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Social Interaction and Structure

What is Social Interaction? Social interaction refers to the process by which people act and react in relation to others. It also refers to the process whereby people accomplish some aim and is always directed toward specific other people. What Frameworks are Used in Interaction? Defining the situation Definition of the situation is the process by which people interpret and evaluate the social context to select appropriate attitudes and behavior. The presentation of the self All of us have an image of how we want to be seen by others. Negotiated order Negotiated order refers to a social structure that derives its existence from the social interactions through which people define end redefine its character. Types of Social Interaction Sociologists like Persell classify social interaction into different types: Cooperation This refers to collaborative efforts between people to achieve a common goal. In this process, a group effort is needed. Conflict Conflict theorist stress that conflict is significant in social life. Conflict involves direct struggle between individuals or groups over commonly valued resources or goals. Competition It is the form of conflict in which there is agreement on the means that can be used to pursue an end. Negotiation The term negotiation refers to the attempt of one to reach agreement with others concerning some objectives. In this process, two or more competing parties reach a mutually satisfactory agreement. However, when it fail, conflict or coercion may occur. Coercion The act of imposing an action or behavior (coercer) on another (coerced). Elements of Social Interaction Considering predictable social interaction, (Schaefer, 1999) identified four elements of social interaction as the following:

Statuses The term status means prestige. In sociology, status refers particularly to a position in social structure; any position that determines where a person fits within the society. o Status set refers to all the statuses a certain person holds at a given time. Two Basic Types of Statuses Ascribed Status It refers to the statuses assigned to people without effort on their part. Ascribed status is the social position that is received at birth or involuntarily assumed later in the life course. Achieved Status Achieved status refers to a social position that is assumed voluntarily and that reflects a significant measure of personal ability and efforts. It is attained through the personal effort of the individual. The opportunity structure available to a person heavily shapes what he/she achieves. o Master statuses are the statuses that dominate others and thereby determine a persons general position within society. Social Roles Role is the second major component of social structure. It refers to patterns of expected behavior, obligations, and privilages attached to a particular status. It may also be referred to as the dynamic expression of a status. o Role expectations are the cultural norms that suggest how a person with a particular status ought to act. o Role strain are the problems of individuals in meeting or fulfilling their roles. o Role conflict is one common source of role strain. It occurs when the carrying out of one role automatically results in the violation of another. o Role exit is the process by which people disengage from social roles that have been central to their lives. o Role ambiguity is the unclear expectation associated with particular social positions. Networks It is another element of social institution that refers to the web of relationships that connects an individual to many other people, both directly and indirectly. Bassis and associates identified certain ways of studying networks: 1. Networks may be studied using a micro approach by examining actual networks within a particular social unit. 2. Another approach is to analyze the different types of networks which may take the form of any of the following : A. Clique (Completely Connected) B. Orbit (Radially Connected) C. Chain (Chain Connected) D. Ring (Rim Connected) 3. A more macro approach requires the use of computers and advanced statistical methods to analyze the actual networks that develop among different categories of people or even the whole population. Group

Group refers to any number of people with similar norms, values, and expectations who regularly and conciously interact. This is the third element of social interaction. It plays a significant role in a societys social structure. Social Institutions and Social Organizations Social institutions are the ordered social relationships that grow out of the values, norms, statuses, and roles that organize those activities that fulfill societys fundamental needs. In the society, there are at least five areas where basic needs of the people have to be met: (1) the family sector; (2) the education sector; (3) the economic sector; (4) the religious sector; and (5) the political sector. o Family is considered the most basic or fundamental autonomous unit of society. Primarily, it regulates social behavior. Social organization refers to the relatively stable patterns of social relationships among individuals and groups in society. Symbolic Interaction George Herbert Mead postulated that approach to social interaction rests on three basic premises : 1. People act toward everything they encounter on the basis of what those people, activities, and situations mean to them. 2. People learn what things mean by observing how other people respond to them through social interaction. 3. As a result of on-going interaction, sounds (including words), gestures, facial expressions, and body postures (body language) acquire symbolic meaning shared by people who belong to the same culture. What Influences Social Interaction? Tischler (1990:129) identified four major components of social interaction: 1. The ends or goals it is intended to achieve 2. The motivation why it is undertaken 3. The situation or context within which it takes place 4. The norms or rules that govern or regulate it.

Socialization
Socialization is the long complicated process of social interaction through which a child learns the intellectual, physical, and social skills he or she needs to function as a member of society. It is a process that begins at birth and continues throughout of life. Fichter: Socialization is a process of mutual influence between a person and his fellowmen, a process that results in an acceptance of, and adaptation to, the patterns of social behavior. Socialization can be described from two points of view namely:

Objective socialization It refers to the society acting upon the child. Subjective socialization It is the process by which the society transmits its culture from one generation to the next and adapts the individual to the accepted and approved ways of organized social life. Functions of Socialization 1. To develop the skills and disciplines which are needed by the individual. 2. To instill the aspirations and values and the design for living which the particular society possesses. 3. To teach the social roles which individuals must enact in society. Importance of Socialization Socialization is vital to culture. Socialization is vital to personality. Socialization is vital to sex role differentiation. Social Learning Social learning is the process of learning in relation to other persons. The process of learning in social situations is a process that occurs with and among the people and therefore always involves social relations. o Response is the interaction between the learner and the thing learned. o Reward refers to any object or event which strengthens or makes easier the responses of the individual in striving to learn. Subprocesses of Social Learning 1. Imitation The human action by which one tends to duplicate more or less, or exactly, the behavior of others. 2. Suggestion It is the process outside the learner. It is found in the works and actions of those who are attempting to change the behavior of the learner. 3. Competition It is a stimulative process in which two or more individuals vie with one another in achieving knowledge.

Submitted by: Group I Ave, Jillian Meriel Q. Cantal, Julius Wilson Eugenio, Rina Grace Salvacion, Jessica

Submitted to: Sir. Andrew Malabanan Anthropology and Sociology College of Humanities FAITH

Tan, Angelica Valencia, Mae Vannelyn Wagan, Vivien Marie B.S. Nursing-3A

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