SOCIAL STRUCTURE CHAPTER 4

      Social structure refers to the recurring patterns of behavior that make social life possible. Understanding social structure helps us to see connections between these patterns and people's actions and beliefs. Making a connection to chapter three, culture is like the foundation of social structure. It is where people from all over the world share their different beliefs and actions with the world around us. A simple thing like going to your first day of class at your college can be referred to as social structure as shown in our text book. This is an example of our social norms where the first day of class can be the same as every other first days of classes that you have experienced in the past. When we enter a classroom we know exactly what to do and exactly what to expect for that day.
      We can see social structure at the micro level for example, we might look at the structure of interaction between two people or in a small group. Although it might be a small number of people, we can still see social structure, for example when you see someone its a norm to greet them with a greeting such as hi or hello. When you ready to leave you give them a kiss and say goodbye. The meso level of social structure is bigger than just two people or a small group, it is an organization. A school or a business would be a perfect example of  a meso  level of social structure. Another level would be macro, this is in the structure of work. Examples of this level could be based on the behaviors of families, the economy, government, education and religion which are interrelated.
      Social structure has changed from time to time through actions. There are three types of actions, traditional, affective and rational. Traditional action is motivated by custom, its related to what happened in the past will be the same in the future. This is information that is passed on from parents to children and than down from generation to generation. Affective action is guided by emotions and feelings. For example, when Obama gave his speech most of the people that were listening and who were on his side was crying because of feelings. The last one is rational action motivated actions of efficiency. In my own opinion this is an example of being a realist, setting goal that can be achieved. Laying down way of achieving theirs goals with structure and planing ahead.
      The way we live our lives has changed from the years that have past us by. One example is having a telephone and now it being called smart phones. When telephones came out it was only used by business people and now almost everyone has a touch screen phone even as young as a 5 year old can use one. Our society is heading for change and all we can do is keep up with it