Social structure and positions affect people in a last three ways. We have role expectations about how occupants of positions will behave, e.g. we expect professors to behave in a certain way. Positions are associated with sets of relationships, which we call social networks. Each of us is woven into several networks, including those involving coworkers, family, and friends. Each position has a status associated with it.
Some positions are more prestigious than others.
B. Acting via roles, social networks, and status, social structure can affect the health, values, occupational attainment, and sense of belonging in society. A. Social support . In the last several years there has been considerable research on the effects of help that people receive from informal supports, such as family, friends, or neighbors 1. Social networks . Many studies show that people who are part of social networks are less likely to be negatively affected by stressful life events and are less likely to become ill.