Intro to Sociology -Chapter 4

Status

a position in a social hierarchy that carries a particular set of expectations

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

Embodied status

a status generated by physical characteristics

Master status

a status that is always relevant and affects all other statuses we possess

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 within those of others and realize goals

Dramaturgy

an approach pioneered by Goffman in which social life is analyzed in terms of its similarities to theater

Ascribed status

an inborn status; usually difficult or impossible to change

Total institution

an institution in which individuals are cut off from society so that they can be stripped of old roles, identities and given new ones

Thomas theorem

classic formulation of the way individuals define situations, whereby "if people define situations as real, they are real in their consequences"

Role-taking emotions

emotions like sympathy, embarrassment, shame that require we assume the perspective of another person/group and respond from that person/group's POV

Autoethnography

ethnographic description that focuses on the feeling, reactions of the ethnographer

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

Backstage

in the dramaturgical perspective, places in which we rehearse and prepare for our performances

Region

in the dramaturgical perspective, the context or setting in which the performance takes place

Frontstage

in the dramaturgical perspective, the region in which we deliver our public performances

Front

in the dramaturgical perspective, the setting/scene of performance that helps establish the definition of the situation

Stereotyping

judging others based on preconceived generalizations about groups of people

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 that provide structured situations in which socialization takes place

Feeling rules

socially constructed norms regarding the expression, display of emotions, expectations about the acceptable, desirable feelings in a given situation

Agency

the ability of the individual to act freely and independently

Cooling the mark out

the behaviors that help others to save face, avoid embarrassment; often referred to as civility, tact

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-representation and performance tactics

Personal front

the expressive equipment we consciously, unconsciously use as we present ourselves to others, including appearances and manner, to help establish the definition of the situation

Preparatory Stage

the first stage in Mead's theory of the development of self wherein children mimic, imitate others

Dual nature of the self

the idea that we experience the self as both a subject and object, the "I" and "me"

Self

the individual's reflexive experience of a personal identity separate and distinct from other individuals

Looking-Glass Self

the notion that the self develops through our perception of others' evaluations, appraisals of us

Particular or significant other

the perspectives and expectations of a particular role that a child learns and internalizes

Generalized other

the perspectives, expectations of a network of others that a child learns and then takes into account when shaping own behavior

Social Construction

the process by which a concept, practice is created and maintained by participants who collectively agree it exists

Emotion work

the process of evoking, suppressing or otherwise managing feelings to create a publicly observable display of emotion

Socialization

the process of learning, internalizing the values, beliefs, norms of our social group, by which we become functioning members of our society

Role exit

the process of leaving a role that we will no longer occupy

Resocialization

the process of replacing previously learned norms, values with new ones as a part of a transition in life

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

Role

the set of behaviors expected of someone because of their status

Role strain

the tension experienced when there are contradictory expectations within one role

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, behaviors that students learn indirectly over the course of the their schooling because of the structure of the educational system and the teaching methods used