Sociology Exam 2 (ch 3-6)
role strain
experienced when there are contradictory expectations within one role
role conlfict
experienced when we occupy two or more roles w/ contradictory expectations
crime
if a behavior is considered deviant it means that it violates the values and norms of a group, not that it is inherently wrong
groupthink
in very cohesive groups, the tendency to enforce a high degree of conformity among members, creating a demand for unanimous agreement
feeling rules
norms regarding the expression and display of emotions
mores
norms that carry a greater moral significance and are more closely related to the core values of a cultural group
looking-glass self
1) how we imagine we appear to others 2) how we imagine others thoughts or judgements on how we appear 3) whether or not we change our appearance or behavior based on how we think others view us
deviance
a behavior, trait, belief, or other characteristic that violates a norm and causes a negative reaction
group vs crowd
a collection of 2+ people who share some attribute, identify w/ one another and interact w/ each other; a temporary gathering of people in a public place
in-group vs out-group
a group that one identifies with and feels loyalty towards; a group an individual feels opposition, rivalry, or hostility
reference groups
a group that provides a standard of comparison against which we evaluate ourselves
subculture
a group w/in society that is differentiated by its distinctive values, norms, and lifestyles
counterculture
a group w/in society that openly rejects or actively opposes society's values and norms
folkways
a loosely enforced norm involving common customs, practices, or procedures that ensure smooth social interaction and acceptance
taboos
a norm ingrained so deeply that even thinking about violating it evokes strong feelings of disgust, horror, or revulsion
Bureaucracy
a secondary group designed to perform tasks efficiently; clear hierarchy, specialization, a division of labor, and a set of formal rules
stigma
any physical or social attribute that devalues a person or group's identity and that may exclude those who are devalued from normal social interaction
traditional authority
authority based in custom, birthright, or dive right
legal rational authority
authority based in laws, rules, and procedures, not in the heredity or personality of any individual leader
charismatic authority
authority based on the perception of remarkable personal qualities in a leader
sanctions
positive or negative reactions to the ways that people follow or disobey norms
Coercive vs influential power
power that is backed by the threat of force; power that is supported by persuasion
passing
presenting yourself as a member of a different group than the stigmatized group to which you belong
agents of socialization
social groups, institutions, and individuals that provide structured situations in which socialization takes place
dramaturgy
social life is analyzed in terms of its similarities to theatrical performance
agency
the ability of the individual to act freely and independently
symbolic culture
the ability to learn and transit behavioral traditions from one generation to the next
culture
the entire way of life of a group of people, passed from one generation to the next
preparatory stage
the first stage in Mead's theory of the development of self wherein children mimic or imitate others
social control
the formal and informal mechanisms used to elicit conformity to values and norms and thus promote social cohesion
Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis
the idea that language structures thought and that ways of looking at the world are embedded in language
nature vs nurture
the ongoing discussion of the respective roles of genetics and socialization in determining individual behaviors and traits
group dynamics
the patterns of interaction between groups and individuals
generalized other
the perspectives and expectations of a network of others that children learn and then take into account when shaping their own behavior
social loafing
the phenomenon in which each individual contributes a little less as more individuals are added to a taste
frontstage
the places where we deliver our performances to an audience of others
backstage
the places where we rehearse and prepare for our performance
cultural leveling
the process by which cultures that were once unique and distinct become increasingly similar
socialization
the process of learning and internalizing the values, beliefs, and norms of our social group
group cohesion
the sense of solidarity or loyalty that individuals feel toward a group to which they belong
role
the set of behaviors expected of someone b/c of their status
front
the setting or scene of performances that helps establish the definition of the situation
McDonaldization
the spread of bureaucratic rationalization and the accompanying increases in efficiency and dehumanization; 4 components, efficiency, predictability, calculability, control
dominant culture
the values, norms, and practices of the group w/in society that is most powerful
gestures
the ways in which we people use their bodies to communicate w/o words; actions that have symbolic meaning
social network
the web of direct and indirect ties connecting an individual to other people who may also affect the individual
game stage
third stage, where children play organized games and take on the perspective of the generalized other
laws
types of norms that are formally codified to provide an explicit statement about what is legal or illegal in society
direct ties
who is directly connected to who in a social group
anomie
alienation and loss of purpose that result from weaker social bonds and an increased pace of change
indirect ties
connected through a third person
social ties
connections between individuals
the effect of social isolation
feral children, children who have had little human contact and may have lived in social isolation from a young age
primary vs secondary group
groups composed of the people who are most important to our self; groups that are larger and less intimate, usually organized around a specific goal
hegemony
leadership or dominance, especially by one country or group
instrumental vs expressive leadership
leadership that is task or goal oriented; leadership concerned w/ maintaining emotional and relational harmony w/ in the group
norms
rules or guidelines regarding what kinds of behavior are acceptable and appropriate within a particular culture
play stage
second stage, children pretend to play the role of the particular or significant other
values
set of shared beliefs that a group of people considers to be desirable
signs
symbols that stand for or convey an idea
language
system of communication using vocal sounds, gestures, or written symbols
emotion work
the management of one's feelings and the expression of those feelings in a way that enhances our relationship
material culture
the objects associated with a cultural group; any physical object to which we give social meaning