Transcript SOCIOLOGY: PERSPECTIVE, THEORY, AND METHOD

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQMB5teKf7M
&NR=1
Free hugs
How do we create reality in our
face-to-face interactions?
SOCIAL INTERACTION
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0BBgVC
Axg0
String experiment
SOCIAL
INTERACTION
› Process by which people act and react in
relation to others
STATUS
› Social position
STATUS SET
› All statuses a person holds
Ascribed Status
› Received at birth
› Taken on involuntarily later
Achieved Status
› Voluntary
Ascribed statuses ->Achieved statuses
Achieved Status
Master Status
Special importance for Social Identity
› Negative or positive
 Gender
 Athlete
 Nerd
 Criminal
Behavior
expected of someone who
Holds a particular status
› Person holds a status
 Who we are
› Person performs a role
 What we do
Role Set
Roles attached to a single status
Role
Conflict
› Conflict among roles connected to two or
more statuses (student, job, athlete)
Role Strain
› Tension among roles connected to single
status (student)
Statuses
Student
Athlete
Job
Conflicts
Time
Importance
Enjoyment
Expectations
Tension among roles connected to a single status
Process: People disengage from social roles
› Becoming an “ex”
 Graduating
 Retirement
 Widow
 Divorce
 Changing jobs
Status Set and Role Sets
A status set includes all the
statuses a person holds at
a given time.
The status set defines
“who we are” in society.
The many roles linked to
each status define “what we
do.”
Process by which people creatively
shape reality through social
interaction
›Social interaction is:
›Complex
›Involves Negotiation
›Builds reality
›Perception of events based on interests and
intentions
“Situations that are defined as
real are real in their
consequences.”
SHARED DEFINITION OF THE
SITUATION
Study of:
The way people make sense
of everyday life

Behavior based on assumptions

“Breaching experiments”

Taking items from others’
shopping carts

Standing very, very close

Tipping person who opens door
for you

Eating with fingers in fancy
restaurant
How we act & what we see
depends on:
• Our interests
• Social class
• Gender
• Race/ethnicity
• Culture
Study of:
Social interaction as a
theatrical performance
Erving Goffman (1922-1982)
THE PRESENTATION OF SELF
Impression Management
›Efforts to create specific
impressions in others’
minds
http://www.youtube.com/wat
ch?v=ld14ZG2mzNM
Phony Phone Call
Reveal information:

Consciously & Unconsciously
 Dress (costume)
 Objects we carry (props)
 Tone of voice and way we
carry ourselves (demeanor)

Influenced by context (the set)
Communication using:
• Body movements
• Gestures
• Facial expressions
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9YTxff3pHU&feature=more_related
Learning body language
Process of learning:
• Values
• Beliefs
• Norms
of a social group
 Begins in infancy
 Lasts throughout lifetime
self is our identity
• Who we are
• The
• Separate and different from others
•
Self is created & modified
• Through social interaction
• Socialization process
Looking Glass Self”
Development of
Self-Identity
1. Imagine how we
present ourselves
to others
2. Imagine how
others evaluate us
3. Develop feeling
about ourselves
Symbolic Interactionism
Self: Two parts
I and Me
I=Spontaneous, Creative, and
Impulsive
 Me=Socialized, Aware of others’
perceptions, Controls impulses

Preparatory Stage (0 - 3 yrs.)
• Imitate behavior
Play Stage (3 - 5 yrs.)
• Play roles of individuals
Game Stage (Early school years)
• Take several roles simultaneously
• Take role of generalized other
Role-taking: Imagine what others think
and feel
• Generalized Other
 Imagine roles of others
 Assume several roles simultaneously
 Reference for evaluating ourselves
•
Significant Others
 People with special importance for
our socialization
Lifelong social process by
which individuals:
• Develop human potential
and
• Learn culture
›Family
›Schools
›Peers
›Mass media
• Basics
of taking care of self
• Language and communication
skills
• Norms
• Social skills
• Develop self
• Knowledge,
skills, and social roles
• Hidden curriculum:
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•
•
•
•
•
Punctuality
Neatness
Discipline
Hard work
Competition
Obedience

Similar:
• Interests
• Social position
• Age


Escape supervision of adults
Form own relationships
Delivers impersonal communications
to vast audience
 New ideas and images
 Affect attitudes and behavior
 Social norms

Repeated exposure to:
 Political
 Religious
 Social views