.

4. According to social exchange theory, we are more likely to repeat an interaction when:

a. we are punished

b. we profit from it

c. we experience a social loss

d. we receive disapproval

Answer: b According to social exchange theory, we

are more likely to repeat an interaction when we profit from it.