Social structure

Social structure is a term used in the social sciences to refer to patterned social arrangements in society that are both emergent from and determinant of the actions and interactions of the individuals. In this context, "structure" refers not to a physical edifice, but to the ways in which the parts of a society fit together to form a whole.

Definition

The concept of social structure can be defined as the distinctive, stable arrangement of institutions whereby human beings in a society interact and live together. These arrangements take the form both of norms (rules defining appropriate and inappropriate behavior) and of institutions (stable clusters of values, norms, and behaviors centered on meeting important social needs).

Elements of Social Structure

Social structure is often treated together with the concept of social change, which deals with the forces that change the social structure and the organization of society. The key components of social structure are social institutions, social groups, statuses, and roles.

Social Institutions

Social institutions are established or standardized patterns of rule-governed behavior. They include the family, education, religion, and economic and political institutions.

Social Groups

Social groups consist of two or more people who interact and identify with one another. These include primary groups, secondary groups, and reference groups.

Statuses

A status is a position a person occupies within a social group. Statuses can be either ascribed (assigned to individuals at birth without reference to any innate abilities or characteristics) or achieved (earned by individuals on the basis of skill, ability, and hard work).

Roles

A role is a set of expectations for people who occupy a given social position or status.

Theories of Social Structure

Several theories have been presented to provide a conceptual framework for understanding social structure, including Structural Functionalism, Conflict Theory, and Symbolic Interactionism.

Structural Functionalism

Structural Functionalism views society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability. It asserts that our lives are guided by social structures, which are relatively stable patterns of social behavior.

Conflict Theory

Conflict Theory sees social structure as inherently unequal, based on power differentials related to issues like class, gender, race, and age.

Symbolic Interactionism

Symbolic Interactionism emphasizes the subjective aspects of social life, rather than institutional or structural aspects.

See Also

• Social organization
• Social order
• Social stratification
• Social class
• Social status
• Social role
• Social institution