Project: Your Model of Society
Your Mission, should you decide to accept it:
Answer the questions found below as a group. 
Hand in one answer with everyone's name. 
1.  First & last & in alphabetical order by last name. 
      - Include only members who are present. 
2.  Indicate the date:  _____________________ 		 3.  Indicate the name of the class. 
4.  Indicate the name of the Project. 
Be thorough; write good answers. 
Use your time wisely. 
Be finished by the end of the allowed time. 
Project: Your Model of Society

1. Using the components of society, below, & any other components / concepts you wish, draw or diagram your own model of society. 

2. Pick a social situation or social change such as women moving into the worplace, the impact of the internet, etc, & briefly describe how your model depicts it. 

Possible Components of  Society:  

Social Structures:  Peers, Family, Religion, Economy, Government, Military, Charity, Education, Media, Recreation   PF REG M CEML
Social Structures have the following characteristics: 
A.  Social grps or orgs 
B.  Positions 
1)  Role 
a. Role set 
b. Role strain 
c. Role conflict 
d. Role exit		 2.  Bases of a position 
a. Class 
b. Status 
i. Ascribed status 
ii. Achieved status 
iii. Master status 
c. Power		 C.  Regular relationships 
1)  Division of labor 
2)  Stratification 
D.  Constant share of resources 
E.  Historical development
 
Culture:  Knowledge, Beliefs, Values, Norms

Symbolic interactionism is a micro oriented paradigm which holds that: 
1.  we create meaning in an interactive process w/ ourselves, others, & social structures 
2.  societal level actions are aggregated by the actions of individuals/groups 
3.  what people believe to be true, becomes true in its consequences 
4.  society sends messages, gives rules 
5.  these messages are imprinted on us (through socialization) from childhood on 
6.  the content of these impressions is culture 
7.  social processes / relationships are what construct the individual & society 
8.  there is a 3 way dynamic w/ self, soc, & the processes of the construction of the self & soc 
9.  societies interact through symbolic processes w/ themselves & individuals 
10.  individuals interact through symbolic processes w/ themselves & societies 

There are SIX Common Principles in Symbolic Interactionism    ( a micro sociological theory ) 
1.  Individuals send messages                                    4.  The meaning we perceive shapes our behavior
2.  We receive thousands of messages per day            5.  Our interpretation & behavior creates our self
3.  We interpret messages                                          6.  The social construction of reality is a dynamic on going process

The EIGHT principles of Functionalism include: 
1. consensus                                            5.  functional imperatives 
2.  equilibrium                                          6.  dysfunctions 
3.  interdependence                                   7.  needs or goals
4.  social structures                                    8.  culture

Other Functionalist concepts:  Manifest & latent functions, dysfunctions, maintenance functions, integrative functions, adaptive functions, goal setting functions 
 

Top
  
Chart of Parson's Functional Imperatives:  AGIM
1. Adaptation Adapt to the environment (social & physical)
2. Goal setting Set Goals for social & sub-systems of society & people
3. Integration Integrate in new systems, procedures, people, etc.
4. Maintaining Maintain old systems, procedures, people, etc.

Summary of the Principles of Conflict Theory:

1. Our human nature is that we labor / create 7. Conflict does not always mean violence
2. Economic relations are the "base" of society 8. Capitalism is destructive of our humanity
3. People, grps, etc have conflicting self interests 9. The upper class controls econ, & thus all of society
4. There is class conflict 10. Culture is shaped by the economic base of society
5. Conflict is the energy of social change 11. Consciousness is shaped by our work & culture 
6. Society is in state of struggle & social change        in which we exist 

The End