1. • SOCIAL INTERACTION AND SOCIAL STRUCTURE
Materials for the socialization group.
• 1. Social Interaction refers to the way people respond to one another. Social structure
refers to the way in which a society is organized into predictable relationships. The
linkage of social interaction and social structure is central to sociological study. They
are closely related to socialization. Social reality is literally constructed from our
social interactions.
• 2. Elements of Social Structure Status refer to any of the full range of socially defined
positions within a large group or society. A number of statuses can be held at the same
time. Examples: U.S. President, son or daughter, dental technician, neighbor. Ascribed
Status is generally assigned at birth without regard to a person’s unique talents or
characteristics. Examples: race, gender, and age. Achieved status comes to us largely
through our own efforts. Examples: lawyer, pianist, postman and social worker.
Master Status Dominates other statuses and thereby determines a person’s general
position within society. Example: People with disability would be remembered as
“Disabled”
• 3. What are social roles? A set of expectations for people who occupy a given social
position or status. Roles are a significant component of social structure. Example:
Police are expected to protect us and catch criminals.
• 4. Role Conflict Occurs when incompatible expectations arise from two or more social
positions held by the same person. Example: newly promoted worker who carries on a
relationship with his/her former workgroup. It occurs among individuals moving into
occupations that are not common among people with their ascribed status. Examples:
female police officers and male preschool teachers.
• 5. Role Exit- The process of disengaging from a role that is central to one’s self-
identity. Examples: graduating from high school or college, retirement, and divorce.

2. • 6. Groups Any- number of people with similar norms, values, and expectations who
interact with one another on a regular basis. Examples: sports team, college friends,
hospital workers, businessmen, symphony orchestra. Groups play a key role in
transmitting culture.
• 7. Social institutions create survival and stability for society. Social change can be
dysfunctional, since it often leads to instability.
• 8. Conflict View Major institutions maintain the privileges of the most powerful
individuals and groups within a society, while contributing to the powerlessness of
others. Social institutions operate in gendered and racist environments. Social changes
are needed to promote equality.
• 9. Interactionist View Behavior is conditioned by roles and statuses that we accept, the
groups to which we belong, and the institutions within which we function.
From the sources of the Internet.