Social Structure, Norms, and Roles
The Architecture of Society
Social structure
Social structure refers to the patterned ways society is organized. It includes institutions, relationships, hierarchies, and routines that shape what people do.
Norms and roles
Norms are shared expectations for behavior. Roles are the expected behaviors linked to a status, such as student, parent, or employee.
Core building blocks
| Concept | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Status | A social position a person occupies |
| Role | The behavior expected of someone in a status |
| Norm | A rule or expectation for behavior |
| Social structure | The organized pattern of social life |
Which term best describes the expected behavior of a doctor, student, or parent?
A role is the behavior expected from a social status.
Correct answer: Role
What is a norm?
Norms guide how people are expected to act.
Correct answer: A shared expectation or rule for behavior.
Key idea
People usually follow many norms without thinking about them, which makes social life feel orderly.
Why structure matters
Sociologists study structure because individual choices are shaped by the positions people occupy and the rules that organize daily life.