Chapter 4 Vocab
Front
In the dramaturgical perspective, the setting or scene of performances that helps establish the definition of the situation
Agency
The ability of the individual to act freely and independently
Region
The context in which the performance takes place, including location, decor, and props
Impression Management
The effort to control the impressions we make on others so that they form a desired view of us and the situation; the use of self-presentation and performance tactics
Preparatory Stage
The first stage in Mead's theory of the development of self wherein children mimic or imitate others
Self
The indivdual's conscious, reflexive experience of a personal identity seperate and distinct from others
Generalized Other
The perspectives and expectations of a network of others (or of society in general) that a child learns and then takes into account when shaping his or her own behavior
Frontstage
The places where we deliver our performances to an audience of others
Backstage
The places where we rehearse and prepare for our performances
Resocialization
The process of replacing previously learned norms and values with new ones as part of a transition in life
Role
The set of behaviors expected of someone because of their status
Sociobiology
a branch of science that uses biological and evolutionary explanations for social behavior
Saturated Self
a postmodern idea that the self is now developed by multiple influences chosen from a wide range of media sources
Achieved Status
a status earned through individual effort or imposed by others
Master Status
a status that is always relevant and affects all other statuses we possess
Ascribed Status
a status that is inborn; usually difficult or impossible to change
ID, EGO, AND SUPEREGO
according to Freud, the three interrelated parts that make up the mind: the id consists of basic inborn drives that are the source of instinctive psychic energy; the ego is the realistic aspect of the mind that balances the forces of the id and the superego; the superego has two components (the conscience and the ego-ideal) and represents the internalized demands of society
Definition of The Situation
an agreement with others about "what is going on" in a given circumstance; this consensus allows us to coordinate our actions with others and realize goals
Dramaturgy
an approach pioneered by Erving Goffman in which social life is analyzed in terms of its similarities to theatrical performance
Cooling The Mark Out
behaviors that help others to save face or avoid embarrassment, often referred to as civility or tact
Thomas Theorem
classic formulation of the way individuals determine reality, whereby "if people define situations as real, they are real in their consequences"
Role-Taking Emotions
emotions such as sympathy, embarrassment, or shame that require that we assume the perspective of another person or group and respond accordingly
Role Strain
experienced when there are contradictory expectations within one role
Role Conflict
experienced when we occupy two or more roles with contradictory expectations
Expressions Given
expressions that are intentional and usually verbal, such as utterances
Copresence
face-to-face interaction or being in the presence of others
Psychosexual Stages of Development
four distinct stages of the development of the self between birth and adulthood, according to Freud; personality quirks are a result of being fixated, or stuck, at any stage
Feral Children
in myths and rare real-world cases, children who have had little human contact and may have lived in social isolation from a young age
Total Institutions
institutions in which individuals are cut off from the rest of society so that they can be controlled and regulated for the purpose of systematically stripping away previous roles and identities in order to create new ones
Stereotyping
judging others based on preconceived generalizations about groups or categories of people
Feeling Rules
norms regarding the expression and display of emotions; expectations about the acceptable or desirable feelings in a given situation
Expressions Given Off
observable expressions that can be either intended or unintended and are usually nonverbal
Expressions of Behavior
small actions such as an eye roll or head nod that serve as an interactional tool to help project our definition of the situation to others
Agents of Socialization
social groups, institutions, and individuals (especially the family, schools, peers, and the mass media) that provide structured situations in which socialization takes place
Dual Nature of The Self
the idea that we experience the self as both subject and object, the "I" and the "me"
Looking-Glass Self
the notion that the self develops through our perception of others' evaluations and appraisals of us
Nature Vs. Nurture Debate
the ongoing discussion of the respective roles of genetics and socialization in determining individual behaviors and traits
Personal Front
the performance tactics we use to present ourselves to others, including appearance, costume, and manner
Particular or Significant Other
the perspectives and expectations of a particular role that a child learns and internalizes
Social Construction
the process by which a concept or practice is created and maintained by participants who collectively agree that it exists
Emotion Work (Emotional Labor)
the process of evoking, suppressing, or otherwise managing feelings to create a publicly observable display of emotion
Socialization
the process of learning and internalizing the values, beliefs, and norms of our social group, by which we become functioning members of society
Role Exit
the process of leaving a role that we will no longer occupy
Play Stage
the second stage in Mead's theory of the development of self wherein children pretend to play the role of the particular or significant other
Game Stage
the third stage in Mead's theory of the development of self wherein children play organized games and take on the perspective of the generalized other
Hidden Curriculum
values or behaviors that students learn indirectly over the course of their schooling
Status
A position in a social hierarchy that carries a particular set of expectations
Embodied Status
A status generated by physical characteristics