SOCIAL STRUCTURE
INTRODUCTION
The word structure meant originally, the construction of a building. Gradually, structure began to imply
inter-relations between the parts of any whole. It also began to be used in anatomical studies. The
concept of social structure became popular amongst the sociologists and social anthropologists, in the
decade following World War II. During that period it became so fashionable to use this term that it came
to be applied to “almost any ordered arrangement of social phenomenon”
DEFINITIONS OF SOCIAL STRUCTURE AS UNDERSTOOD BY DIFFERENT SOCIOLOGIST
1. Radcliffe-Brown defined social structure as “an arrangement of parts of components related to
one another in some sort of a larger unity”. It is “an arrangement of persons in relationships
institutionally defined and regulated”. He has described the “institutionally defined and
regulated” relationship as that between the King and his subject, between husband and wife,
etc. Thus relationships within society are ordered by various mores and norms.
2. Morris Ginsberg regards social structure as ‘the complex of principle groups and institutions
which constitute societies’
CHARACTERISTICS OF SOCIAL STRUCTURE:
(1) Social Structure are abstract.
(2) Social structure is related to the external nature of society.
(3) Sequence in units of Social Structure.
(4) Every Unit of Social Structure has a definite Position.
(5) Social structure is influenced by local features.
(6) Hierarchy of sub structure in Social Structure.
(7) Social Structure is relatively a permanent concept.
(8) Elements of disintegration are also found in the social structure.
EXAMPLES OF SOCIAL STRUCTURE
ELEMENTS OF SOCIAL STRUCTURE
In a Social Structure the human beings organize themselves into associations for the pursuit of some
object or objects. The aim can be fulfilled only if the social structure is based upon certain principles.
According to Parsons there are many elements of social structure :
(1) Normative System : Normative system presents the society with the ideals and values. The people
attach emotional importance to these norms. The institution and associations are interrelated according
to these norms. The individuals perform their roles in accordance with the accepted norms of society.
(2) Status system : It refers to the status and roles of the individuals. Members of the society are
required to perform different roles in accordance with their position social placement or social status
and their capacities, capabilities, education, experience, skill etc.
(3) Sanction system : In every society there is a sanction system to decide what is proper law permitted
and acceptable by society. The members are expected to conform to the norms, values, law, etc, so that
the society can function smoothly. But all members are not really conformists some may be non-
conformists opponents, critics, rebels also and they also have some role for the reform, innovation or
progress. The sanction system has certain scope to deal with tolerate or control them.
(4) Anticipated response 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 individual and his efforts to
fulfill these duties.
(5) Action System : It is the object or goal to be arrived at by the social structure. The whole structure
revolves around it. The Action is the root cause which weaves the web of social relationships and sets
the social structure in motion.
Conclusion : Thus we can conclude by saying the social structure means more fundamental or basic
patterns of social relations in a given society or social system. This is the blue print, or basic and
permanent or long - lasting structure of a society, on the basis of which it functions. It is just like the
basic systems in human body – the skeleton or bone system, digestive system, blood circulation system,
and the nervous system, which work in mutual inter - relationship harmoniously and without which no
one can be alive and function effectively.
NOTE:
The term “social organisation” has often been used interchangeably for “social structure”. Some
scholars, like Raymond Firth, have clearly distinguished between both these terms. In his book, Elements
of Social Organisation (1956), Firth has made this distinction very clear. He regards both these terms as
only heuristic devices or tools rather than precise concepts. According to him, social organisation is
concerned with the choices and decisions involved in actual social relations; while the Concepts of Social
Structure the concept of social structure deals with the more fundamental social relations, which give a
society its basic form, and which provide limits to the range of action organisationally possible within it.
Firth says that in the aspect of structure, the continuity principle of society is found, while in the aspect
of organisation is to be found the variation, or change principle. The latter aspect allows evaluation of
situations with the scope for individual choice.
