This document defines key concepts related to social structure including status, position, and roles. It differentiates between ascribed status (received at birth with no control), achieved status (earned through personal efforts), and master status (dominates and is known by the community). Position indicates a particular place in a social system, while roles represent the expected behaviors, rights, and obligations associated with a specific position. Role conflict occurs when one has more than one status, role sets refer to the number of roles with one status, and role strain results when one status implies many roles and expectations.

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