This PSEB 11th Class Sociology Notes Chapter 9 Social Structure will help you in revision during exams.
PSEB 11th Class Sociology Notes Chapter 9 Social Structure
→ There are many basic concepts of sociology and social structure is one of them.
→ Herbert Spencer was the first Sociologist who used the word social structure.
→ After him, many other Sociologists such as Talcott Parsons, Radcliffe Brown, Maclver, etc. also wrote about it.
→ Society has many parts which are connected in. one way or the other. All these parts are interrelated.
→ The systematic form of these interconnected parts is known as social structure.
→ All these parts are abstract but they direct us in one way or the other.
→ Social structure has many features. For example, it is abstract, it has many inter-related parts, one system exists in all of its parts, it regulates our behaviour, it is universal, it expressed the exterior form of society, etc.
→ Herbert Spencer wrote a book ‘The Principles of Sociology’ in which he used the word social structure and compared it with the living body.
→ He was of the view that the way in which different parts of the human body are needed for its smooth functioning, in the same way, different parts of social structure play a very important role in its smooth functioning.
→ There are several elements of social structure and status and role are quite important among all.
→ The meaning of status is the position given to an individual while living in society.
→ One person is given many a status such as officer, father, son, President of a club, etc.
→ Status is of two types – Ascribed and Achieved.
→ Ascribed status is that which one gets automatically without any effort.
→ Achieved status is that which one gets due to his efforts and ability.
→ The role is the collection of expectations that are expected to be fulfilled by an individual.
→ Many roles are attached to each status. Only with the role, we come to know that how anyone will act while sitting on a particular status.
→ There are many features of the role such as it is learned, it is the functional aspect of status, it has a psychological base, etc.
→ Status and role are deeply related as they are the two sides of the same coin.
→ If anyone is given a status then automatically role is attached with the status.
→ Without a role, status is of no importance and without status, the role cannot be performed.
→ Social Structure: Orderly arrangement of different parts is known as social structure.
→ Role Set: When someone gets many roles.
→ Role Conflict: When an individual gets many roles and a conflict starts among them.
→ Role: The expected behaviour of an individual who holds a particular status.
→ Status: Status is the social position of an individual which he needs to obey.
→ Ascribed Status: The status which one gets on the basis of birth.
→ Achieved Status: The status which is achieved through skill and talent.