Sociology Chapter 4

Play stage

pretending to be someone else ( George herbert mead)

Given off gestures

unconscious signals of our true feelings (goffman)

Total Institution

A dramatic form of resocialization takes place in a total institution, individuals are cut off from the rest of society. Previous roles and identities are stripped away in order to create a new one. Ex) cults, prison, rehab, bootcamp. Total institutions require a "status degradation"

A person entering " Total institution"

A person entering total institution can expect to experience a degradation ceremony or "mortification of the self". Ex) head shaving, fingerprinting, stripping

Status

A status is a position in society that comes with a set of expectations. Ascribed status: status ur born with, Achieved Status: status you achieve

Status & Role

A status is a social position, A role is how you're supposed to behave when you hold a particular status.

Erving Goffman

According to Erving Goffman we use impression management to present an idealized self to others just as others seek to present their most favorable "self" to us. - we highlight favorable info -we conceal unfavorable info

"performance"

As we manage impressions

Civil Inattention

Civil inattention is when we demonstrate awareness of others without imposing/threatening them.

Does managing impressions mean that we're faking it?

No! we ALWAYS have impressions to manage, whether we are truthful or lying. Ex) being sick.

Emotion Work

Emotion work refers to the importance of expressing particular feelings at your job. Ex) flight attendants, waitresses, nurses etc.

Dramaturgy

Erving Goffman compared social life to the theater this approach is called dramaturgy. The basic idea is that in social life we must perform roles.

"Front"

Goffman used theater words to develop ideas. Front: The observable aspect of our Actions that are visible to the audience and are part of the performance.

True human self

Interaction is necessary for the true human self. -isolated children, feral children, institutionalized children

Role compartementalization

Modern life and organizations expect us to do this. Ppl who can't do this find themselves out of the mainstream. This explains why religious minorities in NYC often form ethnic enclaves and occupational niches. BTW COMPARTMENTALIZATION IS Playing different roles in different places.

Master Status

One's master status is a status that is often considered more important than all the others. people tend to interact with us on the basis of it whether we like it or not.

Role Conflict

Role conflict occurs when the roles associated with one status clash with the roles associated with a different status. An example of role conflict is when a boss has to fire an employee whom they consider to be a good friend. Role conflicts emphasize the emotional conflict that someone experiences when they must respond to competing demands

Role Strain

Role strain is the incompatibility among roles corresponding to a single status.Role strain in sociology is when a particular role a person needs to fulfill is strained due to excessive obligations or multiple demands on time, energy or available resources. An example of this is the role of a single parent who fulfills the obligations of being a breadwinner, providing child care, housekeeping, vehicle maintenance, homework assistance, wellness and other related aspects of parenting. The parent's role is strained by the demands of fulfilling the numerous obligations adequately

Socialization

Socialization is the process of learning and internalizing the values, beliefs and norms of our society

Status Symbols

Status symbols are signs that identify your status Ex) wedding ring, scarlet letter

George Herbert Mead

The self develops only when we can assume the point of view of other people. The self is created through social interaction and role taking.

The Self

The self is our experience of a distinct, real, personal, identity that is separate and different from all other people.

Nature vs. Nurture Debate

What determines our behavior socialization or genetics?

Game stage

complex behaviors based on rules ( George herbert mead) play stage--------> game stage

Feeling Rules

feeling rules are norms regarding the expression of emotion. Ex) no laughing in church

Tact

making other's feel comfortable ( erving goffman) **think of the scene from pretty women when the rich man tries to make sandra bulock feel comfortable by saying idk what these spoons are for either***

Closing Bracket

marks the close of an encounter (goffman)

" face"

refers to the esteem we are given by others, we try to protect from embarrassment. Think of the saying " save face" . For examples when there is toilet paper stuck on someone's shoe and they're walking down the street they've lost a little face.

Resocialization

resocialization is the process of replacing previously learned norms and values with new ones as a part of a transition in life - this is a lifelong process - new statuses require new kinds of behaviors Ex) marriage, job, graduation

Given gestures

signaling a closing ( ex) putting on your coat) (goffman)

Opening Bracket

signals that start an encounter ( goffman)

" backstage"

the part of our social performance that the audience can't see ( Erving Goffman)

" Definition of the situation"

we act on the basis of meaning that emanate from social situations or settings. Ex) why does a doctor leave the room when patients change into a gown?

The generalized other

we see ourselves in terms of common norms and values ( George herbert mead) our sense of other

Role exit

when you become an "ex"