Sociology 2105A/B Lecture Notes - Role Conflict, World-Systems Theory, Peter Principle
1 Feb 2013
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Document Summary
Social structure refers to patterned relationships among persons and groups within society. It is a framework that surrounds us, consisting of the relationships of people and groups to one another, which give direction to and set limits on behavior. It provides the context within which people meaningfully interact: social structure makes human behavior orderly, patterned, and controllable; as a result, social structure makes society and culture possible, social structure exists at two levels, viz. 1) the institutional level (macrosociological) and 2) the normative level (microsociological) Social groups refer to two or more people who possess feelings of unity, share certain interests and expectations, and interact in a meaningful, patterned ways. Max weber relied on an ideal-type analysis of bureaucracies, which he saw as a necessary evil because it achieved coordination and control and thus efficiency in administration. Formal, written rules governing members, tasks, and procedures. Weber was not completely favorable toward bureaucracies.
