Ch-5 Social Structure
According to Radcliff-Brown social
structure is a part of the social structure of all social relations of person
to person. In the study of social structure the concrete reality with which we
are concerned is the set of actually existing relations at a given moment of
time which link together certain human beings.
A more general definition of social
structure is that social structure refers to the enduring orderly and patterned
relationships between the elements of a society. According to Raymond Firth it
makes no distinction between the ephemeral and the most enduring elements in
social activity and it makes it almost impossible to distinguish the idea of
the structure of society from that of the totality of the society itself.
According to S.F Nadal structure
refers to a definable articulation and ordered arrangement of parts. It is
related to the outer aspect or the framework of society and is totally
unconcerned with the functional aspect of society. So he has emphasized that
the social structure refers to the network of social relationship which is
created among the human beings when they interact with each other according to
their statuses in accordance with the patterns of society. He has emphasized
that the social structure refers to the network of social relationship which is
created among the human beings when they interact with each other according to
their statuses in accordance with the patterns of society.
According to Ginsberg the study of
social structure is concerned with the principal form of social organization
that is types of groups, associations and institutions and the complex of these
which constitute societies.
According to Karl Mannheim social
structure refers to the web of interacting social forces from which have arisen
the various modes of observing and thinking. Social structure is an abstract
and intangible phenomenon Individuals are the units of association and
institutions are the units of social structure. These institutions and
associations are inter-related in a particular arrangement and thus create the
pattern of social structure. It refers to the external aspect of society which
is relatively stable as compared to the functional or internal aspect of
society. Social structure is a living structure which is created, maintained
for a time and changes.
Elements
of Social Structure
Normative system presents the society
with the ideals and values. The people attach emotional importance to these
norms. The institutions and associations are inter-related according to these
norms. The individuals perform their roles in accordance with the accepted
norms of society.
Position system refers to the statuses
and roles of the individuals. The desires, aspirations and expectations of the
individuals are varied, multiple and unlimited. So these can be fulfilled only
if the members of the society are assigned different roles according to their
capacities and capabilities. Actually the proper functioning of social
structure depends upon proper assignments of roles and statues.
For the proper enforcement of norms,
every society has a sanction system. The integration and coordination of the
different parts of social structure depend upon conformity of social norms. The
stability of a social structure depends upon the effectiveness of its sanction system.
The anticipated response system calls
upon the individuals to participate in the social system. His preparation sets
the social structure in motion. The successful working of social structure
depends upon the realisation of his duties by the individuals and his efforts
to fulfil these duties.
It is object of the goal to be arrived
at by the social structure. The whole social structure revolves around it. The
action is the root cause which weaves the web of social relationships and sets
the social structure in motion.
Social structure is an abstract
entity. Its parts are dynamic and constantly changing. They are spatially
widespread and therefore difficult to see as wholes. Social structure denotes
patterns which change more slowly than the particular personnel who constitute
them.
Types
of Social Structure
Universalistic
–achievement pattern-This is the combination of the value patterns which sometimes opposed
to the values of a social structure built mostly around kinship,community,class
and race. Under this type of social structure, the choice of goal by the
individual must be in accord with the universalistic values. His pursuits are
defined by universalistic moral norms. Such a system is dynamically developing
norms. Such a system is dynamically developing system with an encouragement for
initiative.
Universalistic
ascriptions pattern-under this type of social structure the elements of value-orientation
are dominated by the elements of ascription. Therefore in such a social
structure strong emphasis is laid on the status of the individual rather than
on his specific achievements. The emphasis is on what an individual is rather
than on what he has done. Status is ascribed to the group rather than to the
individuals. The individual derives his status from his group. In this type of
social structure all resources are mobilized in the interest of the collective
ideal.
Particularistic-Achievement
Pattern-This
type combines achievement values with particularim.The primary criterion of
valued achievement is found not in universalistic terms such as conformity to a
generalized ideal or efficiency but these are focussed on certain points of
reference within the relational system itself or are inherent in the situation.
The emphasis on achievement leads to the conception of a proper pattern of
adaption which is a product of human achievement and which are maintained by
continuous efforts.
Particularistic-ascriptive
pattern-
In this type also the social structure is organized around the relational reference
points notably those of kinship and local community but it differs from the
particularistic achievement type in as much as the relational values are taken
as given and passively adapted to rather than make for an actively organized
system. The structure tends to be traditionalistic and emphasis is laid on its
stability.
