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Social Status

Sociologists use the term social status in a very broad way. Social status is a human created and defined position in society.A social status has meaning only in relation to other social statuses. For example a physician's behavior varies depending on the social status of the person with whom he or she is interacting.

People usually occupy more than one social status. Sociologists use the term status set to capture all the statuses any one person assumes. Sometimes one status takes on such great importance that it overshadows all other statuses a person occupies. That is, it shapes every aspect of life and dominates social interactions. Such a status is known as a master status.