State the definition of social structure and explain why it is important for individuals and society

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Social structure is the complex framework of societal institutions (such as the economy, politics, and religion) and the social practices (such as rules and social roles) that make up a society and that organize and establish limits on people's behavior. This structure is essential for the survival of society and for the well-being of individuals because it provides a social web of familial support and social relationships that connects each of us to the larger society. Social structure provides the framework within which we interact with others. This framework is an orderly, fixed arrangement of parts that together make up the whole group or society. At the macrolevel, the social structure of a society has several essential elements: social institutions, groups, statuses, roles, and norms. Social structure is essential because it creates order and predictability in a society. Social structure is also important for our human development. Social structure gives us the ability to interpret the social situations we encounter. Social structure creates boundaries that define which persons or groups will be the "insiders" and which will be the "outsiders." The social structure of a society includes its social positions, the relationships among those positions, and the kinds of resources attached to each of the positions. Social structure also includes all the groups that make up society and the relationships among those groups.