Levels of Sociological Analysis The Macro sociological Perspective: Social Structure The Micro sociological Perspective: Social Interaction in Everyday Life The Need for Both Macrosociology and Microsociology Social Construction of Reality

1. Social Structure and Social Interaction
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Chapter Overview
 Levels of Sociological Analysis
 The Macro sociological Perspective: Social
Structure
 The Micro sociological Perspective: Social
Interaction in Everyday Life
 The Need for Both Macrosociology and
Microsociology

2. Social Structure and Social Interaction
• Macrosociology
–Large-Scale Features of Social Life
• Microsociology
–Focus on Social Interaction
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Levels of Sociological
Analysis

3. Social Structure and Social Interaction
• Sociological Significance of Social
Structure
– Guides Our Behavior
– Behavior Decided by Location in Social
Structure
• Culture
– Group’s Language, Beliefs, Values,
Behaviors, Gestures
– Material Objects
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The Macrosociological
Perspective: Social Structure

4. Social Structure and Social Interaction
• Need to Understand Social Locations
People Hold in Life
• Social Class Divides People by…
– Income
– Education
– Occupational Prestige
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The Macrosociological
Perspective
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5. Social Structure and Social Interaction
• Social Status
– Ascribed
– College graduate
– Achieved
– White female
– Status Symbols
– Wedding band
– Master Status
– Female astronaut
– Status Inconsistency
– College Grad living in poverty
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Social Status
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6. Social Structure and Social Interaction
• Roles - Behaviors, Obligations, Privileges
Attached to a Status
• Status vs. Role
– You Occupy a Status
– You Play a Role
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The Macrosociological
Perspective

7. Social Structure and Social Interaction
• Groups - People Who Regularly and
Consciously Interact
• Social Institutions - Means Developed by
Societies to Meet Basic Needs
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Groups & Social
Institutions

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Pt.2

10. Social Structure and Social Interaction
Comparing Functionalist and
Conflict Perspectives
• Functionalist
• No society is without social institutions
• Every society must meet its basic needs
– 5 Basic Needs
• Replacing Members
• Socializing New Members
• Producing and distributing goods & services
• Preserving Order
• Providing a Sense of Purpose
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11. Social Structure and Social Interaction
Comparing Functionalist and
Conflict Perspectives
• Conflict Perspective
• No society is without social institutions
• Powerful Groups control society’s
institutions
– Social institutions have a single purpose –
preserve the social order
– Preserve the wealth and powerful in their
privileged position
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12. Social Structure and Social Interaction
• Society - People Who Share and Culture
and Territory
• Society Evolved Through Stages:
– Hunting and Gathering
– Pastoral and Horticultural
– Agricultural
– Industrial
– Post-Industrial
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Societies and Their
Transformations
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15. Social Structure and Social Interaction
• Mechanical Solidarity
• Organic Solidarity
(Emile Durkheim)
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What Holds Society
Together?
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Microsociological
Perspective:
Social Interaction in
Everyday Life

17. Social Structure and Social Interaction
• Stereotypes
• Stigmatization
• Looking Glass Theory
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Social Interaction
in Everyday Life
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19. Social Structure and Social Interaction
• Stereotypes
• Personal Space
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 Intimate
 Personal
 Social
 Public
Social Interaction
in Everyday Life

20. Social Structure and Social Interaction
• Erving Goffman
– Dramaturgy
– Impression Management
– Front and Back Stages
– Role Conflict
– Role Strain Between and Within Roles
– Teamwork and Face-Saving Behavior
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Dramaturgy:
The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life
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22. Social Structure and Social Interaction
• The Study of How People Do
Things
• Background Assumptions
• Harold Garfinkle’s Experiments
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Ethnomethodology:
Uncovering Background Assumptions
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23. Social Structure and Social Interaction
• Definition of the Situation –
• Objective Reality vs. Subjective
Interpretation
• Social Interaction on the Internet
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Social Construction
of Reality