Chapter Preview · Section 2
Social Structure and Roles (pages 146–152)
People interact according to prescribed roles. These
roles carry certain rights and obligations. Sometimes
conflict or strain occurs when an individual has too
many roles to play.
• role
• right
• obligation
• role performance
• social interaction
• role conflict
• role strain
Which role do identify with the most?
A. Student
B. Sibling
C. Artist
D. Athlete
0%
A
A.
B.
C.
0%
D.
B
A
B
C
0%
D
C
0%
D
Rights and Obligations
• An expected behavior associated with a
particular status is a role.
Rights and Obligations
• Rights are behaviors that individuals
expect from others.
• Obligations are behaviors that individuals
are expected to perform toward others.
Statuses “in action” is another name for:
A. Rights
B. Roles
C. Obligations
D. Society
0%
A
A.
B.
C.
0%
D.
B
A
B
C
0%
D
C
0%
D
Role Performance and Social
Interaction
• Role performance is the actual conduct,
or behavior, involved in carrying out (or
performing) a role.
• Social interaction is the process of
influencing each other as people relate.
The Links Between Culture
and Social Structure
Role Performance and Social
Interaction (cont.)
• Role performance is much like a play, but
there are many differences:
– Most real-life role performance occurs
without planning.
– Real-life performance is ad-libbed.
– We choose our own cues and
responses.
Which is an example of social
interaction?
A. Asking a stranger for
directions
B. Chatting with friends
C. Playing sports
D. All of the above
0%
A
A.
B.
C.
0%
D.
B
A
B
C
0%
D
C
0%
D
Role Conflict and Role Strain
• Role conflict exists when the performance
of a role in one status clashes with the
performance of a role in another.
• Role strain occurs when a person has
trouble meeting the many roles connected
with a single status.
Role Conflict and Role Strain (cont.)
• To deal with the conflict and strain we:
– Set priorities
– Segregate roles
Illustrating Social
Structure Concepts
Unemployment
Rates
How often does role strain and
conflict affect your own life?
A. Very often
B. Sometimes
C. Rarely
D. Never
0%
A
A.
B.
C.
0%
D.
B
A
B
C
0%
D
C
0%
D
The Links Between
Culture and Social
Structure
role
an expected behavior associated with a
particular status
right
a behavior that individuals can expect from
others
obligation
a behavior that individuals are expected to
perform toward others
role performance
the actual behavior of an individual in a role
social interaction
the process of influencing each other as
people relate
role conflict
condition in which the performance of a role in
one status interferes with the performance of
a role in another status
role strain
condition in which the roles of a single status
are inconsistent or conflicting