The social structure of Western sociology
Preparation assignment 1
Summary of Coleman, J.S. (1987): "Microfoundations and Macrosocial Behaviour"
In this chapter, Coleman examines the critical relationship between individual-level
(micro) actions and aggregate-level (macro) social phenomena, a central concern in
sociological theory. He explores how micro-level interactions serve as the foundation for
macro-level outcomes and argues that understanding this linkage is essential for a
comprehensive sociological explanation.
Key Points:
1. The Micro-Macro Problem:
o Coleman identifies a central problem in sociology: explaining how
individual actions (micro-level) lead to the emergence of societal patterns
or structures (macro-level).
o Traditional macro theories often bypass the micro-level processes,
leading to a lack of clarity about how macro-level phenomena are
sustained or changed.
2. The Role of Microfoundations:
o Microfoundations refer to the individual actions, decisions, and
interactions that underlie collective social phenomena.
o Coleman emphasizes that macro-level theories must incorporate
microfoundations to explain how societal patterns emerge and are
maintained.
3. The Coleman Boat (Micro-Macro Linkage):
o Coleman introduces a conceptual framework often represented as a
"boat" diagram, illustrating the micro-macro linkage:
▪ Macro to Micro: Macro-level structures influence individual
behavior (e.g., institutions shaping individual choices).
▪ Micro to Micro: Individuals interact with one another based on
these influences, generating outcomes at the micro-level.
▪ Micro to Macro: Aggregated individual interactions result in
macro-level phenomena (e.g., cultural norms, economic trends).
4. Emergent Properties:
o Coleman discusses how emergent properties, such as social norms or
institutions, arise from micro-level interactions but possess
characteristics that cannot be reduced solely to individual actions.
o These emergent properties, once established, feedback into the system,
further shaping individual behavior.
5. Rational Choice and Structural Constraints:
o Coleman integrates principles of rational choice theory, arguing that
individuals act based on their preferences, resources, and constraints.
o Structural constraints, including laws, norms, and cultural values, shape
these preferences and choices, linking macro-level factors to individual
behavior.
6. Methodological Implications:
, o Coleman critiques purely macro-level or micro-level explanations as
incomplete and advocates for a methodological synthesis that connects
both levels.
o He emphasizes the importance of modeling micro-level processes to
predict and understand macro-level outcomes.
Conclusion:
Coleman’s work provides a systematic framework for bridging the gap between
individual agency and societal structures. By focusing on microfoundations, he offers a
way to analyze how collective social behaviors emerge from individual-level interactions
and how macro-level phenomena, in turn, shape those behaviors. This approach has
profound implications for sociological theory and research, emphasizing the need for
integrative models that address both micro and macro perspectives.
Seminar 1 – introduction into social structures
What is a social structure?
Key concept in sociology.
It has elements that can limit your abilities or not limit them. (Like the room that you’re in
affects your behavior). The relationships between societies and people, are not random
but they have structures, they have structures in a way.
Ordered structure between people, patterned social relationships between (groups of)
individuals. (The way that a society is organized have a way of patterns, and sociologists
can look at these patterns).
Features of social structures:
• Socially embodied (actions and beliefs of individuals). (What people are wearing,
how they marry, there language, with how they are friends with). It manifests it
selves in actions.
• Coercive (normative system). Sanctions. The are norms in society, you have to
behave like this or you are punished (there are sanctions).
• Assignment of statuses and roles (position system), it gives people roles and
states. (A status is related to the power someone has). Roles are the expectations
that are related to this status. An idea how you have the behave (with your role).
• Distributive consequences (social outcomes). Any kind of social outcome
(money, health). Social outcomes lead to a hierarchy.
• Leads both to stability and change. A social structure is stability (this is way
society functions, everyone knows their place, how to behave). This does not
mean that it can changes. (It always has an element of change in it, to keep up
with the bigger changes in society).
Social structure is a system. We can observe it.
Everything functions in a proper way.
Social structures in society:
Example 1: family
• Socially embodied: You see people act like parents and others like children and
they act like a parent or act like a child. You see that people act different than
others.
, • Coercive: there are norms, parents need to take care of the children, in society
and there are legal conciseness. (If you don’t something will happen, you cannot
come out of it without sanctions).
• Assignment of statuses: It gives role to the parent and the child, and they act like
it.
• Distributive consequences: Power, normally the parent has power over the child
(about that needs to be done).
• Leads both to stability and change: It leads to stability because it has different
functions. There is also change. (Stability and change can also be for a persons, it
does not only have to be for society).
The smallest social structure that there is. And it is different because it is built on
emotions. It is because of this emotional bounding that people stick to it.
The most powerful functions are about reproduction, but also economic or education.
Educations: transitions about norms and values.
Economic: because parents provide for you. (Outside the structure, the parents receive
money to provide for the children like child support).
Example: Social class
• Socially embodied: You can think of higher or lower class people, what people
like to eat, music, wear, what house they life in, what they ideologic think, how
they vote. This is more visual in some societies than in others. You can see
differences between the different classes.
• Coercive: you have to behave to a way in your class. You must follow the
expectations that it has of you. If you don’t you get kicked out of the class. (But
you can climb up the class, but it does give some tension in the classes, like with
educations or marrieds). You must adapted to a sort of climate, you have to adept
all the time (like if you are from a different social class (with in university).
• Assignment of statuses: Higher classes have more chances.
• Distributive Consequences:
• Leads both to stability and change.
Intersection of social structures
• Class, family, ethnicity
• Identities
• Privilege and discrimination (the privilege can add up).
Link to social institutions
Organization of patterned social relationships
Examples of institutions:
• Economic: To produce and distributed goods (markets)
• Legal: to enforce norms (law)
• Political: for collective decision making an protection (democracy)
• Educational: to train children into the way of life of society (schools)
• Normative : to provide meaning (religions/church)
They impact the social structures. They are all in the macro levels. All these institutions
impact the social structures.
, Overarching trend 1: modernization
What is modernization?
Transformation process from traditional (agrarian) to modern (industrial) or post-modern
(service) society
• Technological changes: production process
• Economic changes: more wealth
• Political changes: democracy.
• Spatial (social) changes: urbanization
• Cultural changes: modern values
You can go up the ladder.
Modernization all starts with the technologization, the rest follows after this.
Overarching trend 2: Globalization
What is globalization?
For sociologist it is more than economics.
A set of processes of social change, among which deterritorialization.
Human activities and relationships:
• Extension across the world
• Intensification
• Increasing velocity
• Interconnectedness
• Reflexivity
Globalization is not a new phenomenon but the impact has grown.
Preparation assignment 1
Summary of Coleman, J.S. (1987): "Microfoundations and Macrosocial Behaviour"
In this chapter, Coleman examines the critical relationship between individual-level
(micro) actions and aggregate-level (macro) social phenomena, a central concern in
sociological theory. He explores how micro-level interactions serve as the foundation for
macro-level outcomes and argues that understanding this linkage is essential for a
comprehensive sociological explanation.
Key Points:
1. The Micro-Macro Problem:
o Coleman identifies a central problem in sociology: explaining how
individual actions (micro-level) lead to the emergence of societal patterns
or structures (macro-level).
o Traditional macro theories often bypass the micro-level processes,
leading to a lack of clarity about how macro-level phenomena are
sustained or changed.
2. The Role of Microfoundations:
o Microfoundations refer to the individual actions, decisions, and
interactions that underlie collective social phenomena.
o Coleman emphasizes that macro-level theories must incorporate
microfoundations to explain how societal patterns emerge and are
maintained.
3. The Coleman Boat (Micro-Macro Linkage):
o Coleman introduces a conceptual framework often represented as a
"boat" diagram, illustrating the micro-macro linkage:
▪ Macro to Micro: Macro-level structures influence individual
behavior (e.g., institutions shaping individual choices).
▪ Micro to Micro: Individuals interact with one another based on
these influences, generating outcomes at the micro-level.
▪ Micro to Macro: Aggregated individual interactions result in
macro-level phenomena (e.g., cultural norms, economic trends).
4. Emergent Properties:
o Coleman discusses how emergent properties, such as social norms or
institutions, arise from micro-level interactions but possess
characteristics that cannot be reduced solely to individual actions.
o These emergent properties, once established, feedback into the system,
further shaping individual behavior.
5. Rational Choice and Structural Constraints:
o Coleman integrates principles of rational choice theory, arguing that
individuals act based on their preferences, resources, and constraints.
o Structural constraints, including laws, norms, and cultural values, shape
these preferences and choices, linking macro-level factors to individual
behavior.
6. Methodological Implications:
, o Coleman critiques purely macro-level or micro-level explanations as
incomplete and advocates for a methodological synthesis that connects
both levels.
o He emphasizes the importance of modeling micro-level processes to
predict and understand macro-level outcomes.
Conclusion:
Coleman’s work provides a systematic framework for bridging the gap between
individual agency and societal structures. By focusing on microfoundations, he offers a
way to analyze how collective social behaviors emerge from individual-level interactions
and how macro-level phenomena, in turn, shape those behaviors. This approach has
profound implications for sociological theory and research, emphasizing the need for
integrative models that address both micro and macro perspectives.
Seminar 1 – introduction into social structures
What is a social structure?
Key concept in sociology.
It has elements that can limit your abilities or not limit them. (Like the room that you’re in
affects your behavior). The relationships between societies and people, are not random
but they have structures, they have structures in a way.
Ordered structure between people, patterned social relationships between (groups of)
individuals. (The way that a society is organized have a way of patterns, and sociologists
can look at these patterns).
Features of social structures:
• Socially embodied (actions and beliefs of individuals). (What people are wearing,
how they marry, there language, with how they are friends with). It manifests it
selves in actions.
• Coercive (normative system). Sanctions. The are norms in society, you have to
behave like this or you are punished (there are sanctions).
• Assignment of statuses and roles (position system), it gives people roles and
states. (A status is related to the power someone has). Roles are the expectations
that are related to this status. An idea how you have the behave (with your role).
• Distributive consequences (social outcomes). Any kind of social outcome
(money, health). Social outcomes lead to a hierarchy.
• Leads both to stability and change. A social structure is stability (this is way
society functions, everyone knows their place, how to behave). This does not
mean that it can changes. (It always has an element of change in it, to keep up
with the bigger changes in society).
Social structure is a system. We can observe it.
Everything functions in a proper way.
Social structures in society:
Example 1: family
• Socially embodied: You see people act like parents and others like children and
they act like a parent or act like a child. You see that people act different than
others.
, • Coercive: there are norms, parents need to take care of the children, in society
and there are legal conciseness. (If you don’t something will happen, you cannot
come out of it without sanctions).
• Assignment of statuses: It gives role to the parent and the child, and they act like
it.
• Distributive consequences: Power, normally the parent has power over the child
(about that needs to be done).
• Leads both to stability and change: It leads to stability because it has different
functions. There is also change. (Stability and change can also be for a persons, it
does not only have to be for society).
The smallest social structure that there is. And it is different because it is built on
emotions. It is because of this emotional bounding that people stick to it.
The most powerful functions are about reproduction, but also economic or education.
Educations: transitions about norms and values.
Economic: because parents provide for you. (Outside the structure, the parents receive
money to provide for the children like child support).
Example: Social class
• Socially embodied: You can think of higher or lower class people, what people
like to eat, music, wear, what house they life in, what they ideologic think, how
they vote. This is more visual in some societies than in others. You can see
differences between the different classes.
• Coercive: you have to behave to a way in your class. You must follow the
expectations that it has of you. If you don’t you get kicked out of the class. (But
you can climb up the class, but it does give some tension in the classes, like with
educations or marrieds). You must adapted to a sort of climate, you have to adept
all the time (like if you are from a different social class (with in university).
• Assignment of statuses: Higher classes have more chances.
• Distributive Consequences:
• Leads both to stability and change.
Intersection of social structures
• Class, family, ethnicity
• Identities
• Privilege and discrimination (the privilege can add up).
Link to social institutions
Organization of patterned social relationships
Examples of institutions:
• Economic: To produce and distributed goods (markets)
• Legal: to enforce norms (law)
• Political: for collective decision making an protection (democracy)
• Educational: to train children into the way of life of society (schools)
• Normative : to provide meaning (religions/church)
They impact the social structures. They are all in the macro levels. All these institutions
impact the social structures.
, Overarching trend 1: modernization
What is modernization?
Transformation process from traditional (agrarian) to modern (industrial) or post-modern
(service) society
• Technological changes: production process
• Economic changes: more wealth
• Political changes: democracy.
• Spatial (social) changes: urbanization
• Cultural changes: modern values
You can go up the ladder.
Modernization all starts with the technologization, the rest follows after this.
Overarching trend 2: Globalization
What is globalization?
For sociologist it is more than economics.
A set of processes of social change, among which deterritorialization.
Human activities and relationships:
• Extension across the world
• Intensification
• Increasing velocity
• Interconnectedness
• Reflexivity
Globalization is not a new phenomenon but the impact has grown.
