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