Sociology: How Does One Define Social Structure?

How does one define social structure? In Sociology, social structure is the distinctive social formations in which we live. It is in these formations that people in a society live together and interact with one another. The society is regulated by shared values and social norms. Within social structure, you often hear of a concept called social change, but I shall be discussing social change in my next essay.

Social structure also refers to patterns of social relationships in a society . Social structure deals with the organisation of these relationships and how they are arranged into patterns. Social structure is the framework that allows people to have different interactions with each other. Social institutions create the necessary foundation in order for social structure to be possible. Within social structure there are two concepts. Which are, Micro and Macro structure. Micro structure is the pattern of relationships among the basic elements of social life that cannot be further divided and have no social structure of their own. For example: a pattern of relationships in a group of individuals but these individuals have no social structure. Whereas Macro structure is a pattern of relationships between objects that have their own structure. For example: A relationship between political

These structures have different purposes, meanings and functions. Social structure includes education (schools and universities), religion, family and health care (hospitals and doctors). These components are interrelated. There are two very important elements of social structure. Firstly, goals and purposes (the things that people strive for). The second element regulates, controls and defines acceptable ways of achieving these goals. Social structure remains intact as long as people achieve their goals in an acceptable way. When cultural values and social structure become incompatible, changes in the social structure become inevitable