This document discusses sociological approaches to understanding social structure and social interaction from both a macro and micro perspective. [1] It explores how macrosociology examines the larger framework of society, including social structure defined by factors like culture, class, status, roles, groups, and institutions. [2] Microsociology focuses on face-to-face interactions and behaviors influenced by concepts like stereotyping, personal space, and body language. [3] Both approaches are necessary to understand how social realities are constructed and how social structure guides interactions.

1. Social Structure and
Social Interaction

2. Sociological Approaches
Macrosociology
 Large-Scale Features of Social Life
Microsociology
 Focus on Social Interaction
Both Approaches Necessary

3. The Macrosociological Perspective
Examine the framework of society – how all the
pieces fit together
Social Structure
 Our guide for interactions
 Our location, our place, guides our behavior
 Culture
 Social Class - http://youtu.be/UxB-H6f3crY Snickers?
 Social Status – ascribed, achieved, master, and status symbols
 Roles
 Groups
 Social Institutions

4. Social Institutions
Sociological Significance
Ten Social Institutions in Industrialized Societies
 To be explored in detail
Mass Media as an Emerging Social Institution
Comparing Functionalist and Conflict Perspectives

5. Social Institutions
Comparing Functionalist and Conflict Perspectives
 Functionalist
 Replacing Members
 Socializing New Members
 Producing and Distributing Goods and Services
 Preserving Order
 Providing a Sense of Purpose
 Conflict Theorist
 Powerful Groups Control Institutions
 Preserve the status quo, power and privilege
 Feminist sociologists – gender relations

6. What Holds It All Together?
Social Integration – Emile Durkheim
Mechanic Solidarity
Division of Labor
Organic Solidarity

7. The Microsociological Perspective
Face-to-face interactions
Behavior and Approach towards life
 Stereotyping - http://youtu.be/gspaoaecNAg Boys
 http://youtu.be/paNiEdFTvuA Girls
 Personal space
 Eye contact
 Facial expressions and body language

8. Dramaturgy

9. The Social Construction of Reality
Our own subjective reality
 http://youtu.be/myq8upzJDJc Josh Bell in the Metro
 http://vimeo.com/16329078 Up in the Air
Thomas Theorem
 How does stereotyping play out?
 Using a famous quote known as the Thomas theorem, we can
begin to understand the potentially damaging effects of
stereotypes: "if [people] define situations as real, they are real in
their consequences." In other words, when people accept
stereotypes as true, then they are likely to act on these beliefs, and
these subjective beliefs can lead to objective results.

10. Social Structure Activity
Think about 3 or 4 statuses you occupy
 Are they achieved or ascribed or master statuses
 Do you display status symbols, what are they
What roles do you play within each status
 Are there any conflicts between the roles
Think about the larger institutions where these
statuses are located
 What are the functions of these institutions (how do they hold
society together)
 Which institution exerts the most influence on your life
 Are there conflicts among the institutions

11. Lens Assignment
Think about the different grand perspectives sociologists
use to analyze and evaluate the social world – macro and
micro
It may be easier to select one perspective
From the macrosociological perspective, look for
different components of social structure (class, status,
roles, institutions) and describe how they may be
analyzed within the photograph
From a microsociological perspective, look for evidence
of Goffman’s Presentation of Self in Everyday life and
describe “the stage,” roles, and impression management.